Jazz Bands


Dr. William J. Earvin Top


Dr. William J. Earvin is currently the Educational Support Manager for the Southeast Region at Conn-Selmer, Inc. in the Division of Education. He also coordinates the HBCU Collective Community, a program engaging Music Educators and arts supporters associated with the 107 institutions categorized as Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Dr. Earvin later pursued his graduate studies at Mississippi Valley State University where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education, and he earned a Doctor of Education degree from Northcentral University specializing in Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Earvin is currently in pursuit of a Doctor of Arts in Music Education degree at William Carey University.

Under the baton of Dr. Earvin, ensembles consistently earned Superior and Excellent Ratings at GMEA and LMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations. The groups have also been selected to perform at numerous regional and national festivals. Dr. Earvin has been honored as an “Outstanding Music Educator” by the Berklee College of Music (2009) and a “Distinguished Music Educator” by the Yale University School of Music (2013).


Dr. Earvin most recently served as the Interim Coordinator of Professional Development for the City of Baker School System, after a successful tenure as Director of Bands at Baker High School in Baker, LA. At Baker High School, notable performances included the “WorldStrides OnStage” Festival in Dallas, TX, and the Music for All Affiliate - Louisiana Concert Band Invitational in Lafayette, LA. In 2018, the Baker High School Symphonic Band performed in the National Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Earvin was also recognized as Teacher of the Year at Baker High School in 2018.

Dr. Earvin’s career includes tenures in Higher Education as an Academic Advisor (MDCC) and as an Outreach Recruiter/Advisor for the TRiO Educational Talent Search Program at Southern University (SUBR). He currently serves as a part-time faculty member for the TRiO Upward Bound Programs at SUBR. Dr. Earvin previously worked as the Vice President of Education Programs and Development for the Devmusic Company, LLC and is the Founder and CEO of CreativeED, LLC. His music business and sales background also include management tenures at Mars Music, Inc. and the RadioShack Corporation. Dr. Earvin has presented numerous professional development sessions and in-serviceworkshops. He facilitates professional learning experiences in his local school district as well as districts throughout the country. Notably, he has presented at the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs Conference, The Midwest Clinic and the Music for All Summer Symposium.

While maintaining a loving family environment, career goals, and a passion for music and educational research, Dr. Earvin is actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations; the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, the National Band Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a charter member of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and is a member of the Music for All Advocacy in Action Advisory Committee. He is also a founding member of the Minority Band Directors National Associationand serves on the Presidential Taskforce for the HBCU-National Band and Orchestra Directors Consortium. In 2020, Dr. Earvin was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi and The Golden Key Honor Societies. He was also selected as the Band Instruction Lead for the Country Music Association Foundation’s United Voices for Music Education initiative. Dr. Earvin and his lovely wife Tamesha are the proud parents of four talented children.

Greg Gatien Top


Greg Gatien currently serves as Dean of Music at Brandon University in Manitoba, where he has been a member of the School of Music’s faculty since 2001. Teaching saxophone, improvisation, jazz pedagogy, jazz history, and directing ensembles, Greg is an active educator and maintains a busy schedule adjudicating festivals and giving masterclasses. An accomplished performer, Greg has played with many icons of the jazz tradition, including Kenny Wheeler, Benny Carter, Joe Henderson, and Bob Brookmeyer. Greg frequently collaborates with renowned American pianist and composer John Harmon and, in the Fall of 2023, Greg is performing with four-time Juno Award winning composer and pianist, David Braid in Canada and Turkey. He has also been featured on numerous recordings and radio broadcasts in both Canada and the US, including Dean McNeill’s “Prairie Fire,” the “Art Pepper Plus 11” project, Jeff Presslaff’s “Re-Birth of the Cool” project, “Red Lodge Quorum,” and Andrew Littleford’s “Far As the Eye Can See.”

Earl MacDonald Top


Earl MacDonald’s seemingly inexhaustible commitment to the jazz art form is evident in his performing, composing and teaching. Described as “a magical, musical alchemist of hip hybrids” (Hartford Courant) and “a major force in the world of jazz composition” (Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz.com), the former musical director and pianist for Maynard Ferguson serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut and teaches annually at UMass Amherst’s Jazz in July program.

With seven albums released as a bandleader, MacDonald’s accolades include a 2022 Covenant Award from GMA Canada, the Connecticut Office of the Arts’ 2020 Artistic Excellence Award, the Sammy Nestico Award for big band arranging, and two “jazz album of the year” JUNO Award nominations.

The Winnipeg native earned degrees from McGill University and Rutgers, where he apprenticed with NEA Jazz Master, Kenny Barron. Further studies include affiliation with the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop and piano lessons with Fred Hersch.

Despite his considerable career accomplishments, one senses the best lies ahead. Through his compositional work, MacDonald aims to continue the long, impactful tradition of political and social activism that jazz music and its musicians have created. Visit www.earlmacdonald.com or connect on Instagram (@earlmacdon) and Facebook (/earl.macdonald).

Concert Bands


Dr. Rick Good Top


Dr. Rick Good is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Auburn University. From 2016-2023 he served as Chair of the Music Department, and in 2021, during his tenure as chair, the Music Department was named one of Yamaha’s top ten distinguished colleges and universities, as part of its inaugural Yamaha Institution of Excellence program.

His current duties include conducting the Auburn University Symphonic Band and Symphonic Winds, the university’s premiere wind and percussion ensemble; overseeing the development of all Auburn University bands; and teaching both graduate and undergraduate conducting and wind literature courses. Under his direction, the AU Symphonic Winds were selected and performed at the American Bandmasters Association Convention, College Band Directors National Association Southern Conference, and the Alabama Music Educators Conference. In addition, the group has been invited to and participated in three international concert tours: Spain 2023, Italy 2016, and China in 2012.

Dr. Good has had an accomplished and productive career that has been marked with numerous honors and awards, inclusive of the following: In 2016, he was elected into membership into the American Bandmasters Association, a prestigious organization with only 300 members, founded in 1929 by John Philip Sousa; in 2018 he served a one-year term on the Board of Directors for the American Bandmasters Association; In 2014 he was elected President of the National Band Association and served a two-year term; From 2006 to the present, he has served as the Director of the Macy’s Great All-American Marching Band; and under his direction, the Auburn University Marching Band was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2004.

During his career, he has been an invited lecturer or presenter at numerous professional meetings and conferences, an invited guest conductor of All-State bands across the country, and an invited adjudicator and performer, allowing valuable opportunities and experiences throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

John Meehan Top


John Meehan currently works for the Calgary Stampede Foundation, where he is the Director of the Stampede Showband, as well as oversees the Stampede Showriders (a group of 10-14 young equestrians) and the Band of Outriders (an all-age musical group). John is also actively involved in the Bands of Calgary, acting as a consultant for the Calgary Round-Up Band, and as the wind arranger for the Calgary Stetson Show Band.

Outside of his work in the Calgary area, John is on the design staff of the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, where he works with Dave Glyde designing the Blue Devils show and is the brass arranger for the B & C Corps. Previously, John had held several other positions spanning over 3 decades with BD Performing Arts, most recently as Director of Community Arts Programs and Composer in Residence/Associate Conductor for the Diablo Wind Symphony.

John has been composing and arranging for marching bands around the world since 1992, and is a world-renowned clinician on brass pedagogy, ensemble technique, and performance excellence. John’s current and past clients can be found in Canada, the United States, Brazil, China, England, Ireland, and Japan.

Some of John’s “non-pageantry” writing includes composing for “The Music of WYLAND” CD, scoring scenes for several student and independent films, composing two spots for Kaiser Permanente, and being commissioned to write several wind ensemble pieces.

John was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2019, the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Buglers Hall of the Fame in 2016.

Notable career achievements include lead designer for both the System Blue and King marching brass instrument series, development and production for the Sample Logic and System Blue sound libraries (including Fanfare and V.E.T.), being a nationally recognized adjudicator for marching band circuits such as Bands of America, and as a performer on the movie soundtrack “Monsters University” as a percussionist.

John lives in Calgary, Alberta with his incredibly supportive wife Jackie, and they have 3 daughters, and two rescue dogs.

W. Dale Warren Top


W. Dale Warren is Senior Wind Band Conductor and Professor of Music in the University of Arkansas’ Department of Music. During his three plus decades of service at the UA, Professor Warren has conducted the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Varsity Band, and Campus Band. He also teaches music education courses, supervises music education interns (student teachers) and is actively engaged in the graduate instrumental conducting program. From 1991-2000 Professor Warren was the Director of the UA Razorback Marching Band. Professor Warren is also the director of the highly successful UA Summer Music Camps.

A native of Greenville, Kentucky, Professor Warren played euphonium at Muhlenberg Central High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky. Professor Warren is a former conducting student of B. Joe Allen, Edward A. Knob, John Larkin, George Mabrey, W. Harry Clark, Skip Gray, Dennis Johnson, John Paynter, John Whitwell, and Larry Rachleff. He also served on the music department faculty as Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Kentucky from 1986-1991. Professor Warren taught at Kentucky high schools Bremen and North Hardin from 1980-1986. His bands received numerous awards and Division I ratings. He has guest conducted all-district, all-region, and all-state honor bands, as well as university bands in 40 states.

Professor Warren has completed a faculty residency with the Kasetsart University Wind Symphony in Bangkok, Thailand. Professor Warren has served as a computer clinician/drill designer for Advantage Showare, Inc. and Arrangers' Publishing Company. For 20 years he served as an adjudicator/clinician for Musicfest Orlando. During Professor Warren’s affiliation with Music for All/Bands of America he served as a member of the Educational Advisory Board and for the past 37 years as an adjudicator and chief judge. In addition to serving as chairman of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield Award Committee, Professor Warren is a John Philip Sousa Foundation Board Member, a Past President of the Southeastern Conference Band Directors Association, and for the past 22 years has been a member of the Institutional Review Board at Washington Regional Medical Center.

Since Professor Warren arrived at the University of Arkansas, the UA Wind Symphony has made six guest appearances at College Band Directors National Association Conventions. The UA Wind Symphony performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the Arkansas Music Educators Convention/All-State Conference on two occasions under Professor Warren's baton.

During Professor Warren's tenure as Director, the Razorback Marching Band performed numerous times for former President William Jefferson Clinton, including the 1992 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Under Professor Warren's leadership, the Razorback Band performed at the SEC Championship, the Cotton Bowl, the Citrus Bowl, the Carquest Bowl, and the Independence Bowl. The Razorback Marching Band also appeared as the Grand Finale Band at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Professor Warren is a former marching member of the Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Schaumburg, Illinois and a former brass and visual staff member for the Guardsmen and the Imperial Guard Drum & Bugle Corps of Evansville, Indiana. Professor Warren has also served as a Drum Corps International (DCI) Adjudicator.

Professor Warren's professional affiliations include: World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Conductors Guild, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, Arkansas Bandmasters Association, Arkansas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.