John P. Miller
Conductor & Director of Music, 1984-2008

John P. Miller, Conductor and Director of Music Emeritus, received his BME degree in music from Florida State University. He was a band director for the Atlanta Board of Education from 1966 until retiring in 2001, teaching at Brown High School, Therrell High School, and Atlanta elementary schools.

Mr. Miller has played trumpet with the St. Petersburg Symphony, Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, Six Flags Pit Orchestra, Emory Wind Ensemble, The Nostalgics, the Big Peach Swing Band and many other ensembles. Mr. Miller joined the Atlanta Concert Band in 1974 as principal trumpet. In 1976 he became assistant conductor, and was named conductor and music director in 1984.

James, J. Sedlack
Conductor & Director of Music, 1973-1984

When the Atlanta Concert Band was re-formed in 1973, Dr. Robert Waggoner, then music director for Atlanta Public Schools, provided a list of potential conductors. Heading the list was James J. Sedlack. The band thrived under his direction and he was largely responsible for its early success.

Mr. Sedlack served over 30 years with the Atlanta Board of Education as a band director and music teacher. He was chairman of the Instrumental Committee which wrote an entire new music curriculum for the school system. Other experience includes: Assistant Professor of Brass, American Conservatory of Music; professional trumpeter with the Band of Atlanta, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the 106th Mounted Band (the Black Horse Troop of the Illinois National Guard); many years playing professionally in and around Atlanta. While a prisoner of war in Romania during World War II, Mr. Sedlack organized and directed a musical group to entertain the other POWs. Upon retirement from teaching, Mr. Sedlack was appointed Fulton County's first cultural arts supervisor and was a key member of the committee that laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Fulton County Arts Council.

An interview with Mr. Sedlack conducted by the Georgia Public Broadcasting World War II Veterans Oral History Project can be viewed here: http://www.gpb.org/wwii/james-sedlack