Dr. Andrea E. Brown
Dr. Andrea E. Brown was appointed the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland in 2018. In this position she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, serves as the Director of Athletic Bands, teaches conducting, and is the coordinator of the conducting division. Brown is formerly a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands and was a faculty sponsor of a College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Project team researching conducting pedagogy technology. She also served as the director of orchestra and assistant director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. She is a frequent guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the US, Europe, and Asia.
While under her direction, the UMD Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference, and has performed works by a diverse range of composers. Brown and the ensemble have collaborated with soloists Sam Barlow, Willie Clark, Robert DiLutis, Jennifer Piazza-Pick, and Amanda Staub. She led a consortium commissioning Omar Thomas’s setting of Shenandoah and has participated in commissions for works by Katahj Copley, Shiyung Li, Catherine Likhuta, and Harrison Collins.
During her time at Maryland, the UMD “Mighty Sound of Maryland” Marching Band has collaborated in halftime shows with local artists such as the Critical Condition Band (DC GoGo), Mawty Maw (rap artist), Grace Chin (drum set), and the Maryland Steel Pan Collective. MSOM has also been a part of joint performances with the Howard University “Showtime” Marching Band and the Penn State “Blue” Band, and has participated in special performances at The Kennedy Center (DC), the Heisman Trophy Banquet (NY), and Bands of America Regionals (MD).
Brown completed a DMA in instrumental conducting at UNC Greensboro where she was a student of John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. While at UNCG, she was both guest conductor and principal horn on UNCG Wind Ensemble’s fireworks! and finish line!CDs released on the Equilibrium label. Brown has also had several rehearsal guides published in the popular GIA Publications series, “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” and has presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Oxford Conducting Institute, Music For All Summer Symposium, the Yamaha Bläserklasse in Schlitz, Germany, the International Computer Music Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia, and multiple times at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference.
A proponent of inclusion and equity issues in the music profession, Brown is a frequent guest speaker on these topics. She currently serves on the CBDNA Diversity Committee and was a founding member of the Drum Corps International InStep Committee. Brown is the founder of “Women Rising to the Podium”- an online group of over 4900 members supporting and celebrating women band directors. Additionally, she also served as the chair of the Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Music Fraternity Graduate Conducting Grant for eight years and is an advisor of the SAI chapter at the University of Maryland.
Brown previously served on the brass and conducting instructional staff of the DCI World Champion Phantom Regiment (2004 – 2017). Other marching organizations she has instructed include the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band and Carolina Crown. Brown has served as a music judge for Drum Corps International since the 2022 season and has been a member of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield Jury since 2021. Additionally, Brown was invited to be an Assistant Director of the 2024 D-Day 80th Anniversary Collegiate Mass Band leading the group in performances in Normandy, France.
As a performer, Brown was a member of the AA Brass Quintet, which won the International Brass Quintet Competition hosted by Fred Mills at the University of Georgia. She performed with the horn sections of the Boston Brass All Stars Big Band, North Carolina Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra. Brown has studied brass performance and pedagogy with Abigail Pack, J.D. Shaw, Jack Masarie, Freddy Martin, Dottie Bennett, Randy Kohlenberg, Richard Steffen, and Ed Bach.
Originally from Milan, Tennessee, she is a graduate of Austin Peay State University and earned a master of music degree in horn performance and a master of music education degree with a cognate in instrumental conducting from UNCG. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, Brown was the assistant director of bands at Austin Peay State University and taught public school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Dallas, Texas. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and CBDNA. She was awarded the Rose of Honor as a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Music Fraternity and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Brown lives just outside of Washington, D.C., with her dog Applesauce.
Dr. Rodney Dorsey
Dr. Rodney Dorsey is Professor of Music at the Florida State University College of Music where he conducts the FSU Wind Orchestra and guides the graduate wind conducting program.
Dorsey comes to FSU from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he conducted the IU Wind Ensemble and taught graduate conducting courses. Prior to his tenure at the Jacobs School, Dorsey served on the faculties of the University of Oregon, University of Michigan, DePaul University and Northwestern University. He also gained extensive experience teaching in the public schools of Florida and Georgia.
Dorsey studied conducting with Mallory Thompson, John P. Paynter, and James Croft. He was a clarinet student of Fred Ormand and Frank Kowalsky.
During his conducting career, Dorsey has led performances at several prominent events including the American Bandmasters Association Convention, College Band Directors National Conference North/Northwest Regional Conference, and the Bands of America National Festival. He is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the United States. International engagements include Hungary, Canada, and Bulgaria.
Dorsey’s commitment to community has been demonstrated by his participation on the board of directors for Music for All and the Midwest Clinic. He currently serves as the president of the Midwest Clinic. Other professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Florida Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma (honorary), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Dorsey is also an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. Most recently Dorsey was named a Yamaha Master Educator.
Dr. Todd Nichols
Todd Nichols’ credits include work as a music educator, conductor, and performer throughout the United States. Dr. Nichols currently serves as Director of University Bands at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. His duties include oversight and administration of the university band program, directing the Marching Scarlet Knights and Symphonic Winds, and teaching graduate conducting. As Director of the Marching Scarlet Knights, Dr. Nichols led highly acclaimed performances in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NFL’s Monday Night Football, 2021 Music for All Grand Nationals finals performance and for United States President Joseph Biden. Dr. Nichols will lead the MSK on its first international tour to London, England in 2025. Dr. Nichols served as a Guest Lecturer at New York University and Columbia University and is Past President of the Big Ten Band Director’s National Association.
