Randall O. Coleman

Randall Coleman is currently Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  At UTC, Professor Coleman serves as the conductor of the UTC Wind Ensemble and the Marching Mocs.  He also teaches conducting and band organization classes.  Prior to joining the faculty at UTC in July 2021, Mr. Coleman was the Associate Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Alabama where he served for 14 years as the conductor of the Alabama Symphonic Band as the Associate Director of the Million Dollar Band.  Professor Coleman also serves as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Alabama Winds, an all-adult community wind band based in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to his appointment to the faculty at the University of Alabama, Mr. Coleman enjoyed a successful 25-year career as a high school band director and supervisor in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and the Master of Music Education degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

During his teaching career in Georgia, Mr. Coleman was an active member of the Georgia Music Educators’ Association, where he held the office of President, First Vice-President and State Band Division Chair. Under Professor Coleman’s direction, the Milton High School Wind Ensemble performed at the 2004 GMEA Inservice Conference, the 2004 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, and the 2006 National Convention of the Music Educators’ National Conference. At the University of Alabama, Professor Coleman has conducted the Alabama Symphonic Band at the 2014 and 2020 College Band Directors’ National Association Southern Regional Convention, and the 2012 Alabama Music Educators’ Conference. A strong proponent of new music for wind band, he has commissioned or participated in consortiums for 11 pieces including Diamond Fanfare by Samuel R. Hazo, Diabolus Ex Machina by Jim Bonney, Mutiara by Anthony Barfield, Auto ’66 and Symphony No. 1 – Codex Gigas by James David, Alabama Fanfare by Robert W. Smith, Devils’ Drive by Brett Abigaña, Solace in the Equinox and The Best of Rooms and The Sacred Spheres by Tyler S. Grant, and In My Father’s Eyes by Julie Giroux. Professor Coleman has served as a guest conductor of the Sabina Wind Orchestra in Rieti, Italy and conducted the Alabama Wind Ensemble as a part of the International Music Meetingin May of 2012 in Padova, Italy.  Professor Coleman also led the Alabama Winds on a 12-day tour of Italy, performing concerts in Como and Rome. He has been published six times as a Research Associate to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band book series published by GIA publications. Professor Coleman has conducted the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band in performances in every major collegiate bowl game and at 7 National Championship games. Under his direction, the Alabama Winds has given invitational performances at the 2015 and 2019 Alabama Music Educators’ Association Inservice Conference, the 2016 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival, the 2020 Samford University Honor Band Festival and at the 2017 Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois.  Professor Coleman has also conducted all state bands and all region bands across the country. 

Professor Coleman is an elected member in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and is currently serving as President of the National Band Association, the largest band director organization in the world.  Professor Coleman also holds membership in the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, the Tennessee Music Educators’ Association, the Georgia Music Educators’ Association, the Alabama Music Educators’ Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity.