Directors & Sponsors
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.


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.
Deana Rizzo
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.


Christine Sexton
Sarah Cobb


Chloe Seabrooke
Amy Lovelace
