Mr. Jeremy Ray

Originally from Liberty, North Carolina, Mr. Jeremy Ray attended Eastern Randolph High School where he developed his love for music and passion for teaching.  In the fall of 1995, Mr. Ray began his study in music education at Appalachian State University.  While at Appalachian State, he studied clarinet under Dr. Douglas Miller and performed in ensembles led by Dr. William Gora and Dr. Jay Jackson.  Mr. Ray did his student teaching at Page High School with Mr. Ed Kimbrough, whom Mr. Ray believes was the greatest influence on his teaching.  In December of 1999, Mr. Ray received his Bachelor degree in Music with a concentration in Instrumental Music Education.  In 2007, Mr. Ray received his National Board Certification in Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood in Instrumental Music and was recertified in November 2016.  In May of 2013, Mr. Ray earned a Masters in Executive Leadership from Gardner-Webb University.  

Mr. Ray began his teaching career at West Montgomery Middle and High Schools in Troy, North Carolina.  Under his baton, the West Montgomery High School concert band received one of the two Superior Ratings at MPA in the school's history and he increased enrollment from 80 band students to over 150 in grades 6-12.  After a year and a half in Troy, Mr. Ray took over the Southeast Guilford High School band program, where he taught for 18 years.  During his tenure at Southeast, Mr. Ray took the band to several marching, concert and jazz competitions, where his groups consistently received superior ratings.  In the fall of 2009, the Southeast High School Jazz Ensemble performed at the prestigious North Carolina Music Educators Conference held annually in Winston-Salem.  In 2019, Mr. Ray was offered the chance to be the band director at Grimsley Senior High School.  He welcomed this new opportunity and is currently in his fourth year.  During his short time at Grimsley, Mr. Ray has increased the number of students accepted into All County and All District Band.  In 2022, over 30 students were selected into All County Band.  Mr. Ray took both the Grimsley concert band and wind ensemble to MPA, where both ensembles received a superior rating.  These are the first superior ratings at MPA for Grimsley High School since 2004.    

In 2011, Mr. Ray was the recipient of the "Band Director of the Year" award from the Central District Bandmasters Association and has again been selected for this award in 2022.  Mr. Ray is a member of several professional organizations; the Central Jazz Region, Central District Bandmasters Association, Guilford County Band Directors, NCBA, NAFME, NCMEA, and NCAE.  He is currently the Past Chair of the Central District Bandmasters Association and has held positions such as Chair and Treasurer of the Central Jazz Region, NCBA Executive Board Member, is a former Lead Teacher for Band in Guilford County, and has served on multiple committees.    

Although Mr. Ray has a passion for excellence in music, he enjoys taking spur of the moment trips with his wife and watching his children engage in their favorite activities.  He is the proud father of two, Ivy and Jimmy, and is happily married to his lovely wife, Tracey.