Steven Charity, Director

About our Band Program


Whitewater Middle School opened in 1990 and has grown to a current student enrollment of over 900 students.  It was recognized as a Georgia School of Excellence in 1997 and 2009.  The school is located in the southern part of Fayette County in Fayetteville, Georgia.  Mr. Bill Melton was the very first band director of the school and under his direction the program enjoyed great success!  Most recently the band has been under the direction of Elizabeth Haynes but this year the program has welcomed Mr. Steven Charity as it's newest director.  After middle school our students will go on to become members of the wildly successful Whitewater High School band program under the direction of Josh Roberts and Assistant Director Chad Reynolds.

The band program at Whitewater Middle School has an enrollment of 200 students.  Students at Whitewater Middle School start their band experience in the 6th grade. Students in the seventh and eighth grade are divided into ability-based performing bands by audition. Seventh and eighth grade students are placed into either Symphonic or Concert Band.  The Symphonic Band has been invited to play at Walt Disney World, Six Flags Over Georgia, Opryland, and Universal Studios. The band was invited to play at the 1999 and 2015 Georgia Music Educators’ Association State Music Convention and the 2001 University of Georgia Middle School Honor Band Festival.  In May 2000, Whitewater’s three bands Symphonic, Concert, and Advanced 6th Grade Bands each placed first in their respective divisions at the Music in the Parks competition.  The band also received a gold rating and was awarded the sweepstakes trophy at the 2002, 2004, 2006,2008 and 2009 Southern Star Music Festival in Atlanta.  The Symphonic Band was also invited to play at the 2005 Southern Division Music Educators National Conference in Tampa, Fla. and the 2006 Southeastern United States Concert Band Festival at Troy State University in Troy, Alabama.  The Symphonic Band also consistently receives superior ratings at district level Large Group Festival.  A high number of students are also selected to participate in District Honor Band and the Georgia Middle School All-State Band.