John Cypert

Dr.John M. Cypert currently serves as a music specialist at Duncan Creek Elementary School in Hoschton, Georgia where he teaches general music to children in grades K-5 and co-directs the Duncan Creek Cardinal Choir, a 2013 guest performance ensemble at the Georgia Music Educators annual in-service conference.  Additionally, John serves as percussion supervisor and arranger for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, the Mill Creek High School marching band, and is in his twentieth season as the percussion coordinator and arranger for the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band. John has served as the music arranger and ensemble director for Pariah Percussion Theatre from Jasper, Georgia, a competitive independent percussion ensemble in the Winter Guard International arena.  While in this position, Pariah earned the WGI Percussion Independent Open Class silver medal in 2003, was a World Class finalist in 2004, and was crowned the Open Class World Champion in 2009.  In 2005 and 2006, John served in the same capacity for Odyssey Percussion Theatre from Suwanee, Georgia, who placed sixth and seventh respectively in the WGI Percussion Independent World Class.  In 2000, John served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, Delaware. In 2009, the Valdosta Middle School percussion ensemble commissioned and premiered John’s original work, Perpetuality, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illinois.  Prior to this in 2008, the Lanier Middle School percussion ensemble from Suwanee, Georgia performed his commissioned arrangement of Voices of Spring by Johann Strauss, Jr. at the same venue.  John remains active as a composer, arranger, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the United States.

John earned a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Georgia, a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas, and his Doctor of Education degree in Music from The University of Georgia. Additionally, John earned his Educational Leadership certificate from The University of Georgia. 

John’s professional experiences include performances with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Gainesville Symphony, Macon Symphony, and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony.  He was a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps from 1991-1993 where he performed as a snare drummer.  He remains active in the Southeast in all realms of percussion performance and endorses the products of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, and Remo exclusively.

John resides in Nicholson, Georgia with his wife, Chesley, and their two children, Mason and Madeline.