Band Staff
The West Forsyth Band is proud to have some of the most talented and passionate directors around to lead the bands and color guard for the 2019-20 school year.
For bios for the directors, please see below:
Josh Tyree
Director of Bands
Mr. Josh Tyree is currently serving in his third year as director of bands at West Forsyth High School. Under his direction the all three concert bands have earned all superior ratings. The Pride of the West Marching Band won a grand champion trophy last year. Previously, he had been the director of bands at Liberty Middle School since the fall of 2009. His last important achievement there was seeing the completion of the band room construction which doubled the size of their space in the spring of 2017.
John Herndon
Assistant Director of Bands
Mr. Herndon received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, taught for five years at Woodland High School in Stockbridge, GA, and for six years at Milton High School in Milton, GA. While at Milton the marching band was a consistent Bands of America Regional Finalist, the indoor drumline was a two-time GIPA Champion and WGI World Championship Finalist, and the percussion ensemble hosted Jim Casella as an artist in residence and performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference as a featured ensemble.
Al Estep
Assistant Director of Bands
Alfred S. Estep is delighted and honored to join the West Forsyth High School Band Family as the Assistant Director of Bands, effective and beginning in the 2019 – 2020 school year. Mr. Estep served as Director of Bands at Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek, Georgia from 2009 – 2019, and as of May 24, 2019, he retired from Johns Creek High School and the State of Georgia.
Pat Gallagher
Director of Jazz Studies
Patrick J. Gallagher retired in 2016 after a 40-year career in instrumental and music education. He began his teaching career at Ashworth Middle School in Calhoun, Georgia in 1976. He has taught at Ashworth Middle School, Eastbrook Middle School, Forsyth County/Central High School, Pickens High School and most recently at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia.
Sharon Ryles
Color Guard Director
A native of Alliance, Ohio, Sharon earned her B.S. in Communications, English Education, and Theater from Bowling Green State University (OH), and her M.S. in School Counseling from Capella University (MN) and is also a Counselor at West Forsyth High School. She began working as a freelance choreographer, designer and clinician in 1994 and has worked with several successful color guard programs throughout Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas, Florida and California.