Adjunct Staff

Miguel Castro
Percussion Coordinator

Miguel studied music from 1977 to 1983 at the “Conservatorio Nacional de Música” in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic earning a Master’s Degree in Music Performance. After that, he went to New York to study at Drummers Collective International in 1984-85 where he had the opportunity to study with some of the world’s leading percussionists including Steve Gadd, Doug Allen, and Frank Malabé.

In 1989, Miguel moved to Germany where he played in numerous Latin American, jazz, pop and chamber groups as well as pursuing an extensive recording career. He did tours throughout Europe with various groups and performers, amongst them the Puerto Rican Salsa star Marvin Santiago. Miguel has been a recording artist with ARC Music record label since 1992 and has produced 17 Compact Discs since then. He has played in various orchestras (Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional of Dominican Republic, Swiss Philharmonic Orchestra, Carol Morgan Operatic Society, Orquesta Sinfónica de Maracaibo), and currently performs with The Macon Symphony Orchestra in Macon, Georgia and the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra in the Middle Georgia area.

In 1992, he returned to the U.S. where he has continued as an active performer as well as a teacher of all percussion disciplines. He served as Director of Percussion Studies at Mercer University in Macon for eight years. At the present time, he serves as Director of Percussion Studies and Jazz Band at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Georgia since the beginning of the Instrumental Music program (established in 1998 by Mr. Louis Foster, Director of Bands). Mr. Castro is also currently the Percussion Coordinator of the Houston County School System. He is regularly in demand as a percussion clinician (Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, Georgia Percussive Arts Society Conference, and Southeastern United States Band Clinic), adjudicator, composer, arranger and recording artist, maintaining a busy schedule in and outside of the United States.

Shawn Smith
Cologuard Director

Shawn Smith, Colorguard Director, is originally from Springfield,TN. He went to the University of TN at Chattanooga majoring in Music Education. He later became the colorguard instructor for the marching Mocs for 8 seasons. He has taught numerous colorguard programs throughout southeastern TN and Middle GA where he was the colorguard instructor for Mercer University for 5 seasons. Shawn has been the choreographer for several Winterguards presently being the lead choreographer for Chimera Winterguard. He has marched with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps placing 4th with the corps and 3rd within the colorguard caption at DCI. He has also marched with Chimeras World Guard placing among the top 15 at WGI. Shawn has 23 years of colorguard experience and returns to Houston County for his 6th season.

Alexis Brown
Percussion Assistant

My name is Alexis Brown. Originally, I am from Wichita Falls, TX and moved to GA upon graduating high school in 2014. I came to GA to pursue my producing and teaching careers. I graduated from Middle Georgia State University with both my AA in Music and BA in Contemporary Musicianship. I plan to further my education and recieve my Master's in Music Ed. This is my first full school year as an Percussion Instructer at HoCo and loving every minute. I feel so welcomed everytime i step into the band room. These kids are amazing. Can't wait to see what the future holds at HoCo.

Go Bears! SUDA!

Joey Bronner
Percussion Assistant
Joey Bronner is a native of Macon, Georgia born with a passion for music. At a very young age he started formal musical training as a percussionist at M.A. Evans Academy and continued his musical education through high school performing in both concert and marching band ensembles. Joey holds an associate degree in Music Performance with a concentration on percussion from Toccoa Falls Bible College. He graduated from Middle Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Contemporary Musicianship with a focus on jazz piano and is also a graduate of the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media’s drum program. Active in the music industry, Joey has written and produced music for several local businesses and is an active studio musician who has collaborated with artists near and far for various music projects. He has worked as a private instructor at Bill Hardin Music Co, Georgia Music, Bailey Brothers Music Co (Birmingham, Al) and is currently a percussion and keyboard instructor at Guitar Center Studios in Macon, Ga. Joey grew up serving in the music ministry at Aletheia Baptist Church in Macon, GA and is currently the minister of music at Bibb Mt. Zion Baptist church in Macon, GA. He has continued to excel in ministry and in the music industry. Joey is an artistic creative who is fluent in percussion and keyboard performance. As a percussion assistant at Houston County High School he hopes to share the knowledge he has gained through years of musician experience to inspire students to excel as musicians becoming young leaders in the contemporary world of music.
Natalie Pounds
Natalie is a new recruit to the BASB staff and could not be more excited to work with the students and instructors here at Houston County. She grew up in Macon, Georgia and graduated from Jones County High School in 2020. While attending Jones County, she played mellophone in marching band and French horn in symphonic band, and she held the leadership role of Band Captain her senior year. Natalie has experience in drum corps as well, having secured a spot as a mellophone with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps in 2020. The 2020 DCI season was ultimately canceled due to the pandemic, but she was able to march and tour with Genesis in their 2021 season. She returned to Jones County as a band staff member for the Fall of 2021. Natalie is currently an undergraduate student at Mercer University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology degree. She hopes to go to graduate school for a Master’s in Occupational Therapy.