About Me

With a career spanning four decades, three high schools, and a youth symphony, Perry Holbrook has devoted his career to the education and musical development of young musicians. Since joining Walton High School in 2001, he has led the orchestra program through significant growth, with enrollment increasing from 130 students to more than 300.

Under his leadership, Walton ensembles have received eight invitations to perform at The Midwest Clinic (2001, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022), three invitations to the ASTA National Conference (2009, 2012, 2018), and seven invitations to perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference (2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2022). His ensembles have also performed internationally, participating in four European concert tours (2004, 2007, 2015, 2018). Walton string quartets have performed in Salamanca, Spain, in 2009 and 2010.

An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Holbrook has worked with orchestras and music educators throughout the United States. He served as a clinician for the ASTA National Orchestra Festival (2021) and has conducted the South Carolina All-State Orchestra (2024), Tennessee Mid-State Orchestra (2022), and Alabama All-State Orchestra(2018), as well as the Sewanee Summer Music Festival (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and the Orchestra America Summer Symposium (2006, 2007). He has also guest conducted honor ensembles in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Dr. Holbrook is a member of the Midwest Clinic Advisory Board.

Dr. Holbrook has presented clinics at The Midwest Clinic (2006, 2016, 2025, 2026), the ASTA National Conference (2004, 2009), the Georgia Music Educators Convention (2006, 2010, 2013, 2024), and the Texas Music Educators Convention (2005). In 2007, he was a featured clinician at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, where he presented a series of five clinics. In addition to directing orchestras, Dr. Holbrook teaches AP Music Theory at Walton High School. He was named Walton High School’s S.T.A.R. Teacher in 2004.

As a composer and arranger, Dr. Holbrook’s music is performed by student ensembles throughout the country. Seven of his published compositions have been recognized as J.W. Pepper Editor’s Choice selections. His composition Somedayhas been performed by the Kentucky Music Educators All-State Orchestra, the South Carolina Music Educators All-State Orchestra, and at the Indiana Music Educators State Convention. His music reflects his commitment to creating engaging, accessible repertoire that inspires young musicians while encouraging them to discover the expressive possibilities of the orchestra.

Dr. Holbrook holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, the Master of Music degree from Arizona State University, and the Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University. He received his teaching credentials from the University of Georgia.

Outside of music, Dr. Holbrook enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly hiking and photographing the natural world. He is engaged to Susan Rogers, a speech pathologist, and his adult child, Lee, is a freelance cellist. When he is not teaching, conducting, or composing he can usually be found somewhere outdoors with a camera in hand.