MEDIA CONTACTS: Polly Burks
561-297-2595, pburks@fau.edu or
Stacia Smith
561-297-2971, ssmith@fau.edu FAU Appoints New Marching Band Director
BOCA RATON, FL (April 21, 2005) – Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Music recently announced the appointment of Christopher Chapman as director of the FAU Marching Band. Chapman will assume the position of assistant director of bands/athletic band director in July of 2005 with the assignment of having a marching band on the field for the 2005 football season.
“Chris Chapman will bring a high level of energy, inventiveness and musicianship to the Marching Band’s return to the field in 2005. The Band is going to be great for FAU football and its fans, and it will give many FAU students a chance to continue to be involved in a musical tradition that they loved in high school,” said Heather Coltman, chair of FAU’s music department.
The FAU Marching Band was founded in the fall of 2002 under the direction of George Sparks, who was then on the music faculty. Sparks continued as director through the 2003 football season, but then was appointed director of FAU’s School of the Arts. Now, after a one-year absence, the Marching Band will be back under Chapman’s guidance.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Chapman has served as Director of Bands at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from The Ohio State University in 1992 and a Master of Music from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998. Currently, Chapman is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Washington.
Chapman’s professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference; the Washington Music Educators Association; World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles; and College Band Directors National Association. He is also an honorary member of the National Honorary Collegiate Band Service Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.
Chapman will be working closely with Kyle Prescott who joined FAU in the fall of 2004 as Director of Bands. The University’s Marching Band complements Prescott’s vision of a comprehensive band program in the Department of Music.
For further information about FAU’s band programs in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, call the music department at 561-297-3826.
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