Joanne Brandes
Executive Director
Retired band director, music educator, and private flute instructor Joanne Brandes resides in the Atlanta area. Mrs. Brandes received the Master of Music degree studying wind band conducting with Dr. Robert J. Ambrose at Georgia State University. She also holds the Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree with High Honors from the University of Illinois. An experienced educator, Mrs. Brandes taught instrumental music at public schools in Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia.
Joanne Brandes was an artist faculty member with the Department of Bands at Georgia State University conducting the Wind Orchestra. She also served as the Ensemble and Recruiting Coordinator for the Department of Bands. In this capacity, she organized and assisted with the Georgia State Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s convention performances and co-produced their first professional recording. She also served as Executive Director and Assistant Conductor for the auditioned youth wind band, Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble (MAYWE). She had the opportunity to travel with MAYWE for their Carnegie Hall debut in May of 2005.
Mrs. Brandes retired from teaching private flute lessons in June of 2018 after 35 years of dedicated service. Her flute students consistently won prestigious local, state, and national awards and competitions. Mrs. Brandes studied flute with Camilla Systema-Hoytenga and Eric Hoover of the University of Illinois. She later studied several years with Nancy Neidlinger-Gillett of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and Bradley University.
Joanne Brandes performed on flute and piccolo with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and the Prairie Wind Ensemble in Illinois; with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and the Lafayette Citizen's Band in Indiana; and with the Georgia State University Chamber Winds and Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Atlanta Wind Symphony and the Cobb Wind Symphony in Georgia. She enjoyed the privilege of performing in Germany and Italy, and the Midwest National Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.
