Meet the Director:

Roland Ventura is currently the Director of Bands at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Since his appointment in 2007, the Pinckneyville Band program has grown to include over 340 students. The students participate in numerous different ensembles, including the Beginning Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Pinckneyville POPS!, PMS Concert Band, PMS Symphonic Band, and the PMS Symphonic Winds. Students in the PMS Band program participate in several GMEA band events, such as District Honor Band, All-State Band, Solo & Ensemble, and Large Group Performance Evaluation. Under the direction of Mr. Ventura, the Pinckneyville Symphonic Winds have performed at the Southeastern United State Band Clinic (SEUS) at Troy University, twice at the Middle School Band Festival (MidFest) on the campus of the University of Georgia and at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. The band has also been invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival at Georgia State University.

In addition to his duties as band director, Mr. Ventura has served as both department head for the PMS connections department and as a Gwinnett county lead teacher for middle school bands. In 2013, Mr. Ventura had the honor of being selected as the Teacher of the Year for Pinckneyville Middle School.

Mr. Ventura obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Education from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. Prior to attending college, Mr. Ventura proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Band Program. Before his appointment to Pinckneyville, Mr. Ventura was the Director of Bands and Instrumental Studies at the Virginia Beach Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Mr. Ventura has served as the Middle School Band Chair for District XIII and as the Multi-Cultural Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association. His professional affiliations are Phi Beta Mu, NAfME, GMEA, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity and the National Band Association(NBA). Mr. Ventura has been awarded 4 Citations of Excellence from the NBA and, in 2019, he became a proud recipient of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association Brent Cannon Alumni Achievement Award for Music Education.

Mr. Ventura is an active guest director, clinician and consultant for groups throughout the southeast. He is married to Angel Ventura and they have three grown children; Ryan, Brianna and Aurielle and two grandchildren: Rosalinda and Thiago.

• The 6th Grade Concert Band - This band consists of all beginning 6 grade band students. The classes are divided into a woodwind class and a brass/percussion class. The ensemble will perform two concerts per year.
• The Symphonic Band - This band consists of 7th and 8th grade intermediate band members who will participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluations and perform at school concerts. Extra rehearsals will be scheduled prior to performances and all students will be expected to attend.
• Symphonic Winds- This band consists of 7th and 8th grade advanced band members who will participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluations and perform at school concerts. These members are also required to audition for the GMEA District Band in the fall. Extra rehearsals will be scheduled prior to performances and all students will be expected to attend.