
Abigail Russom has served as the Director of Bands at Cass Middle School in Cartersville, Georgia for nine years. She is a proud graduate of the Bartow county school system and GMEA district 7, attending White Elementary, Cass Middle School, and Cass High School. In 2016 she earned dual bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from Reinhardt University, studying under Jeanne Heinz.
Ms. Russom is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and The National Band Director Association. She has contributed to the GMEA as the secretary for District 7 and has been a guest clinician and adjudicator throughout Georgia. Her dedication to excellence in music education has earned her multiple Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association. Ms. Russom also serves as the Middle School Division Director for the West Georgia Winds community ensemble, further contributing to the musical landscape of her community.
Under her leadership, the bands at Cass Middle School have grown to an enrollment of almost 300 students. The 7th grade, 8th grade, and Honor Bands consistently achieve superior ratings at the Large Group Performance Evaluations (LGPE). Her students regularly participate in District Honor Band, All-State Band, and Solo and Ensemble evaluations. The Cass Middle School Band was honored with the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award for the 2021-2022 school year.
The Cass Middle School Honor Band, under Ms. Russom's direction, has performed at prestigious events such as the Reinhardt University Honor Band Clinic, the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival, and the University of Georgia’s “Midfest” Clinic in December 2022. Recently, the band received invitations to perform at the 2024 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference and the 2024 Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State. Additionally, they will proudly represent their community at the Georgia Music Education Association Conference in January 2025.