Hannah Cavender, Director of Bands

​Hannah Cavender serves as Seckinger High School's inaugural Director of Bands.
Previously, Ms. Cavender was the Associate Director of Bands at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, GA for two years. Her responsibilities included conducting the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band, assisting with all aspects of the program, managing the winter guard program, and teaching music technology.

Before her appointment at Mill Creek, Ms. Cavender was the Associate Director of Bands at Veterans High School in Kathleen, Georgia, for three years from 2017-2020. While at Veterans, Ms. ​Cavender conducted the Veterans Wind Symphony, instructed freshman woodwinds and percussion, directed the jazz band, designed and taught a music appreciation course, and assisted with all aspects of the marching band, three concert bands, and winter guard. The Veterans High School Warhawk Squadron, along with all concert bands, consistently received superior ratings at competitions and festivals. The Veterans High School Winter Guard was awarded 1st place at the Southern Association for Performance Arts Championships in 2019, during their inaugural season. 

​In 2017, Ms. Cavender graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. During her time at UGA, she studied saxophone under Dr. Connie Frigo and conducting under Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger. She was a member of the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band I, and an active participant in chamber music. Ms. Cavender was also a member of the Redcoat Marching Band and served as drum major of the 435-member band in 2015 and 2016. 

Ms. Cavender is a founding member and instructor for the Digital Drum Major Institute, a premier online training course for high school drum majors. The first DDMI hosted over 210 participants from 18 different states across the country.

Ms. Cavender is a native of Franklin, Tennessee, where she graduated from Franklin High School in 2013. She was a member of the Franklin Band, a nationally recognized and Sudler Shield awarded band program. Her professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity for women. Ms. Cavender lives in Jefferson with her pup Rosa.

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Sarah Quayle, Associate Director of Bands

Sarah Quayle serves as the Associate Band Director at Seckinger High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. While pursuing her degree, Ms. Quayle was able to perform in the UGA Redcoat Band. She also performed in several small and large ensembles at UGA, including the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Flute Studio. One of her highlights from studying at UGA was traveling to Italy for an Advanced Music Performance Study Abroad. Whilst there, she was able to gain knowledge and insight from Italian music professors at several conservatories across the country. Ms. Quayle student taught with Jeffrey Rowser at Morgan County High School in the Spring of 2023. 

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Quayle enjoys crocheting, reading, exercising, and playing with her one-year-old tuxedo cat, Maggie.

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Branden Annakie, Percussion Director

Branden Annakie is from Mcdonough, GA, and started his marching career at Ola High School. After graduating in 2014, he attended Jacksonville State University for 3 years and then transferred to the University of Georgia, graduating in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science. Branden has always had a passion for music and has performed in many ensembles, such as the Marching Southerners, JSU Wind Symphony, Chattanooga Independent 2016, UGA Symphonic  Band, and Equinox Percussion 2017-2018. 

As an instructor, he has worked with Cedar Shoals High School, North Forsyth High School, Social Circle High School, and Franklin County High School. Branden has been instructing Q2 Independent Open based out of Atlanta since 2019. 

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Kayla Benefield Davis, Guard Director

Kayla B. Davis is originally from Hoschton, GA. She began dancing at the age of four and started her color guard career during the 2009 winter season at Mill Creek High School. After graduating, Kayla joined the Panther Band Colorguard and Winterguard at Georgia State University, performing during the fall of 2012 as well as the winter and fall seasons of 2013. In 2014, she marched with the independent world-class winter guard Paramount, followed by two additional winter seasons with the University of Georgia Winterguard in 2015 and 2016. Kayla is well-versed in dance, flag, rifle, and sabre, but is best known for her expressive and dynamic flag work.

While performing with independent groups, Kayla began her teaching career as the Guard Director at Parkview High School. She went on to assist at Flowery Branch High School, worked with the University of North Georgia Percussion and Winds Guard, and later served as the Director at Greater Atlanta Christian School. In the winter of 2025, she began working with the SKG Guards.
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Kayla is thrilled and grateful to serve as the Director of Guards at Seckinger High School and looks forward to watching the program continue to grow and thrive.