Andrea Brown, University of Maryland

Dr. Andrea E. Brown was appointed the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland in 2018. In this position she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, serves as the Director of Athletic Bands and teaches conducting. Brown is formerly a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands and was a faculty sponsor of a College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Project team researching conducting pedagogy technology. She also served as the director of orchestra and assistant director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. She is a frequent guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator in the US, Europe and Asia.

While under her direction, the UMD Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2022 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore. The ensemble has performed works by a diverse range of composers and has collaborated with soloists Willie Clark, Robert DiLutis, Jennifer Piazza-Pick and Amanda Staub. Brown led a consortium commissioning Omar Thomas’s setting of Shenandoah and has participated in commissions for works by Katahj Copley, Shiyung Li, Catherine Likhuta and Harrison Collins.

Brown completed a DMA in instrumental conducting at UNC Greensboro where she was a student of John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. While at UNCG, she was both guest conductor and principal horn on UNCG Wind Ensemble's fireworks! and finish line! CDs released on the Equilibrium label. Brown has also had several rehearsal guides published in the popular GIA Publications series, "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" and has presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Oxford Conducting Institute, Music For All Summer Symposium, the Yamaha Bläserklasse in Schlitz, Germany, the International Computer Music Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia and multiple times at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference.

A proponent of inclusion and equity issues in the music profession, Brown is a frequent guest speaker on these topics. She currently serves on the CBDNA Diversity Committee and was a founding member of the Drum Corps International InStep Committee. Brown is the founder of “Women Rising to the Podium”- an online group of over 4700 members supporting and celebrating women band directors.

Originally from Milan, Tennessee, she is a graduate of Austin Peay State University and earned a master of music degree in horn performance and a master of music education degree with a cognate in instrumental conducting from UNCG. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, Brown was the assistant director of bands at Austin Peay State University and taught public school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Dallas, Texas. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda and CBDNA. She was awarded the Rose of Honor as a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women's Music Fraternity and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Brown lives just outside of Washington, D.C., with her dog Applesauce.

Marcellus Brown, Boise State University (ret.) 

Marcellus Brown recently served as Visiting Professor of Music in Bands at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University following his storied career as Director of Bands at Boise State University. Brown has worked extensively as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. He holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and has done doctoral work at the University of Illinois. Brown served as President of the College Band Directors National Association Northwestern Division and on the selection panel for the National Band Association William D. Revelli Composition Contest. During 2024-2025 academic year, Brown has been appointed as a conductor of the Interlochen Academy Wind Symphony.

Michael Colburn, “The President’s Own" US Marine Band Director (ret)

Michael J. Colburn is a freelance guest conductor and clinician who regularly leads professional and student ensembles in festivals, residencies, and a variety of other settings throughout the country. In July 2022 he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Me2 Orchestra/Burlington, and in January 2023 he joined the faculty of the University of Vermont in an adjunct capacity. From 2014 until 2022, Colburn served as the Director of Bands at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he conducted the Butler University Wind Ensemble and offered instruction in conducting, euphonium, and the history and literature of the wind band.Before his tenure at Butler, Colburn served for 27 years in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, where he held a variety of positions including Principal Euphonium (1991-1996), Assistant Director (1996-2004), and Director (2004-2014). As Director, Colburn was music advisor to White House and regularly conducted the Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra at the Executive Mansion and at the Presidential Inaugurations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He was promoted to Colonel by President Bush in a private Oval Office ceremony in 2007, and in 2014 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Gen James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Medal of Honor by the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic Board of Directors.

Darrin Davis,

Darrin Davis, Broken Arrow (OK) Public Schools

Darrin Davis, a graduate of Broken Arrow High School, currently serves as the Executive Director of Fine Arts for the Broken Arrow (OK) school district and has enjoyed teaching band in the Broken Arrow Public Schools since 1993.  Mr. Davis previously served as the conductor of the nationally acclaimed Broken Arrow HS Wind Ensemble and director of the Pride of Broken Arrow Marching Band.  In his role as Executive Director of Fine Arts, Mr. Davis leads a team of 90 Fine Arts teachers and over 6000 secondary students that actively participate in the Fine Arts in the Broken Arrow Public Schools.

Davis’ bands have performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, the American Bandmasters Association Annual Convention, Carnegie Hall, the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and on numerous occasions at the Oklahoma Music Educators Convention.

Mr. Davis is a member of the Bands of America Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame and Broken Arrow High School’s Great Graduates Hall of Fame.  Mr. Davis is also an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association honored Davis as their “Band Director of the Year.”

Davis’ marching bands have marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade and received the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Flag of Honor and Sudler Shield.  Broken Arrow is a 30-time Oklahoma State Marching Band Champion, a 17-time BOA Grand National Finalist, a 22-time BOA Regional Champion, and the 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2021 Bands of America Grand National Champion.