Southwest Dekalb High School Bands

James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Mr. Seda came to this country at the age of five and has lived in Atlanta ever since. He is a product of the Atlanta Public School System, having graduated from Southside Comprehensive High School in 1989. Mr. Seda received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University. While there, he studied conducting with Dr. William P. Foster and Dr. Julian E. White. He was also in the trumpet studio of Dr. Marty Robinson. Mr. Seda is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education Program at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois.

Mr. Seda has been the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School since 2001. Prior to that he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Chapel Hill Middle School for two years, the primary feeder school to Southwest Dekalb High School, also assisting with the band program at Southwest Dekalb simultaneously. Mr. Seda is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Screen Actor's Guild and MACE. Mr. Seda has been recognized and honored by Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times.

While attending Florida A&M University, Mr. Seda quickly placed himself in the musical elite, soon earning the principal trumpet chair in the FAMU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and the lead trumpet chair in the FAMU Jazz Ensemble. As a member of the world famous 'Marching 100' Mr. Seda served as trumpet section leader for two years, as well as being elected business manager, vice-president, and president in consecutive years.

Expanding beyond the walls of FAMU, Mr. Seda has performed in Paris, France, The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Seas Jazz Festival in The Haag, Holland. He has also performed in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Television and radio features are also to his credit as CNN displayed his talents in a television documentary on the life of jazz musician Jesse Stone. He has done studio sessions for television and radio commercials, as well as short films and movies. Mr. Seda also worked on the 20th Century Fox motion picture DRUMLINE as a music arranger, band organizer, instrumentalist, and actor extra.

Mr. Seda is in demand as a trumpet and band clinician and an adjudicator. He is also maintaining an active performance schedule, frequenting the jazz scene throughout the southeastern United States. Music has impacted and molded Mr. Seda's life, and he feels that he should share and expose his knowledge and experiences with his students so they may have the same opportunities. His educational philosophy is to foster a true understanding and appreciation of music by exposing his students to its many styles, therefore making them competitive and adaptive in any musical situation.

Demetrius Hubert is currently the director of percussion at Southwest Dekalb High School in Decatur, Georgia. He is a graduate of Murphy High School in the Atlanta Public School System. He went on to Florida A&M University where he studied Pre-Law.

While at Florida A&M University, Mr. Hubert became a member of the world famous "Marching 100" band. He was the first person to be selected as percussion section leader from the city of Atlanta. In addition to the marching band he was also a member of the percussion ensemble and symphonic band.

Mr. Hubert began working at Southwest Dekalb in 1990. He founded the "Deathrow" percussion section with only 16 members. Currently Deathrow boasts 40-plus members and is known throughout the United States.

Through Mr. Hubert's tenure at Southwest Dekalb, the band has performed in the Carnival of Flowers in Nice, France, the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1997, the Bands of America Grand National Championship in 2002, and recorded two CDs.

In 2001 Mr. Hubert was selected to lead the 'Senate' in the hit movie "DRUMLINE." He trained Nick Cannon for three months, preparing him for the lead role in the movie. Mr. Hubert created most of the cadences that were performed by the drum line.

Mr. Hubert has an instructional video that deals with percussion fundamental. The video can be ordered at: www.drumlineproductions.com. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.

LaNekia S.  Pruitt is a native of Atlanta, Georgia who has been dancing for over 25 years.  In those 25 years, she has studied & performed ballet, modern, jazz, liturgical, and hip-hop.  Miss Pruitt is a 1994 alumna of Southwest Dekalb High School where she participated as a majorette (captain) and as a Dancing Diva under the direction of Dr. James L. Berry.  Miss Pruitt is a graduate of Tennessee State University and the University of West Alabama holding a Bachelors degree in Psychology, Gifted Teacher Certification, and a Masters of Education in School Counseling.  While at Tennessee State University, she continued her passion for dance by taking part in several university dance courses and performances.  She has assisted with choreography for BP Productions, the DESA Performing Arts School, Cheer & Dance Gallery, Precision Camp, Incorporated & several school and summer dance camps.  Prior to transitioning to the high school level, Miss Pruitt served as the dance coach for Dekalb County’s Salem Middle School and created the first dance team at Redan Middle School. She has studied and participated in performances for The Conservatory of Dance & Fine Arts (under the direction of Michelle Douglas) and Tango & Tangles Adult Dance Company (under the direction of Melaine Patrick).  Miss Pruitt has served as Auxiliary Sponsor & Choreographer for the Dancing Divas of Southwest Dekalb Highschool’s Marching Panthers since 2003. Under the leadership of Miss Pruitt, the Dancing Divas of Southwest Dekalb have maintained their reputation as a very prestigious squad of high demand. They maintain an active performance schedule and have received invitations & participated in several dance competitions, special / media appearances, & performances in various cities throughout the country.

Miss Pruitt is currently a Graduation Coach / Counselor with the Dekalb County School System.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated & Big Brother Big Sisters of Atlanta Mentoring Program.

Slater S. Thorpe III has been referred to as one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets.  A native of Decatur GA, Mr. Thorpe is certainly no stranger to the Southwest DeKalb Band Program.  He is a former drum major for the Marching Panther Band and is known for being one of the four infamous drum majors that are emblazoned on the shirts of every Marching Panther Band member since 1992. 

Mr. Thorpe was a student of Instrumental Music Coordinator Don P Roberts.  Mr. Roberts saw talent and potential in Mr. Thorpe and guided him down to Tallahassee, Florida where he attended Florida A&M University.  While at Florida A&M, Mr. Thorpe became a member of the “Marching 100” saxophone section.  A short time later, he became a Drum Major, which was his childhood dream.  In the midst of climbing the leadership ladder, Mr. Thorpe rubbed elbows with Marching 100 announcer and national radio personality Joe Bullard, who admired his style and talent.  So much so, he asked Mr. Thorpe to fill in as announcer for the FAMU Band on several occasions.    

After reaching his personal peak in the FAMU Band, Mr. Thorpe branched out and started utilizing his other musical talents.  He was discovered by a producer in Tallahassee and went on to be the lead vocalist with a group called “The Phat Cat Players”.  The group’s most memorable hit was a spoken word piece called “Sundress”, which was placed in heavy rotation on The Tom Joyner Morning Show and topped Billboard charts in the summer of 2000.  While touring with the group, Mr. Thorpe has performed with the likes of D’Angelo, Eric Bonet, Charlie Wilson and the G.A.P. Band, K-Ci and Jo-Jo, George Duke, Amel Larrieux, and Rachelle Ferrell.

After obtaining a B.S. in Sociology/ Music, Mr. Thorpe came back home to Decatur ready to utilize all of the talents that were honed while he was away.  He started hosting the Spring Jamboree, the Precision, Inc. Summer Band Camp, the FAMU/TSU Classic Jamboree, and the Metro Atlanta Battle of the Bands.  Mr. Thorpe still makes use of his vocal talents as well, now recording with a group called “THE CHAPTER.”  Samples of his music can be heard at www.chapterlive.com.  It is this show of versatility coupled with Mr. Thorpe’s personality and work ethic that make him a world class announcer for a world class marching band. 

Mr. Thorpe’s personal philosophy is that “people should not have to look up into the sky or close their eyes to envision God.  We all reveal God by continuously honing those gifts that he has planted inside of us. These band directors….this staff…they are good at what they do because they’ve studied and shown themselves approved for their gifts.  Every time SWD steps out onto that field, every time they play a note, every time you see those Drum Majors walking in alignment….don’t miss it because GOD is in their midst.”