About
Joe Donohue
Co-Founder, Director of APE
Joseph Donohue is currently the Percussion Director at Lassiter High School and on staff with the indoor drum line, Atlanta Quest. Joe graduated with a degree in Music Performance from Kennesaw State University in 2018. He has been a member of a few marching organizations including Spirit of Atlanta, the Cadets, and Atlanta Quest from 2014 to 2019. Joe has also played with a number of local concert groups including the Atlanta Wind Symphony and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Brandon Kunka
Co-Founder, Director of AYPE
Brandon is an Atlanta-based musician with decades of experience performing and teaching as a professional percussionist, and is passionate about creating supportive spaces for musicians to develop their skills. He is the driving force behind Backbeat Productions, a multifaceted music studio and school, and currently holds the position of front ensemble director and co-arranger for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band, where he continues to elevate students to greater levels of success.
Claire Kenney
Assistant Director of APE
Claire Smith Kenney is a percussion educator, clinician, and performer in the Greater-Atlanta area. She is currently the Percussion Director at Pope High School and teaches at Kennesaw State University as an adjunct percussion instructor. She is originally from Cumming, Georgia and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama for her Bachelor's degree in Music Education. Claire then continued her education at Texas Christian University where she earned her Master's degree in percussion performance.
Since 2004, Claire has been involved with many performing ensembles, including Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, Music City Mystique, and most recently the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Atlanta Wind Symphony, Atlanta Percussion Ensemble and Atlanta Steel Collective. She is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Georgia Music Educators Association and an educational artist for Innovative Percussion. Other than percussion, she enjoys running, being outdoors and spending time with her husband Kevin and their two dogs.
Kyle Parciany
Assistant Director of AYPE
Kyle Parciany is a percussionist and educator based in Atlanta, GA who currently holds the position of Director of Percussion at Lassiter High School and Simpson Middle School. He teaches private lessons to students of all ages and performs regularly with the Atlanta Percussion Group and the Atlanta Wind Symphony. Kyle is originally from Chicago, IL and is a former member of the Something Clever Percussion Duo, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion and the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
