Meet Your 2026 Athena Camp Faculty and Guests
Jennifer Theisen-Gray, Conductor
Jennifer Theisen-Gray has served as Director of Bands at William M. Colmer Middle School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, since 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Florida A&M University (FAMU), where she studied conducting under Dr. Julian E. White and Dr. Shelby R. Chipman. While at FAMU, she studied flute and piccolo in the studio of Mrs. Dennine White and performed as a member of the FAMU Flute Choir and Wind Ensemble. Mrs. Theisen-Gray earned a Master of Music Education degree from Boston University and an Education Specialist degree in Music Education from Piedmont University. In 2022, she completed a Master of Business Administration in Cybersecurity from Florida Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at Belhaven University.
She began her teaching career at Howell L. Watkins Middle School in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she successfully built the Seminole Band program from its inception to an enrollment exceeding 350 students. Her professional experience also includes service as Director of Bands at Miller Grove Middle School in Decatur, Georgia, and Bennett’s Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Under her leadership, ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at concert assessments and solo and ensemble evaluations. She also assisted Dr. Myra Rhoden with the award-winning Fayette County High School Marching and Concert Bands. In December, the William M. Colmer Symphonic Band was selected as the premier middle school ensemble at the 88th Mississippi Bandmasters Association State Conference.
Jennifer is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, the Association of Black Women Band Directors (charter member), and currently serves as President of the Mississippi Women Band Directors Association. She is also a member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Artist Faculty
The Athena Camp faculty consists of highly successful, professional women who teach band, orchestra, and private music lessons at the elementary, middle & high school, and college levels. Many faculty members have been with us since the camp's inception in 2008.
DR. MYRA RHODEN - Founder
DR. ZANDRA BELL-MCROY - Athena Camp Director
ASIA LLOYD - Elementary Music Educator, Gwinnett County (GA)
MICHELLE RICKARD - Ret. Band Director, Cobb County Schools (GA); Adjunct Professor, Reinhardt University
JOSEY JIMINEZ - Band Director, Gwinnett County Schools (GA)
DR. ELLIE JENKINS - Associate Professor of Music, Dalton State College; Artist Affiliate, Berry College (GA)
HOLLIE PRITCHARD - Midtown Brass Quintet, Georgia Brass Band, and Savannah Philharmonic
SARAH DIETRICH - Freelance Musician, Atlanta (GA)
LATOYA BROOKS - Elementary Music Educator, Atlanta Public Schools (GA)
