Mrs. Melissa Gilmore grew up near Syracuse, New York.  Her childhood was spent with piano lessons, trumpet lessons and participating in choir, show choir, band, jazz band, marching band and orchestra programs throughout the area.  She graduated from Syracuse University in 2004 with a Bachelors' Degree in Music Education with Performance Honors.  In 2005, she graduated from Syracuse University with a Masters' Degree in Music Education.  In college she was an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional fraternity for women in music. As an alumni member of SAI, she has adjudicated the woodwind and brass submissions for performance-based scholarships through the fraternity.

 

Mrs. Gilmore taught in California for 5 years, teaching elementary band and orchestra and then high school band, orchestra, jazz band, marching band, color guard and winter percussion. Mrs. Gilmore moved to Mississippi in 2011 and has been the Choir Director at Gautier Middle School for 13 years.  While at GMS she has taught Chorus, Select Choir, Strings and Music Appreciation.  Her choirs have earned Excellent and Superior ratings at District and State Performance Assessment.

 

Mrs. Gilmore lives on the coast with her husband, 2 daughters (Zoe and Haley) and 2 cats enjoys singing with her church choir, being a dance mom, getting involved in her community and spending time with her family and friends.