Title: Band Director
Company: Campbell High School, Cobb County Schools
Location: Smyrna, GA
Education: DMA in Music Education, Boston University (2016);
Master of Music in Music Education, Louisiana State University (1996);
BS in Music Education, Jacksonville State University (1994)
Career History: Director of Bands, Campbell High School, Cobb County School District (2021-Present);
Assistant Director of Bearcat Bands, University of Cincinnati (2018-Present);
Director of Bands (4th Grade to HS)/Indiana Academy/Instructor, High School Music Theory/Instructor, Middle School Music Appreciation/Director of Jazz Band and Basketball Pep Band, Burris Laboratory School at Ball State University (2011-Present);
Director of Marching Band, Pep Band, Wind Ensemble/ Instructor, Music Education and Performance/Assistant Professor of Music/Director of Instrumental Studies, Charleston Southern University (2003-2011);
Director of Bands (High School Concert Bands, Marching Band, Pep Band)/Private Lessons Instructor/Chamber Group Instructor, Cobb County Schools (2001-2003)
Dr. Krista Johns Mulcahy, Band Director at Campbell High School within the Cobb County School District, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of music education.
Dr. Mulcahy’s love for her field was fostered at a young age—her grandfather, J.M. Johns, was an accomplished gospel music composer with whom she had a lot of similarities throughout her upbringing; she started playing piano when she was seven years old. Passionate about the art of music and teaching others, she earned a Bachelor of Science in music education from Jacksonville State University in 1994 and a Master of Music in Music Education from Louisiana State University in 1996.
She launched her career at the Cobb County School District from 2001 to 2003, serving as the director of the high school concert band, and the marching and pep bands, and taught afterschool private lessons and chamber groups. From 2003 to 2011, she found success as an assistant professor of music at Charleston Southern University, where she also directed the marching, jazz, and pep bands, as well as wind ensemble, and served as a member of the Teacher Education Committee. Since 2011, she has been the director of bands at the Burris Laboratory School within Ball State University, instructing musicians ranging from fourth grade through high school on music theory and appreciation; in the midst of this appointment, she obtained a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from Boston University in 2016. In addition, she has excelled in the role of assistant director of the Bearcat Bands at the University of Cincinnati, a campus music program that provides educational opportunities and leadership development—for which she became the first woman leader in 2018. In this capacity, she taught about inclusivity and encouraged far more students to appreciate music and join the program. Dr. Mulcahy also returned to Campbell High School in 2021 when she was appointed as the director of bands.
A dedicated member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Women Band Directors International, Dr. Mulcahy is continually motivated to do what she does because she loves her students and the looks on their faces when her teachings connect with them. On this note, she considers the highlights of her career to be whenever the achieved something in the classroom or while performing in front of others. She has had many students who became band directors themselves and all of them have attributed their career choice to her teaching. Dr. Mulcahy hopes to be remembered as a person who always put student interests first, and advised aspiring music educators, “You must love what you do; music is a great outlet for people.”
Looking toward the future, Dr. Mulcahy hopes to be able to work at a university level to help train teachers; additionally, she’s excited to have her own son, John, play in her band in two years.