EDITORS: A schedule of concerts follows at the end of this release.

TROY, Ala. – High school band students from across the southeastern United States will fill Troy University’s campus Feb. 1-3 as they participate in the 34th annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic (SEUS).

“This conference is a good opportunity to get people here to showcase our city, campus and programs,” said Carol Franks, assistant professor of music for TROY and executive director for the high school clinic.

The Northwinds Symphonic Band of Gainesville, GA, conducted by Ron Evans, will kick off the three-day event with a concert in the Claudia Crosby Theater at 7 p.m., Feb. 1.

Friday, Feb. 2 will begin with a clinic presented by Dean Cassels and Buddy Ball at 10 a.m.  Three guest bands will perform following the clinic.  The bands include: Sandy Creek High School of Tyrone, GA, conducted by Casey Eubanks (11 a.m.), Thompson High School of Alabaster, conducted by Jon Bubbett (1:30 p.m.), and DeSoto (FL) High School, conducted by Harry Blake (4 p.m.).

The Troy University Symphony Band, conducted by Director of Bands Ralph Ford, will appear in concert at 8 p.m. on Feb. 2.

Composer in Residence Stephen Melillo’s clinic in Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor will start Saturday’s agenda at 10:30 a.m.  At 1:15 p.m., Mosley High School Band of Lynn Haven, FL, conducted by Jamie Birdwell, will perform the final guest concert. 

Following the performance by Mosley High School, the SEUS Crimson and Silver honor bands will perform in the Claudia Crosby Theater beginning at 4:30 p.m. The two honor bands are composed of high school students from the Southeast who were selected through taped auditions previous to the clinic. These students will spend Feb. 2-4 in preparation for the concert on Saturday evening.

The Crimson and Silver Honor Bands will be conducted by Dr. John M. Long, Troy University’s director of bands emeritus, and Joseph Hermann, professor of music and director of bands at Tennessee Tech University, respectively. Stephen Melillo will serve as the guest composer-in-residence.

Long, who was the first active bandmaster to be elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame, serves as a guest conductor, speaker, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico.  Long has been honored with many distinguished awards including: Alabama Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Music Educator of the year, the Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Gold Medal of Honor and Alabama Council of the Arts’ Governors’ Award. 

Serving as a conductor in more than 30 states in the Netherlands, Canada and Japan, Hermann is sought after as an adjudicator, clinic and workshop presenter and speaker.  His symphonic bands have served as featured ensembles at state, regional and national conventions, and recordings of his ensembles have been issued as reference for music educators nationwide. Hermann was also elected to the American Bandmasters Association and has served on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Melillo has spent 17 years in public schools and more than 30 years as an international guest conductor. His compositions have been played and recorded by ensembles and conductors from 28 different countries. Melillo is also the creator of STORMWORKS, which aids in self-publishing and digital music dissemination. His work has been featured in 13 feature films, 28 network television programs and the 1991 Academy Award-nominated movie “12:01 P.M.” starring Kurtwood Smith. Melillo has also composed game music for Nintendo, Sega-Genesis and others.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

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34th Annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic

Concert Schedule

All concerts will be performed in the Claudia Crosby Theater in Smith Hall on the Troy Campus. Concerts are free and open to the public.

Thursday, Feb. 1

7 p.m.              Northwinds Symphonic Band of Gainesville, GA, Ron Evans, conductor

Friday, Feb. 2

11 a.m.             Sandy Creek High School Band of Tyrone, GA, Casey Eubanks, conductor

1:30 p.m.          Thompson High School Band of Alabaster, Jon Bubbett, conductor

4 p.m.              Desoto (FL) High School Band, Harry Blake, conductor

8 p.m.              Troy University Symphony Band Concert, Ralph Ford, conductor

Saturday, Feb. 3

1:15 p.m.          Mosley High School Band of Lynn Haven, FL, Jamie Birdwell, conductor

4:30 p.m.          SEUS Crimson and Silver Honor Bands, Dr. John M. Long and Joseph Hermann, conductors