Ford Music Class
Ford students attend music class once every six school days. Students sing, move, play instruments, listen, and create while in music class. Cobb County standards and pacing guides are followed (https://www.cobbk12.org/page/38575/performing-arts-general-choral-music-dance-theatre). Please email Dr. Hurley if you are interested in observing a class (craig.hurley@cobbk12.org).
Ford Chorus
The Ford Chorus consist of 4th and 5th grade students who rehearse from August through February. Rehearsals are Mondays after school until 3:30. Auditions are held each August. Performances include a Winter concert and a field trip to be adjudicated at Elementary Choral Festival.
Ford Chorus, February 2020, Elementary Choral Festival, J'entends Le Moulin arranged by Ruth E. Dwyer & Martin L. Ellis
Ford Tone-Chime Ensemble
The Ford Tone-Chime Ensemble rehearses Wednesday mornings from 7:15-7:50 AM during the fall semester and performs several times in December. The Ford Tone-Chime Ensemble is open to 4th and 5th grade students and auditions are held each August.
Craig Hurley
Craig Hurley is the music specialist at Ford Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia. Under his direction, the Ford Elementary Chorus has performed at the 2015 GMEA In-Service Conference. He has presented interest sessions at the Music Educators Association in-service conferences for Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, the ACDA Southern Division Conference, as well as for other various teacher organizations. Dr. Hurley was honored as Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2016, and the GMEA Music Educator of the Year in 2021.
Dr. Hurley is also the conductor of the Spivey Hall Young Artists, the preparatory choir of the nationally renowned Spivey Hall Children’s Choir (www.spiveyhallchildrenschoir.org). Under Dr. Hurley’s direction, the Spivey Hall Young Artists were honored to perform at the 2018 GMEA In-Service Conference. Dr. Hurley has also served as a guest clinician for several honor choirs throughout the southeast.
Dr. Hurley is a published researcher whose interests include music literacy and expressive performance pedagogy. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Shorter College, a Master of Early Childhood Education from Berry College, and a Doctorate in Music Education from The University of Georgia. (GO DAWGS!). Dr. Hurley lives in Marietta with his wife Katie (also a music teacher) and their three children.