INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

Mike Bearden, Director for Bands for Ola High School in McDonough, GA is a native of Newnan, GA.  Mr. Bearden oversees all aspects of the Ola Band Program including The Marching Mustangs, three wind ensembles, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, and winterguard. He received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Valdosta State University and a Master of Music Degree in Instrumental Conducting from Reinhardt University. 

 

Prior to Ola High School Mr. Bearden served as the Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia.  The North Paulding Band Program included a 200-member marching band, four wind ensembles, jazz ensemble, percussion ensembles, indoor percussion, and winterguard.  The North Paulding High School Bands have received superior ratings at all adjudicated events including the first Grand Champion award in the program’s history during the fall off 2013 and continued that success through his tenure.  The Wolfpack Pride has also appeared in the Children’s Healthcare Parade of Atlanta numerous times and the 2016 Outback Bowl game and parade.  

 

The North Paulding High School Wind Symphony received numerous invitational performances that included the 2014 Kennesaw State University’s Department of Music Concert Band Invitational, the 2017 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival, the 2018 University of Georgia JanFest Honor Band, the 2019 Reinhardt University Honor Band, and most notably, the 2019 Georgia Music Educators Association’s Annual In-service.  In 2013, North Paulding High School was represented in the Georgia Music Educators Association’s All State Band for the first time in the school’s history.  Many students each school year participated in regional honor bands, district honor bands, and the Paulding County Honor Band. 

 

Prior appointments also include Associate Director of Bands at Hiram High School in Hiram, GA, Co-Director at Creekview High School in Canton, GA, Director of Bands at Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, GA, Port St. Lucie High School in Port St. Lucie, FL, Okeechobee High School in Okeechobee, FL, and Yearling Middle School in Okeechobee, FL. 

 

As a composer, arranger, and drill designer Mr. Bearden has compositions published by Grand Mesa Publications. He currently has compositions on the Middle School Solo & Ensemble required performance list in Florida. 

 

Mr. Bearden’s professional affiliations include memberships with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lamda, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Georgia Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, United States School Band Association, the National Band Association, and the National Association for Music Educators.  

 

Mr. Bearden was awarded a Citation of Excellence by The National Band Association for outstanding contribution to bands and band music in 2017, 2018, and 2019. 

 

Mr. Bearden resides in McDonough, GA with his lovely wife Robbye and handsome sons Michael, Christian, and Jackson.

Mr. Singleton is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. He attended Appalachian State University where he earned his degree in Music Education in 2017. During his collegiate experience, Mr. Singleton served on the leadership team for the Marching Mountaineers for 3 years and performed with multiple ensembles. After graduating ASU, Mr. Singleton served as a band director at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, NC.

 

Mr. Singleton is an active member of Drum Corps International. He was a member of the Boston Crusaders in 2016 and the 2017 Jim Ott recipient, Carolina Crown. Currently, he serves as a visual staff member for the 2022 World Finalist, The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. Previously he served as both a brass staff member and a visual member at Legends Drum and Bugle Corps.

 

Currently, Mr. Singleton is in his fifth year of teaching as Assistant Director of Bands at Ola High School. Mr. Singleton is an active member of NAFME, NCMEA, and a proud alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Emma is an Ola High School alumni and spun with the Ola Colorguard for 4 years during all 8 seasons. After graduating, she performed with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps for the summer and Edge Independent during winter. Currently, Emma attends Georgia State University as a film major and hopes to work in the film industry in the future.

 

This will be Emma's third year on the Ola Bands Staff and she is excited to spend this fall with Ola and make the best of our 2021 season!