04/24/2013
Andrea Brown has been appointed as the new assistant director of the Michigan Marching and Athletic Bands, the first woman to fill that role in the history of the MMB. She joins U-M in fall 2013 following four years on the faculty at Georgia Tech School of Music as director of orchestra and assistant director of bands.
"Dr. Brown's diverse experience, her clear track record of success in teaching at several colleges, her ability to inspire students, her conducting skills, and the promise of her research agenda, are all strong components of a professional profile we think will be an excellent fit with our students and our mission," said Michael Haithcock, director of bands.
Originally from Milan, Tennessee, Brown 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 in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) where she also recently completed a DMA in instrumental conducting. She was named a 2010 Outstanding Teaching Assistant at UNCG. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, where she also led research in conducting pedagogy technology, Brown was the assistant director of bands at Austin Peay State University and also taught public school in both Wisconsin and Texas.
Brown's previous marching experience includes membership in the 1994 Cadets of Bergen County and 1993 Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. She has also previously been an instructor with Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, McGavock High School Band, Father Ryan High School Band (Nashville), and Kennesaw Mountain High School Band. Since 2004, she has been a member of the brass staff of the Drum Corps International World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois, and was selected for the instructional staff for the 2012 and 2013 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.
Brown takes over as assistant director of MMB from John Pasquale who begins his role as director of the MMB in June.