ABOUT US
The mission of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is to enhance the quality of life for Johns Creek and north Metro Atlanta residents through the presentation of high-quality performances, educational and other outreach programs that reflect the cultural diversity of the community.
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is comprised of professional musicians from all around the greater Atlanta metro area. Its Music Director and founder, J. Wayne Baughman, was a fixture on the Atlanta music scene for over thirty-five years. He aspired to bring together the very best symphonic musicians to serve Johns Creek and neighboring communities. In April of 2007, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra was officially incorporated as a Georgia non-profit performing arts organization.
JCSO musicians are among the finest instrumentalists in America, with an average of 16 years experience in professional orchestras. Most of the members have graduate degrees or artist diplomas in performing arts from the leading institutions of higher learning in the US, and many have received additional training in Berlin, London, Rome, Salzburg, Vienna and other leading European music centers. The members of the JCSO are committed to providing its audiences with the highest caliber of symphonic music possible.
History
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, Inc. is a fully professional orchestra founded and incorporated on April 28, 2007. The JCSO is the result of the vision of its founder, Music Director J. Wayne Baughman. Having worked as a music professional in the Johns Creek community since 1988, Maestro Baughman witnessed the dramatic growth of northeast Fulton County and the emergence of Johns Creek as its leading community. As commerce, education, healthcare, recreation and government institutions were created and expanded, he felt a need for a performing arts organization that would ultimately become the cornerstone of culture for Johns Creek and its neighboring communities.
Following several years of dreaming and planning, Baughman, with the help of his wife and a few supporters embarked on a two-year mission to “design” a traditional symphony orchestra whose members would be the most highly qualified symphonic musicians in metropolitan Atlanta and who were not already in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The repertoire performed would be the standard repertoire of classical, light classical, Broadway and popular music performed by the great orchestras of the world.
On December 1, 2006, the same day Johns Creek became a city, Maestro Baughman assembled forty-two (soon-to-be) JCSO musicians for the First Annual St. Benedict Christmas Gala & Holiday Pops Concert. The concert was a resounding success with nearly 1,000 in attendance. This was the final inspiration needed to proceed with incorporation and planning for the first bona fide concert season.
In that Debut Season 2007-2008, four concerts were performed to critical acclaim. The JCSO has been favorably compared to the full-time professional orchestras in its performances of major orchestral works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Stravinsky. Its audiences have delivered standing ovations at the close of each concert.
During the 2009-2010 Concert Season, the JCSO collaborated for the first time with a major guest choral ensemble, the 50-voice Archdiocesan Festival Choir of Atlanta in a performance of Haydn’s Harmoniemesse. On February 6, 2010, the JCSO hosted its first internationally recognized soloist when pianist, Piotr Folkert, performed the Chopin Concerto No. 1 at the Chopin Tribute concert.
In 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the orchestra temporarily moved to virtual concerts without missing a beat, delivering music to a world that had largely gone silent. That year, soon-to-be Grammy award winner and YouTube sensation violinist Charles Yang soloed with JCSO and provided masterclasses to local high-school students.
The JCSO has been growing steadily since, increasing both the number of concerts and number of musicians in the orchestra, and bringing more nationally- and internationally-known soloists to Johns Creek.
In November 2023, Maestro and Founder J. Wayne Baughman succumbed to a brief encounter with pancreatic cancer. Earlier in the year, the JCSO had started a music director search as the 2023-2024 season was to be his last season. Conductor John Morrison graciously stepped in to conduct the season in Maestro Baughman’s honor. Soloist Kevin Zhu performed with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra on his Stradivarius which he generously demonstrated to a rapt audience afterwards. The season also featured Mark Wood, original string master of the Transiberian Orchestra, Chicago pianist Awadagin Pratt, and a concert of Beethoven’s largest and most powerful work, the ninth symphony.
After an extensive search with 106 finalists, the 2024-2025 season featured three up-and-coming Music Director finalist as the orchestra prepared to thrill the next generation of audiences with world-class soloists.
On May 19, 2025, the board of directors announced internationally acclaimed conductor Henry Cheng as the new Music Director of the Johns Creek Symphony. Maestro Cheng’s first full season is the 2025-2026 season, as the symphony moves into a bright new future.
J. Wayne Baughman
Founder and former Music Director J. Wayne Baughman studied choral and orchestral conducting, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of Alabama, as well as advanced studies in conducting at the University of Michigan. Upon his arrival in Atlanta in 1974 Maestro Baughman immediately became involved with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Choruses and for twenty-five years was a frequent vocal soloist, chorus member and rehearsal conductor under the guidance of the late Robert Shaw. Well known for his oratorio performances as bass soloist, he collaborated with Maestro Shaw on numerous performance projects including the Mozart REQUIEM MASS, J.S. Bach’s ST. JOHN PASSION, and Handel’s MESSIAH. In 1990, as bass soloist, Maestro Baughman shared the honor of a Grammy Award for the Telarc recording of BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST (Walton) and CHICHESTER PSALMS (Bernstein) with Robert Shaw and the ASO. Maestro Baughman has held numerous academic and church music conducting positions in a career spanning more than 50 years. In addition to his work with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra he served as Vice-President of the Cultural Arts Alliance at Johns Creek and chaired the Legacy Center at Johns Creek Task Force. Maestro Baughman passed away in November 2023. The Johns Creek Symphony continues building on his vision and wishes to honor his legacy.
2025-2026 Board of Directors
Peter Hildebrandt
Marilyn Margolis
Bill Abely
Kevin E. Brown
2024-2025 Musician Roster
Founder
J. Wayne Baughman (Music Director Chair sponsored by Linda Mauldin)
Violin
Adelaide Federici, Concertmaster, The Lynn Marie Hosty Baughman Chair, Tricia Anderson, Holly Bryan, Barbara Careaga, Kevin Chaney, Peter Ciacini, Eileen Drew, Sarah Ewing, Sally Gardner-Wilson, Heather Hart, Michael Herald, Alison James, Kathy Jaques, Elizabeth Lamback, Michelle Mariage-Volz, Kim Padgett, Sheri Peck, Patrick Ryan, Mayu Sommovigo, Andrew Uhe, Jonathan Urizar, Rafael Veytsblum
Viola
Cindy Beard, Clark Carruth, Josiah Coe, Catherine Evergreen, Kate Feltgen, Rebecca Floyd, Samantha Lester, Charee Mitchem, Robert Rieve
Cello
Alana Bennett, Harrison Cook, Martin Gueorguiev, Alexandra Haines, Roi Harran, Sarah Kapps, Jessica Messere, Adrienne Steely, Tara Suswal, Katie Truex
Bass
James Barkett, David Goodwin, Peter Hildebrandt, Gabriel Monticello
Flute/Piccolo
Nicole Chamberlain, Molly Gareau, Candace Keach, Judith Klein, Kelly Via, James Zellers
Oboe
Kim Perrins, Rebecca Testerman
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Michael Bolick, Linda Brill, Staci Culbreth
Bassoon/Contra Bassoon
Debby Grove, John Grove, Grayson Sailor, Dan Worley
Horn
Amy Black, Alan Brown, Jay Hanselman, David Lamm, David McCurley
Trumpet
Doug Guice, Patrick McAvoy, Paul Poovey
Trombone
Tom Gibson, Hollie Lawing-Pritchard, Lee Watts, Jim Wile
Tuba
Robert Coulter
Timpani
Scott Douglas, John Lawless, Lisa Morris
Percussion
Caleb Herron, Karen Hunt, Joel Morris, Victor Pons
Harp
Nella Rigell
Piano
Michael Duff, Deb Terning
Electric Bass
Tim Aucoin
Electric Guitar
David Frankenpohl
Administration
Open
The Executive Director position is currently open, and we are seeking applicants. Join a symphony on the rise!
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is a dynamic and growing professional orchestra located in North Metro Atlanta. With a bold artistic vision under the direction of our new Music Director, JCSO is entering an exciting new chapter of musical excellence and community engagement. We seek a visionary, energetic, and results-oriented Executive Director to lead our organization forward in partnership with our Music Director and Board of Directors.
This is an opportunity for a confident and creative leader to grow an arts organization both artistically and financially, while making a visible impact in one of Georgia’s most culturally vibrant communities.
Read the full job description here. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé to edsearch@johnscreeksymphony.org.
Karen Hunt
Operations Manager Karen Hunt has extensive management experience with local arts organizations and nonprofits, while owning an Artist Management Company, KH Artists Group.
Karen is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Georgia State University, where she received a Bachelor’s of Music Performance in Percussion. As an active freelance percussionist, Karen is a member of the Atlanta Percussion Trio as well as the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Atlanta Opera and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Atlanta, Macon, Alabama, Savannah, Gwinnett and Charleston Symphonies. In addition to being an active freelance percussionist, she is also a founding member of Chix with Stix Percussion Group.
Karen has been a member of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra since its inception in 2007.
Rachel Loyd
Development and Marketing Coordinator Rachel Loyd is a passionate supporter of the arts who loves managing complex details, logistics, and timelines. With a background in event planning and project management, she coordinates both fundraising and marketing for the organization.
Prior to joining JCSO, she was a project coordinator for Carriage Partners, a high-end residential construction firm, acting as the primary liaison between new homeowners and the construction team, ensuring clients were informed of progress and any potential delays.
Rachel is comfortable in front of the orchestra as well as pulling the levers behind the scenes to make it happen. With a love for travel, adventure, and books, she brings insight, energy, and a passion for new experiences to everything she does. She has been with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra since 2024.
James Zellers
Personnel Manager James Zellers is Principal Flute and Orchestra Personnel Manager with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and The Atlanta Opera Orchestra as well as Principal Flute with The Columbus GA Symphony.
Dr. Zellers holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Indiana University and a D.M.A. from the Juilliard School. He was a former touring artist for the North Carolina Council for the Arts and Principal Piccolo with the Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota from 2001 through 2023. Currently he is a Flute Artist Affiliate for Emory University School of Music (since 2006) and Agnes Scott College (since 2021).
In addition to his flute activities, Dr. Zellers is an active organist as well as a pianist/accompanist in Atlanta. He is also the proud breeder of prize-winning Australian Shepherds; competing regularly in Confirmation and Competitive Obedience. Jim has been a member of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra since its inception in 2007.
Phil Parsons
Phil Parsons is the Orchestra Librarian for the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and The Atlanta Opera. He also works with other ensembles on a freelance basis, supporting a range of productions and concert programming throughout the season.
As a trumpet player, Phil has performed with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Lexington Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Aiken Symphony, and several New York City ensembles including the Greenwich Village Orchestra and The Chelsea Symphony. He is equally at home in musical theater and jazz settings and has shared the stage with artists such as Ben Vereen and Ann Hampton Callaway.
A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Phil brings a thoughtful, collaborative spirit to both his performance and librarian work, grounded in years of experience across genres and roles.