Mark Gurnow, Director of Bands
Mark Gurnow is in his fifteenth year at Allatoona High School and is currently the Director of Bands. Mark began his musical studies as a result of his high school band directors Alfred Watkins and Sue Samuels who saw potential and nurtured his musical growth. Since Mr. Gurnow’s opening of Allatoona in 2008, the band program has achieved numerous awards, honors, and recognitions. The Allatoona Band Program has performed at events locally, regionally , and nationally.
Mr. Gurnow is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he studied under Dan Drill and Dr. Harry Price. Mark Gurnow is an active clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator throughout the country. Mr. Gurnow’s family includes two wonderful daughters Riley and Keelie and wife Jessica.
Stephanie Grote, Assistant Director
Stephanie Grote is in her first year as an Assistant Band Director at Allatoona High School. Mrs. Grote enjoyed starting her musical career playing trumpet at Tapp Middle School and McEachern High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Mrs. Grote previously served as an Assistant Band Director in Austin, Texas from 2010-2018. Mrs. Grote taught at Canyon Ridge Middle School from 2010-2012, and at Vandegrift High School from 2012-2018. While at Vandegrift, Mrs. Grote was responsible for teaching the Symphonic Winds and Concert Band 2, as well as assisting with the award winning Marching Band.
Mrs. Grote graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in 2010, where she enjoyed serving as drum major of the Green Brigade Marching Band. Additionally, Mrs. Grote enjoyed performing on trumpet in the North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon.
An active participant in Drum Corps International, Mrs. Grote performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from Santa Clara, California between 2007-2009. She served as Drum Major during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. She was the first female head Drum Major in SCV’s 50+ year history. In 2009, she was the recipient of the Jim Jones Leadership Award, which is given annually to one world class drum major by the DCI Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Grote’s family includes her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Darian and Miles.