Our Instructors

Susan Schreer Davis, our chorus instructor, received a Vocal Performance Degree from Vanderbilt University in 1991. She has since recorded two CD's of her own music, "Life of Love" and "Accepted" ... and has taught many voice and piano lessons. During the summers of 2003 and 2004 she served as the musical director at Camp Greystone in North Carolina, where she shared a tiny cabin with her two boys, led a Sunday morning choir, and helped direct the summer musicals. She loves watching her students grow, while helping them find their true voice. And occasionally, you just might run across a story of hers in print, as she is also a published writer with great aspirations.

Glenda Garwood, our “Joyful Noisemakers” preschool instructor, was born and raised in Alaska where she met and married Paige Garwood, our guitar instructor. Paige and Glenda have been married since 1976. They have 2 grown children, Joy and Matthew, both married. Music has been part of the fabric of family life from the beginning. Glenda’s earliest memories included the sounds of classical music as she listened to her father give private voice lessons to his college students and to the sounds of her mother playing the piano. A dream was born in those early years to someday become a teacher. Glenda began teaching preschool -K4 in the fall of 1995. God took her teaching into a new direction in fall of 2004 when she began teaching music for homeschooled children. Currently, she is teaching music at 4 different home school academies in the metro-Atlanta area to students from age 3 up to 4th grade. Glenda has a passion to help your child discover a love for music and to find their own unique gifts. She believes music is a gift from God, to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of ability.



Paige Garwood, our theory and guitar instructor, is a Guitarist/Bassist in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area. He teaches privately, giving group or individual instruction to approximately 200 students each week during the school year, and is an on call studio recording session player as well.  He is currently employed by four Homeschool Academies, and is actively involved with recording and producing other artist’s albums. He and his wife Glenda lead a crowd of 2 to 5 year old preschoolers in worship every Sunday at Westridge Church.

A graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music, Paige has traveled widely in his role as a guitarist and bassist. He has played on and between both coasts of the United States, and has traveled overseas as well, playing a series of concerts in and around Moscow, Russia.    Paige lives in Dallas, Georgia, with his lovely wife Glenda and the world’s most perfect dog, Millie. He is the father of two children, Joy and Matthew, both of whom are married to wonderful spouses and are gainfully employed, for which Paige and his wife are grateful.

Amy Gravitte, a graduate of Dalton College, grew up as the daughter of a Minister of Music. Since music was a natural part of daily life, picking up several instruments was not uncommon.  Amy marched 4 years at Dalton High School, playing the flute and piccolo. During this time, she traveled to many locations for competitions and exhibitions, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  She has taught music lessons privately as well as in a homeschool organization and is currently the Praise Band leader at Grace Church. Amy and her husband, who is also a musician, are passing their love of God and music to their 6 children.

Lisa Ragan, our Recorder Director, is a graduate of Emory University, plays the clarinet and recorder, and dabbles with other musical instruments.  In her experience as the homeschool mom of 9 children, she has learned to be a patient and enthusiastic teacher.  A member of the Sprayberry High School 'Band of Gold' in it's heyday under director, Dan Martin, Lisa continues to pass on her love of music to her children and many others.  She and her husband Brad have eight of their nine children involved in various Joyful Noise programs.  We look forward to many years with the Ragan Family!

Deborah Scarazzo, the director of our Elite and Advanced Bands and the woodwind ensemble, is an accomplished musician.  In addition to Joyful Noise Band, Deborah has taught college music for 13 years at various schools, including North Georgia College and Reinhardt College.  Her classes included Woodwind Private lessons, Symphonic Band, Chamber Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Music Theory, Sight Singing, and Music Appreciation  In addition she has worked with Middle School and High school Students for 6 years and her church choirs for 7 years.

Her education includes a Master of Music Education Degree from Columbus State University, Graduate studies in flute performance at DePaul University, Bachelor of Music in flute performance from the University of Denver. She has studied flute with various master flutists in various settings.  She has also performed with the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville Theater Orchestra, Macon Symphony Orchestra, Denver Community Opera and Musical Theater Orchestra.

Deborah has a very active private studio in Cumming where she resides with her husband and two children. She is an active member at Christ the King Lutheran Church where she performs as flute soloist, in chamber ensembles, and serves as children's choir musical director.   Deborah is a member of the National Flute association, the Atlanta Flute Club, and  Georgia Music Educators Association.

Ashley Scott, our Orchestra Director, has her Master's Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Florida State University.   She is the Director of the Georgia Youth Symphony (GYSO) SINFONIA and CAMERATA groups.    She is a Professor of Violin and Viola at North Georgia College & State University.  She has worked with the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Credo Chamber Music Camp, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. She is also the Music Director at Dahlonega United Methodist Church. As a former home schooled student in the Atlanta Area, she is excited to be working with home schooled students once again.

Chris Walston, our Jazz Director, studied for the ministry first, but God led him to minister in a different way.  He is experienced in leading Jazz Ensembles at the high school level in the Cobb County School System.   He is the owner of the Woodwind Shop in Jasper, GA, and teaches private lessons too many students who successfully aspire to All-State.  He is happily married and shares his joy in life with enthusiasm in his music.