Harrison band alumnus and former drum major TJ Shaheen has joined Harrison Bands as a percussion instructor, as long-time instructor Colby Kuzontkoski reduces his involvement at HHS for an expanded role at The School of Rock.
“We want to thank Colby for his long service and outstanding contributions to our Harrison Bands program and all our students,” said Josh Ray, director of bands at Harrison High School. “Colby has been instrumental in our success over the years. While we’ll miss his full-time engagement with our band programs, we look forward to his continuing contributions in the future.”
Kuzontkoski joined Harrison Bands in 2010. He is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance.
Shaheen returns to Harrison from North Gwinnett High School in Suwannee, GA, were he served as the Director of Percussion. He is currently on staff with the nationally-recognized Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, WI. From 2015-2018, TJ performed with the Atlanta Quest organization, and led the front ensemble as section leader from 2017-2018. He joined the front ensemble staff there in 2019.
At Harrison, Shaheen was a percussionist, pianist, and drum major. He was graduated from Georgia State University, where he completed a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis on percussion performance. While attending, he was a member of the GSU Panther Band in their “Rock Band” ensemble, as well as a performing member of the Wind Ensemble, a principal percussionist with the Symphony Orchestra, and performing member of the Percussion Ensembles. In 2018, he and a colleague, Bryan Wysocki, performed Baljinder Sekhon’s Double Percussion Concerto through the Brumby Concerto Competition.
In addition to his work with North Gwinnett and Atlanta Quest, TJ has also worked with other high schools in the area, including Harrison HS, North Paulding HS, Mountain View HS, South Forsyth HS, Denmark HS, Chattahoochee HS, Cherokee Charter School, and Wheeler HS through their marching band, concert band, and indoor percussion ensembles. He is a performing member of the Atlanta Percussion Ensemble and the Atlanta Steel Collective and currently resides in Marietta, GA.
“We’re excited to welcome TJ back to Harrison in this new role,” Ray said. “Being an alumnus of our program, he gives our students a real link to the dedication, excellence and pride that remain hallmarks of our band history. Now, his extensive experience as an outstanding performer and dedicated instructor will help them develop their own talents as part of our program.”