Chelsea High School Band

Directors & Sponsors

Director of Bands

Perry Lawley

Perry Lawley is the Director of Bands at Chelsea High School, a position he has held since 2016. Lawley has served as a public school band director in Alabama since 2004. At Chelsea, Lawley supervises and oversees all aspects of the comprehensive band program and leads the teaching and development of its various ensembles. Bands at Chelsea consistently earn Superior ratings in adjudication and are respected around the state for their performance acumen and history.

Prior to his time at Chelsea, Lawley served for eight years as the Director of Bands at Montevallo Middle School and Montevallo High School, where he reinvigorated the band program by more than doubling participation numbers. Montevallo bands consistently earned Superior ratings in all forms of adjudication. Before Montevallo, Lawley served four years as Assistant Director of Bands at Rudd Middle School and Pinson Valley High School.

Lawley is a native of Montevallo, Alabama and a graduate of Montevallo High School. He holds both the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi. He served as a member of Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, the Symphonic Winds, and as a member of the internationally acclaimed USM Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble.

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Email Mr. Johnson
Assistant Director of Bands

Trace Johnson

Trace Johnson serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Chelsea High School. A graduate of Auburn University, Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree in Instrumental and Vocal Music Education with a concentration in Clarinet. During his time at Auburn University, Mr. Johnson participated in the Auburn University Marching Band serving as a clarinet soloist, section leader and drum major. Johnson also performed with the Auburn Symphonic Winds, Auburn Community Orchestra, and the Auburn University Clarinet Ensemble where he also served as an arranger for the group.

Prior to his employment at Chelsea, Mr. Johnson served as the Director of Bands at Pine Grove Middle School in Valdosta, GA where he led instruction for musicians in 6th-8th grades. In addition to working with his middle school students, Mr. Johnson also instructed private students and worked with the award winning Lowndes High Georgia Bridgemen in Valdosta. Outside of the band room, Mr. Johnson loves spending time with his soon to be wife, Victoria, cooking, writing music, and spending time with his friends and family.

Director of Bands, Chelsea Middle School

Deana Rizzo

Deana C. Rizzo is the Director of Bands at Chelsea Middle School in Chelsea, Alabama where she has taught since 1993. Under her direction, the band program has grown from 50 students sixth through eighth grades to over 200 students annually. For many years the band program has consistently earned superior ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Association State Music Performance Assessment.

Mrs. Rizzo earned the Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University and the Master of Music degree from the University of Montevallo. During her time at Troy, she served as principal flute in the Symphony Band, piccolo section leader of The Sound of the South, and pianist for the TSU Jazz Ensemble. Mrs. Rizzo’s professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Sigma Alpha Iota. She was named Teacher of the Year for Chelsea Middle School in 2005 and 2015. She has also been blessed to serve as a clinician for several regional honor bands.

As a native of Chelsea, Alabama, Mrs. Rizzo is proud to teach and live in her hometown to continue the legacy that inspired and influenced her. She and her husband, Mike, are both members of the Celebration Winds Community Band. They also actively serve in the music ministry at North Shelby Baptist Church and are proud parents of two adult sons.

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Email Mrs. Sexton
Sponsor, Dance Line

Christine Sexton

Mrs. Christine Sexton grew up in Oak Grove, Alabama. Although the town had a small population, during Mrs. Sexton’s 9th-12th grade years, the band normally comprised over 150 students and achieved high ranking awards every year. With the Oak Grove High School band, Mrs. Sexton marched in the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California, the Citrus Parade in Orlando, Florida, the Macy’s Day Parade in New York City, and various other parades including parades in Disneyland and Disney World. Mrs. Sexton was captain of the Dance Team her senior year. Mrs. Sexton attended Auburn University for her undergraduate degree in special education and the University of Alabama for her master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education. Mrs. Sexton coached the dance team at Bottenfield Jr. High in Jefferson County and took the team to third place in the Universal Dance Association’s National Competition in Orlando, Florida. Mrs. Sexton has also coached and sponsored various dance and cheer teams in the Birmingham Metro area. Mrs. Sexton has enjoyed being the Stingettes’ dance team coach since 2021.
Sponsor, Majorettes

Sarah Cobb

Hi! I am Sarah Beth Cobb and I am one of the sponsors of the Chelsea High Stingettes. I have been teaching at Chelsea High School for three years and have been a sponsor for The Stingettes for two years. I teach 11th-grade English and Creative Writing. Each year is always exciting and busy with lots of activities, games, practices, and much more. But, amidst all that goes on during the season, my favorite part is working with the girls to perfect our field show; it’s rewarding to see all the girls’ hard work pay off. I have to give credit where credit is due, because our girls are creative, hard-working, dedicated, and focused. I continually look forward to seeing all we accomplish as Stingettes and as the band as a whole. As always, Hornet Pride!
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Email Mrs. Sea
Sponsor, Color Guard

Chloe Seabrooke

Greetings! My name is Mrs. Seabrooke or Mrs. Sea for short; I am one of the color guard sponsors. I am a University of Alabama at Birmingham alumni and I have 10 years of marching band experience. Currently I teach 9th and 11th grade English at CHHS. As a former tuba player I love getting to help out with the band and interacting with students outside of the classroom. When I’m not cheering on the Chelsea Hornets you can find me reading fantasy novels, playing Animal Crossing, or impulse buying at Target.
Sponsor, Color Guard

Amy Lovelace

Hey! My name is Mrs. Lovelace and I am one of the color guard sponsors. After marching in band throughout high school and college I knew being a part of this amazing team was where I wanted to be. Currently I teach one of our Special Education classes. As a former band member and color guard enthusiast I am very excited to spend some time outside of the classroom doing something I love. In all my free time you may catch me chasing my 3 and 2 year old, gardening, or walking the isles of any and all stores.
Email Mrs. Lovelace