The Morgan County Middle School band program is comprised of more than 240 students from 6th to 8th grades. We consistently have the top number of students in our GMEA district honor band, students are selected for the All-State band, solo and ensemble participation, an active jazz band, and many students extend their music education through private lessons.  MCMS bands score superior ratings at our state evaluations (LGPE) and the students are among the top in the school.

I have been teaching since 1991. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1991,  I began my career at Rockdale High School as the assistant band director and choral director. I was privileged to open Memorial Middle School in 1993, and began the band program with over 300 students.  Students represented the school at district honor band, solo and ensemble, and all-state bands.  In 1994, I received my masters in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL.  In 2000, Memorial Middle School had over 450 students enrolled and 2 directors.    I started a small band program  at Young Americans Christian School in Conyers, GA was the next step in my career. 

I will begin my 13th year at Morgan County Middle school in 2021. The program is one of the most visible aspects of the school and continues a strong tradition of excellence.  In 2017, I received MCMS Teacher of the Year and continue to serve on various committees at the school and as a representative of GMEA.   

My husband, Rob Seymour is the band director at Putnam Middle School.   My two oldest sons attend Piedmont College and Berry College and I have a daughter at GCSU.  

Karisa Seymour, Director

Morgan County Middle School Band

Email:  karisa.seymour@morgan.k12.ga.us

Office Phone:  706-752-4800

Andrew Duggins joined the One Morgan Band Program as the Assistant Band Director in 2023. Mr. Duggins is a native of Marietta, Georgia and is a 2017 graduate of Lassiter High School where he served as Band President, Mellophone Section Leader, and was a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society. In high school, Mr. Duggins was selected for the GMEA District 12 Honor Band five times and the GMEA All-State Band once in 2017. After graduation, he attended the University of Tennessee (UTK) and majored in music education with an emphasis on brass, woodwind, and percussion. While at UTK, Mr. Duggins was an active leader in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, serving as a mellophone squad leader for two years and then as an undergraduate teaching assistant (Blacksuit) his senior year. Other ensembles that he was a member of include the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Horn Choir, and Brass Choir. He student taught at Farragut Middle School with Chris MacTavish and at Farragut High School with Kenneth Carrico. Mr. Duggins graduated from UTK with his Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2021.

Mr. Duggins' career began in 2021 at Spring City Middle School in Spring City, Tennessee where he taught band and chorus. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, Mr. Duggins was tasked with rebuilding the music programs at SCMS. During his two years in Spring City, enrollment in band and chorus classes increased by 140%. The band returned to public performances in the fall of 2021 including concerts, home football games, and marching in the Spring City Christmas Parade. While living in Tennessee, Mr. Duggins was a member of the Tennessee Wind Symphony, an adult community concert band in Knoxville, TN. 

Mr. Duggins is excited to be a part of the One Morgan Band program. His responsibilities include leading the MCHS Concert Band, co-teaching the 6th grade, 7th grade, and jazz band with Ms. Seymour, and serving as the assistant band director of the Morgan County Marching Bulldog Band.

He currently resides in Madison, GA with his cat, George. 

Andrew Duggins, Director

Morgan County High School

Email:  andrew.duggins@morgan.k12.ga.us

Karen Mullins joins the faculty of the Morgan County High School Band this school year though she has been working with the group since 2001.  Morgan County has been her place of residence for over 20 years and she is proud to call it home.  

Born and raised in Villa Rica, Georgia, Karen excelled in high school as a euphonium, trombone and tuba player.  She went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and then her Master's in Music Education from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). 

Her teaching career began in 1995 at Eastside Transitional School in Newton County as a middle school band director.  Later, she opened Indian Creek Middle School in the same county in 1997, developing a vibrant middle school band with many District Honor and All-State Band participants.  From the Fall of 2000 to the Spring of 2016, Karen home schooled her three boys and co-founded the Athens Area Home School Band.  The program was very successful and is still active today.  In 2016, Karen joined the faculty at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Henry County as the music teacher of 750 students.  During each of these teaching assignments, she maintained an active low brass private lesson studio producing many successful musicians.

She is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

Karen has three boys who are amazing young men and musicians in their own right.  Nathan is an Army ROTC Cadet at the University of North Georgia; Aaron a freshman Music Industry major at Georgia Southern University-Armstrong; and Seth an eighth grade MCMS student and band member.

Karen Mullins, Assistant Director

Morgan County High School

Email: karen.mullins@morgan.k12.ga.us

Office Phone: 706-752-4900 

Google Voice:  706-431-8073