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Stars, Stripes, and Songs!

Randall O. Coleman, Conductor
Susan L. Smith, Assistant Conductor

Tyler S. Grant, Guest Conductor
Jeremy Benson, flute

Alabama Fanfare: Robert W. Smith

Catapult: Jay Kennedy

America, The Beautiful: Samuel Ward arr. Carmen Dragon

Let Freedom Ring: Ryan Nowlin

Honey in the Rock: Donald Grantham

Onward, Upward: Edwin Franko Goldman

Susan Smith conductor

INTERMISSION

Wild Blue: Tyler S. Grant 

Tyler Grant, Conductor

Esprit de Corps: Robert Jager

Selections from “The King and I”: Rogers/Hammerstein

Sentimentale for Wind Band: Claude Bolling/arr. Christopher Lawhorne

Jeremy Benson, flute

Armed Services Medley: arr. Jeremy Martin

Stars and Stripes, Forever: John Philip Sousa

Randall O. Coleman

Conductor and Artistic Director

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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.

Susan L. Smith

Assistant Conductor

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Susan L. Smith, B.M.Ed, M.A.Ed., has taught general, choral, and instrumental music at the elementary through collegiate level in Florida, Virginia and Alabama and has served as an author, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator across the United States. She is currently an Associate Professor of Music Education and Horn at Troy University. She is the Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, Southern Division President Elect of the National Association of Music Education and Chair of the NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council and. Susan serves as an Educational Consultant for Music for All. She is responsible for the Chamber Music portion of the Music for All National Concert Band Festival and is a Co-Executive Producer for the Mind the Gap series of webinars and podcasts developed to support the young and developing music educator during the pandemic. Susan’s previous appointment was as Director of Bands at the Saint James School in Montgomery AL. Mrs. Smith was responsible for teaching the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Bands as well as Guitar, Jazz Band, and Music Technology. The Saint James Band consistently received Superior ratings in Concert, Jazz and Marching Band events including the Alabama Music Performance Assessment, Smokey Mountain Music Festival and Bands of America Super Regionals and Grand National Championships. She served as the Alabama Bandmasters Association District VI Vice Chairman for 1 year and Chairman for 2 years. ​ After completing her degree in Music Education from James Madison University where she was drum major for the Marching Royal Dukes for 3 years, she taught in the Virginia Public Schools. Her ensembles, including concert band, orchestra, marching band and jazz ensembles, consistently received superior ratings from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association festivals during her tenure. After completing her Masters Degree in Education from Troy State University, she served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. Smith was integral to the founding of the Middle School SEUS Honor Bands. In addition, she coordinated the visual program for the “Sound of the South” Marching Band. ​ Smith has presented clinics at many state conventions including AMEA, TMEA, FMEA, IMEA, VMEA, GMEA and National and Regional NAfME conferences. Smith has presented at the Midwest Clinic three times and performed as a member of the Alabama Winds, an adult community band comprised of Alabama music educators. The Alabama Winds performed most recently at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. ​ Her professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Kappa and the National Band Association. She is also an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma. Smith is in demand as a clinician, conductor and adjudicator throughout the country. She has conducted Honor Bands and District Honor Bands in Australia, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky and West Virginia. She currently resides in Troy, Alabama, with her husband Robert. Susan and Robert have 2 daughters, Savannah and Madison, both of whom are music educators.

Tony Giles

Voice of the Alabama Winds

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Tony Giles is the “Voice of the Crimson Tide” at Bryant-Denny Stadium and Coleman Coliseum. A vice president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, many of his weekends and weeknights are devoted to stadium announcing for football, gymnastics and men’s basketball at The University of Alabama. Prior to beginning his career in financial services, he was a talk show host and reporter on television and radio in Birmingham. Lynn, his wife, teaches third grade in Hoover and is a doctoral candidate in Elementary Education at UAB. They have two sons; Scott, a graduate of The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences, is a Certified Personal Trainer and Rowdy, a graduate student in Music Performance at The University of Alabama. Tony is a charter member of Alabama Winds and has been the “Voice of Alabama Winds” since the ensemble’s inception in 2013.

Dr. Jeremy Benson

Soloist

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Dr. Jeremy Benson is a professor in the music department at Jacksonville State University where he teaches flute studies, music education and performance courses. He was a 1st prize winner at the 2011 Alexander & Buono International Solo Competition at Carnegie Hall and the 2nd prize winner at the International Music Grand Prix Solo Artist Competition in 2022. He enjoys traveling around the world performing solo concerts and conducting orchestras for musical productions. He is the Music Director and pianist at Heflin First United Methodist Church, and his other community involvement includes serving as music director and conductor for community theaters. He studied at JSU, Florida State University, Rutgers University, and the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Musicians.

Tyler S. Grant

Guest Conductor

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Tyler S. Grant is an internationally recognized composer, arranger, conductor, and clinician of music for concert bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles of all levels. His music is featured regularly in performances by both region and all state honor ensembles and is also featured annually on Editor’s or Publisher’s Choice Repertoire Lists around the world. His work, Panoramic Fanfare, was a winner of the Dallas Wind Symphony’s 2014 “Call for Fanfares” Competition. Panoramic Fanfare has since been performed by collegiate and professional ensembles throughout North America. Since 2010, Tyler has regularly accepted commissions for new works and produced new publications for bands and orchestras each year. He credits his mentor Brian Balmages as pivotal to his success as a composer. Notable performance venues of his works include The Midwest Clinic, Carnegie Hall, Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival, the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Bands of America Grand Nationals, and numerous state-wide, national, and international music conferences and conventions. ​ In addition to composing and arranging, Tyler enjoys conducting and clinic engagements with ensembles throughout the United States. He has served as a clinician with over 150 school instrumental music programs and honor groups across more than 25 states. Tyler was a contributing author for Alfred Music Publishing Company’s Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development series and has contributed interviews to numerous podcasts and articles including School Band & Orchestra Magazine and The Instrumentalist. Notable conducting venues include The Midwest Clinic and all-state bands in Nebraska, Oregon, Alabama, Louisiana, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Tyler is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education and studied conducting with Professor Randall Coleman. Before becoming a full-time composer and arranger, Tyler served as the Director of Bands at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School from 2019-2023. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and maintains an active composing and conducting schedule. His published works are available through The FJH Music Company, Inc., Alfred/MakeMusic Publications, and Tyler S. Grant Music Works, LLC.

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Personnel

Click the button below to view the personnel of the Alabama Winds. 

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