Dr. Nichols annually serves as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and recording producer and is especially honored to have guest conducted the United States Army Field Band. In addition, he currently serves as artistic director for the Garden State Symphonic Band (Local 16-248 AFM). and for the Eastern Wind Symphony, a position he has held since 2010. Dr. Nichols conducted highly acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and records regularly with the EWS, including two recent albums Resurgence and Elements. Under his direction, the EWS received multiple Grammy Award nominations of eligibility and has been invited to perform at major music conventions including the 2021 and 2015 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, 2019 ACB National Convention, 2017 NAfME All Eastern Convention, and 2017 ITG Conference. Dr. Nichols has commissioned thirty-six new works for wind band, supporting numerous composers.
Dr. Nichols received his DMA in conducting at Rutgers University, MM in conducting from Messiah College and BM in music from The College of New Jersey. For nineteen years, Dr. Nichols served as Director of Bands at Roxbury and Edison High Schools in New Jersey, where his ensembles were recognized for outstanding performance at numerous local, state, and many prestigious national festivals and concerts. Dr. Nichols has co-authored two articles accepted for publication in The Journal of Band Research and WASBE Journal and was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and American School Band Directors Association in 2016. Dr. Nichols received the 2022 Rutgers University Transfer Student Champion Award, two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, and NJ the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award.
Dr. Nichols resides in Branchburg, NJ with his wife, Beth, and daughters, Sarah, and Emily.
Dr. James Tapia
James Tapia is Director of Orchestral Activities and Associate Professor of Music in the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. At Syracuse University Dr. Tapia conducts the University Symphony Orchestra and oversees the entire orchestra program. Dr. Tapia teaches in the graduate conducting program in orchestral conducting at the master’s level. His graduate conducting students have enjoyed great success as conductors of university orchestra programs, youth orchestras, and professional orchestras alike. They have also won prestigious conducting competitions and been awarded numerous research and study grants.
Dr. Tapia received the Doctor of Music degree in conducting from The University of Texas at Austin. His post-graduate work includes participation in the Carnegie Institute for Orchestral Conductors and the Pine Mountain Conducting Seminar. He has served on the faculties of Syracuse University, The University of Michigan, and Pittsburg State University.
Dr. Tapia is equally at home with professional, university, and youth ensembles. He held the position of Music Director of the Syracuse Summer Festival Orchestra for fifteen years. He is conductor of a professional music educator’s wind ensemble: the Central Winds. Dr. Tapia began his professional conducting experience with the Tampa Bay Symphony as Assistant Conductor and has conducted the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Bach Festival Orchestra, the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and the Dallas Wind Symphony along with many guest conducting experiences.
A strong advocate of music education, Dr. Tapia has presented many in- service workshops for public school educators, as well as numerous presentations at state and regional music education association conferences. In addition, he continues to conduct Internationally, US All-State Orchestras and Bands, and other regional and honor ensembles.
Dr. Tapia is a strong proponent of new music. He has been instrumental in the development and production of contemporary music festivals and his interest in new music has led him to collaborations with composers such as Leslie Bassett, Karel Husa, Michael Daugherty, George Crumb, Donald Grantham, Andrew Waggoner, Dan Godfrey, and Andrew Meade.
Dr. Alfred L. Watkins
Dr. Alfred L. Watkins is Co-Founder, Musical Director and Conductor of the Cobb Wind Symphony, a premier all-adult community band. He is former Director of Bands at Murphy High School in Atlanta, GA and at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia where he served for the final 31 of his 37-year career. He retired from the classroom in 2013 and enjoys life as a guest conductor, lecturer, author, clinician, and adjudicator.
Dr. Watkins is a 1976 graduate of Florida A & M University with additional studies at Georgia State University. In July 2022, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. His bands have earned the Sudler Flag of Honor (concert), Sudler Shield (marching) and the Sudler Silver Scroll (community band). Concert bands under Watkins’ leadership have performed at 32 invitational concert band events. He has conducted All-State High School Bands in 33 states and has worked with bands in 39 states.
Dr. Watkins led one of the most decorated high school bands in the latter half of the 20th Century. Ensembles under Dr. Watkins’ batons have performed seven times at the Midwest Band Clinic, six times at the Music for All National Festival, at the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention fourteen times and the National Band Association Convention. The Lassiter Trojan Marching Band has performed in Tournament of Roses Parade four times and three times in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. His marching bands won the 1998 and 2002 Bands of America Grand National Champions and was the winner of nine BOA Regional Championships. The Lassiter Winter Color Guard was named the 1996 and 1997 Winter Guard International World Champions, and the Lassiter Concert Percussion Ensemble won the Percussive Arts Society “Call for Tapes” in 2007 along with performing at the Midwest Clinic in 2004 and 2011.
Dr. Watkins is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, Florida A & M University Gallery of Distinguished Alumni and in the Hall of Fames of Conn Selmer Institute, Band of America, Minority Band Directors National Association, and the Georgia Chapter of Phi Beta Mu Band Directors Fraternity. He has received Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor, is a Midwest Clinic Legend, the ASBDA’s “Edwin Franko Goldman Award,” the KKY “Distinguished Service to Music Award,” was the 2020 Phi Beta Mu International Band Director Fraternity “International Bandmaster of the Year.” He has received 28 Certificates of Excellence from the NBA, the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and the Band World Magazine Legion of Honor Award. Dr. Watkins is a Co-Founder of Minority Band Directors National Association, an organization of over 2,000 ethnic minority band directors whose mission is to serve, promote, celebrate, and mentor ethnic minority band directors in America. Along with Dr. Sue Samuels, in 1988, Watkins pioneered the concept of the Symphonic Band Camp, a 3-day intensive local event dedicated to the development of concert bands in your home school.
The $1.5 million Alfred L. Watkins Band Building at Lassiter High School bears his name. He and his wife of 40 years, Rita, live in Marietta, GA. They have two adult sons: Christopher, a trumpeter in the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. and Jonathan, a businessman in Nashville. They have two grandchildren.