JOANNE MA
Director of Percussion
BEECH SPRINGS & D.R. HILL MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Joanne Ma is currently in her twelfth year of teaching, and her first as the Director of Percussion at Beech Springs Middle School and D. R. Hill Middle School. She has previously served as the Instrumental/World Music teacher at Duncan Elementary School of the Arts for six years while working with the James F. Byrnes High School Rebel Regiment. She is a graduate of Furman University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. During that time, she performed with Furman’s Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and Furman’s Marching Band, the Paladin Regiment, where she held multiple leadership positions. Additionally, she also had the opportunity to work with many high school marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles in the Upstate.
Prior to joining D5, Mrs. Ma served as the Director of Percussion and Assistant Director of Bands at Sumter High School for five years, where she worked with multiple concert bands, marching band, and indoor percussion, in addition to assisting with the winter guard program. Under her direction, these ensembles received numerous Superior ratings at SCBDA Concert Performance Assessments and top finishes at CWEA competitions. The band program was a consistent recipient of the Outstanding Performance Award.
Outside of teaching, Mrs. Ma also participated in performances with many ensembles, including Palmetto Percussion, Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Converse University’s Wind Ensemble, Foothills Brass Band, Foothills Philharmonic, and Furman University’s summer Lakeside Concert Band. Her professional affiliations include
Mrs. Ma resides in Greer with her husband, Tony, and when not teaching or performing, enjoys visiting water parks, kayaking, traveling around the world, and collecting uncommon musical instruments.