The people of Tara Winds

A native of Clarence, New York, Dr. Strauss taught elementary through college for 30 years in Georgia. She is the first woman college band director in Georgia and the former Director of Bands at Georgia Tech and Associate Professor of Music at Shorter University, with university ensembles that have performed in Australia, China, and Ireland. From 1992–1996 she served as Associate Director of the Atlanta Olympic Band and Director of the Atlanta Olympic Concert Band, performing at the International Olympic Committee Gala, the Macy’s and Presidential Inauguration parades, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games.

A charter member of Tara Winds, she previously served as principal clarinetist and Associate Conductor. She has performed or conducted at the Midwest Clinic four times and the GMEA In-Service Conference sixteen times, and has adjudicated or conducted in eighteen states. Under her leadership Tara Winds has performed in France and Germany, at the Midwest Clinic and the Southern Division CBDNA/NBA Convention, and, in 2025, at Carnegie Hall.

Director of Bands at Union Grove High School in McDonough, GA since the school opened in 2000, Stan has been a member of the Tara Winds trumpet section since 1989, the band’s librarian since 1999, and Associate Conductor since 2021. A native of Clayton County and a graduate of Morrow High School, he holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and Reinhardt University. He has worked for over 30 years as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across Georgia and South Carolina, and serves as Assistant Conductor of the Callanwolde Concert Band.

A music educator, conductor, and trumpeter from Cartersville, Georgia, Michael serves as Conductor of the Emory Wind Ensemble and Associate Conductor of Tara Winds. As Director of Bands at Woodland High School, his ensembles performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the 2023 London New Year’s Day Parade. He was the 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year and has received the National Band Association Citation of Excellence on five occasions.