Georgia native Lisa Gillespie, currently works as a freelance percussionist and music educator in both Alabama and Georgia. Ms. Gillespie performs primarily with the Atlanta based percussion ensemble Chix with Stix. Chix with Stix brings together a group of female percussionists who express their musicianship through the performance of new and traditional percussion ensemble repertoire. Ms. Gillespie began studying percussion with Jack Bell, John Lawless and Cloyd Duff, while performing as a freelance percussionist in the Atlanta area. In addition to her orchestral experience, she has an extensive background in the marching percussion genre having marched with the drumlines of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, the University of Georgia, Jacksonville State University and Atlanta Rhythm Machine. After studying percussion performance at Georgia State University, Ms. Gillespie moved to Alabama to join her husband, Clint Gillespie, Assistant Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University. She completed her Bachelor of Art and Master of Art in music education at Jacksonville State University, where she studied with G. Tracy Tyler. Ms. Gillespie performed as a JSU concerto contest winner in 2000 at the Alabama Day of Percussion. Also, while at Jacksonville State University, Ms.Gillespie worked with the JSU Marching Southerners front ensemble and indoor percussion lines. During her tenure there, the drumline won first place, second place and two front ensemble caption titles at the Percussive Arts Society indoor drumline competition. Currently Lisa Gillespie teaches band, chorus and general music at Kitty Stone Elementary School in Jacksonville, Alabama. She also freelances with the Alabama Symphony and other area orchestras.