Related Links
Music Department Faculty
Debra Schab received her Master's degree in violin performance from Western Illinois University and Bachelor's degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mrs Schab enjoys performing and is currently a free-lance violinist/violist with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and Augusta Choral Society and has performed with the Hilton Head Chamber Orchestra and Augusta, Charleston and Greenville Symphonies.She performed with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for over 10 years, served on the educational staff of the Savannah Symphony, and directed the Junior String Ensemble.
She has taught Suzuki violin for 28 years and received extensive Suzuki training from Alice Joy Lewis, Kay Sloan and Almita Vamos. She has been a clinician for Suzuki workshops in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Illinois and Iowa. Mrs. Schab has taught violin, string methods/pedagogy and has directed Suzuki Programs at Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia, Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, Knox College, in Galesburg, Illinois, and Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois.
After teaching beginning orchestra in Clarke County for eight years, Mrs. Schab joined Athens Academy in 2001. She currently teaches orchestra in grades 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9-12 and is the Director of Fine Arts.
Jenny Taylor received her Bachelor of Music Education from Winthrop University in 1988. Prior to her studies at Winthrop University, Ms. Taylor studied abroad at the University of Durham, Durham England, attended Hope College in Holland Michigan, and Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. After completing her music degree, Ms. Taylor taught elementary music and started a high school show choir in Anson County, North Carolina. This group performed throughout the county for special school and community events. She taught general music in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system for several years and directed the junior high chorus at Cochrane Junior High School. Ms. Taylor also worked as youth choir director at Mallard Creek United Methodist Church, and at Plaza Presbyterian as organist, choir, children’s choir, and bell choir director.
After moving to Greensboro, North Carolina, Ms. Taylor was the choral director at High Point Central high school and Kiser middle school. She was the founding director of the High Point Central High School Show Choir.
After moving to the Athens area in the Spring of 2001, Ms. Taylor began working at Athens Academy as the band teacher in the fall of 2001. Currently, Jenny Taylor is the Director of Bands at Athens Academy where she teaches middle and upper school band, jazz band, and oversees the pep band program. She teaches piano privately. Ms. Taylor is a member of AMTA, GMEA, and NAfME..
Elizabeth Bowen Shaw received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia; her applied studies were on saxophone and piano. Her first teaching position was as Band Director at Burney Harris Middle School. She moved to Atlanta as the Orchestra Director at Walton High School and Dodgen Middle School in Cobb County. During this time, she performed with the DeKalb Wind Symphony. She returned to UGA to pursue graduate studies including applied studies on the cello. She performed in the UGA Symphony Orchestra and taught for the Pre-College String Program during this time. Mrs. Shaw performed with the Athens Symphony after her return to Athens.
In 1988, Athens Academy hired Mrs. Shaw to establish the band and string orchestra programs in grades four through twelve. As the programs have grown, Athens Academy has hired additional faculty and extended the string program to grades two through twelve. Currently, Mrs. Shaw teaches orchestra in grades two through six and is the Music Department Head.
Debbie Fuller-Ramsey came to Athens Academy after teaching five years at Covered Bridge Montessori School in Smyrna, GA and Country Brook Montessori School in Norcross GA. She attended Truett McConnell Junior College from 1978 - 1980 and received her Associates in Music while attending there. She attended Shorter College for one semester in 1980 and took a leave from her education from 1980 through 1992 to raise her girls. She returned to college in 1992 and completed her Bachelor of Music Education from Kennesaw State University in June of 1996.
She joined the faculty of Athens Academy in 2001 and currently teaches music in the Lower School.
Nancy Robertson received a Bachelor of Music Education cum laude and Master of Music Education from the University of Georgia. Her major instrument was piano and she studied with Despy Karlas. Mrs. Robertson maintains a private piano studio and is organist at Tuckston United Methodist Church. She is a member of the National, State and Local Music Teachers Association and has served on the board for the state and local levels and is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference. While at the University of Georgia, she sang in the auditioned Georgia Singers.