Cambridge Band Directors

Dr. Ira Jenkins - Band Director

Dr. Ira Jenkins serves as Director of Bands at Cambridge High School, where he conducts the
Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band while overseeing all ensembles and
programs within the Cambridge Band program.

Prior to joining Cambridge in July 2026, Dr. Jenkins served as Director of Bands at Decatur High
School from 2022 to 2026. During his tenure, students participated in three concert bands,
percussion ensemble, marching band, jazz ensemble, indoor percussion, chamber ensembles,
and winter guards. The program consistently produced students selected for GMEA District 4
Honor Band and GMEA All-State Band, while many others earned positions in collegiate honor
bands throughout the Southeast.

Under Dr. Jenkins's leadership, the Decatur High School Wind Ensemble was invited to perform
twice as a featured ensemble at the Southeastern United States High School Honor Band Clinic
at Troy University and twice at Music for All's Southeastern Concert Festival at Georgia State
University, most recently in 2025. The marching band consistently earned superior ratings, Best
in Class awards, and finalist appearances at Bands of America Affiliate competitions.
Before his appointment at Decatur, Dr. Jenkins served as Associate Director and later Director
of Bands at Alpharetta High School. During his tenure, the Wind Ensemble performed at
Carnegie Hall, Music for All's Southeastern Concert Festival at Georgia State University, and the
University of Georgia's JanFest. Dr. Jenkins also conducted the Alpharetta Symphony's
performance at the GMEA In-Service Conference and served as guest conductor for the
Alpharetta Orchestra's performance at The Midwest Clinic.

The Alpharetta marching band consistently earned superior ratings in every caption at
competitions and captured a class championship in its first Bands of America Regional
appearance. The band's winter programs were equally successful, with three highly competitive
winter guards and an indoor percussion ensemble that earned SAPA and GIPA class
championships, numerous WGI Regional and World Championships finalist placements,
Throughout his career, Dr. Jenkins has taught elementary, middle, and high school band in
Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County School District, Fulton County Schools, the Ossining (NY)
Union Free School District, and Ridgewood (NJ) Public Schools.

For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Jenkins has also served as a visual caption head, color
guard caption head, and director of numerous winter guard programs along the East Coast. His
professional adjudication experience includes work with Winter Guard International (WGI), Drum
Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA), the University Interscholastic League
(UIL–Texas), USBands, and numerous state marching band and color guard circuits.
Dr. Jenkins completed his undergraduate studies at Florida A&M University and Georgia State
University. He holds a Master of Education in Leadership from Kennesaw State University, an
Education Specialist degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia, postgraduate
music education credits from Columbia University's Teachers College, and a Doctor of
Philosophy in Music Education from Georgia State University.

Mr. Dimalanta - Assistant Band Director 

Jesseray (J-Ray) Dimalanta will serve as the Cambridge High School assistant band director for
the 2026-2027 school year. Native to the Metro-Atlanta area, Mr. Dimalanta holds his Bachelor’s
degree in Music Education from the University of West Georgia. During his tenure, he performed
in various ensembles, such as the percussion ensemble, marching band, basketball pep band,
jazz band, brass ensemble, saxophone ensemble and wind ensemble where he served as
principal percussionist.

As a freelance educator, Mr. Dimalanta was a highly sought after clinician/coach for middle and
high schools across the state of Georgia; many of which performed in educator conferences,
Winter Guard International circuits, and Bands of America circuits. He was also on the
educational staff for the Macy’s Great American Marching Band in New York City. He most
recently served as a paraprofessional at Cass High School.

Independent of the classroom, Mr. Dimalanta was a member of several performance ensembles
within the pageantry arts. This includes Q2 Independent Drumline, Atlanta Quest Independent
Drumline, and Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps. During his time there, he earned the titles of
“Rookie of the Year” and “Member of the Year.” Since his age-out, Mr. Dimalanta has dedicated
his time as a member of the educational staff for Q2 and as the percussion caption head at
Atlanta CV.

Mr. Dimalanta holds professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Education
(NAFME) and Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA).