Michael J. Walsh

Michael J. Walsh
​Director of Bands, Alpharetta High School
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Michael J. Walsh is beginning his 34th year of teaching high school bands and his 14th year as Director  of Bands at Alpharetta High School in Atlanta, GA.  Mr. Walsh moved to Atlanta in 1998 and spent his first 6 years as the Director of Bands at North Springs HS in Sandy Springs with his good friend and long-time NSHS Master-teacher Mr. Herb Cox. Mr. Walsh spent this first 14 years of his career as Director of Bands at his alma mater Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, FL. While in Florida, his bands earned 14 years of consecutive Superior Ratings in Marching, Jazz, and Concert Band settings at both the District and State level.
Since moving to Atlanta his bands have earned Superior Ratings at all rated Festivals.  

​Bands under the direction of Mr. Walsh have performed in Washington DC,  Albany, New York, Nassau, Bahamas, Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida, London, England, Wales, Paris, France, San Francisco, CA,  the Georgia Music Educators State Convention, The University of Georgia Jan-Fest, The University of Alabama's January Band Clinic, Georgia State University's Honor Band of Distinction clinic, Bands of America (Music for All) Regional Concert Band Festival, and three times on stage at the National Concert Band Festival at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. Mr. Walsh has twice served on the State Board of Directors for the Florida Bandmasters Association as a District Chairman and District Secretary, and with the Georgia Music Educators Association as both District 5 Band Council Chair and as a member of the All-State Bands revision committee.


Mr. Walsh's professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Music Fraternity (past President), and a 33-year member of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education.  In addition, Mr. Walsh is an active adjudicator in both Florida and Georgia. He has presented and conducted at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He has been included in Who's Who Among American Teachers 11 times and has been awarded the National Bandmasters Association's "Citation of Excellence" on 5 separate occasions. Mr. Walsh was inducted into Alpharetta High School Foundation's "Hall of Fame" in 2012. 


Mr. Walsh earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from The Florida State University and his Masters of Music Education Degree from The University of Georgia Cum Laude.  He is a 20-year Alpharetta resident and resides with his best friend and wife Laurie. His children Andrew (a GA State graduate) and Megan (Senior at North GA College) are still in the Atlanta area.