Tuskegee University has named Rickey Oglesby Interim Director of Bands. He and the Marching Crimson Pipers are headed to Atlanta today to lead the Pipers’ performance as guest band for the Atlanta Public Schools Marching Band Showcase. They will return to put finishing touches on their performance for the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic in Montgomery on Saturday.
Oglesby joined Tuskegee in 2023 as the university’s first Assistant Director of Bands in addition to leading percussion instruction, under Director J. William Nicholas who accepted a role at South Carolina State University.
Oglesby looks forward to more opportunities to shine a light on the band’s musicianship which he describes as “one of the most refined sounds in our conference. Musically, we intend to show that this is a new MCP, one that will command your attention.”
The Orlando native thinks that other milestones, including his first game as director, the August 31 Red Tails Classic, and Tuskegee’s first ever night home game on September 6, bode well for him and the band as they continue to gel under his leadership. “The crowds have loved our energy. It’s been a while since the Tuskegee community has seen a band this size and this good.”
The 139 members of the Marching Crimson Pipers “are so inquisitive, competitive and strong academically,” said Oglesby, adding that the band is aggressively pursuing the 2025 ESPN Band of the Year ranking, a coveted prize for Division I and Division II HBCU bands.
Being steps ahead of the current state of the program is vital,” he says is the ultimate strategy for success. From managing the long list of logistics that comes with traveling and performing, to delivering a show that fully engages the crowd, to effectively evaluating performances through film study, his goal is “to be the best version of ourselves and to elevate the execution of our show.”
Before joining Tuskegee, Oglesby served as Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Instructor at Edward Waters University (EWU) from 2015 to 2023. At EWU, he elevated both the percussion studio and drumline to national prominence, earning ESPN’s “The Undefeated” #1 Drumline rank in their 2021 HBCU Band Rankings of Division II HBCU bands.
Oglesby earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree in music education from the University of North Florida. His professional affiliations include the National Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Music Education Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
