Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High School senior Ben Jessup

Meet Brandon Evans! He is the mentor coordinator at Gainesville City Schools and teaches piano to local students. He was born and raised in Gainesville, graduated from East Hall High School and graduated from Georgia State. 

We want to thank Brandon for spending time with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.

Question: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and your background.
Answer: “Born and raised in Gainesville, I’ve been here all my life, I have two brothers, I am the youngest of three and my family have always been interested to music and so music is all we knew growing up. I graduated from East Hall High School (a lot of people think I’m a city boy but I’m not), then I went to Georgia State University and graduated in 2010. I’ve always been very involved in community so when I came back I started teaching at Centennial Arts Academy in 2011. I started mentoring there and it just kind of blossomed; I’ve officially been a part ‘Men Alive’ (a mentorship program) since 2019 but I’ve really been with the program since 2011.”

Q: What inspired you to led you to your current career?
A: “Few things. My father got to own a music business in 1995 ,so that’s where my music inspiration come from. I worked under him and he just kind of gave me the business for me to be able to run. I always enjoy teaching children but as far as mentorship it just kind of blossomed or taken flight.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “Somebody inspiring to me as far as where I am right now is Charlene Williams, she was the principal at Centennial when I was there. She’s very quiet but at the same time she taught me a lot while working there; how to deal with education, how to conduct myself since that was first real job.”

Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: “My favorite childhood memory which I guess is very important to me was when I was able to graduate high school. I was awarded three music scholarships.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I’ve always wanted to go to Brazil. I love outdoors, I love the exotic kind of atmosphere there.”

Q: What is your favorite movie? What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “I don’t remember it but probably ‘Home Alone.’”

Q: What advice would you give to a crowd people?
A: “Be kind to people no matter what their political stands or the color of their skin. Just be kind and treat others how you want to be treated.”

Q: What is your favorite music or  bands that you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “Michael Jackson definitely!”

Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “Longstreet Cafe because everyone goes there and it’s more of a community-based restaurant.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Skydiving.”

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “I would love to have lunch with President Barack Obama and we will go to one of my favorite spots here; Mellow Mushroom.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “In five to  10 years, I see my business flourishing. I want to have different branches of ‘Men Alive’ globally. I want to, at least in the next 10 years, to have my school completed.”

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “That I am introverted, I do a lot of speaking and mentorship but I’m a shy type of guy. I’m just a homebody…I get embarrassed really easily but I will speak out if I need to speak out.” 

Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Love, Work and Community.”

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: “Maybe Will Smith because he’s hilarious and that would be a lot of fun.”

Q: If you have a full-time staff member that is fully paid for, who would you choose? Driver, Nanny, Personal Trainer, Chef, or anything you want.
A: “I would definitely have a Chef so I could eat a healthy food.”