"A native of Austin, Texas, Christopher Mothersole is Instructor of Clarinet & Chamber Music at the University of West Georgia. Prior to his appointment in 2019, he served as principal clarinet of the Great Falls Symphony and member of the orchestra's resident wind quintet, the Chinook Winds. His performances with the ensemble have been featured on Montana Public Radio and Montana PBS’s 11th & Grant, the “premier music outlet […] seeking the state’s most acclaimed, accomplished, and pioneering talent”, showcasing a wide variety of works and imaginative programming.

​Christopher's most recent work places him at the forefront of clarinet performance with guitar effect pedals. He has presented on this topic for the International Clarinet Association on multiple occasions, demonstrating the enhanced sound capabilities of using live effects and working together with composers to create new music for what has been nicknamed "EFX Clarinet". With the mission of increasing visibility and accessibility in the art, he gives lectures and recitals across the country, empowering performers with the knowledge and tools to get started with using effects pedals. Recent compositions and commission projects include two works by Jenni Brandon (Cacophony for Clarinet & Delay, Chansons de la Nature for Clarinet & Delay) and several of Christopher's own compositions, including an upcoming compilation of études for clarinet and delay, Delaytudes.

www.mothersoleclarinet.com

"Scott Stewart is the Music Director and Conductor of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, a position he has held since 1999.

He served as the Director of Wind Studies at Emory University from 1999-2013, where he conducted the Emory Wind Ensemble, Emory Symphony Orchestra, and taught courses in conducting, wind band literature and history, and film music. He was a member of the Westminster Schools faculty from 2013-2022 where he taught Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Film Music.

A native of Cicero, Indiana, Stewart holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Doctor of Music in Conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and a Master of Music from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. Stewart's instructors include Ray Cramer, Stephen Pratt, David Woodley, Eugene Rousseau, Robert Duke, and Jerry Junkin.

A passionate advocate for new music and living composers, he has commissioned and recorded wind band/ensemble premieres, including music by Jennifer Higdon, Bruce Broughton, John Mackey, Stephen Paulus, Steven Bryant, Jonathan Newman, Libby Larsen, Carolyn Bremer, Kevin Kaska, Todd Stalter, Jim Bonney, Roger Cichy, Kevin Walcyzk, William Pitts, Jonathan Hoffmann, Peter Child, and others. In November 2012, NAXOS released CD of Christmas music by the Emory Symphonic Winds ("In the World of Spirits") for wind band/ensemble on the “Wind Band Classics” label."

www.ayws.org/music-director