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Dr. J. William Nicholas, Director of Bands
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CONTACT USDr. J. William Nicholas, Director TU BAND SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION REQUIREMENTSWoodwind and Brass
Percussion
PIPERETTE AND TWIRLING DIVA AUDITIONSAuditions for Crimson Piperettes and The Twirling Divas take place in the August Pre-Drill period. Ladies interested in trying out MUST contact the coordinator or band director to be invited to Pre-Drill and have important information pertaining to the tryout process. Potential Piperettes please email: Piperette00@yahoo.com and Potential Twirling Divas please email: TwirlingDivas@yahoo.com ABOUT THE BAND PROGRAM
The Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Piper Band has enjoyed a long history of excellence. At the tender age of 25 years (1906), Tuskegee Institute could boast of a well-organized band of 35 pieces and an 18-piece orchestra. Organizationally, the band was part of the Military Department, an administrative arrangement of several years’ duration. Captain Elbert V. Williams was bandmaster and Captain N. Emerson Perkins succeeded him. George B. Thornton served as acting bandmaster during 1914-15, on a part-time basis, after which Captain Frank L. Drye was appointed bandmaster of the 45-member Tuskegee Institute Band. In 1931, the School of Music was established under the directorship of William L. Dawson. The band became a component of the newly formed department. In the 1940s, it became the Department of Music, still headed by Dawson. Captain Drye held the title of Head of Band Instruments, and Director of Bands. The band, consisted of 75 pieces including drum majors, juvenile drum majors, majorettes and herald trumpeters. Subsequent directors of the Tuskegee Marching Band have been Dr. William P. Foster (Director of Bands Emeritus at Florida A&M University), Dr. Lucius R. Wyatt (former Director of Bands at Prairie View A&M University), Edward Graves (Director of Bands at Tennessee State University), Ronald J. Sarjeant (retired Director of Bands at South Carolina State University), and Warren L. Duncan (Director of Bands Emeritus and Chairman of the Dept. of Fine and Performing Arts at Tuskegee University). DIRECTOR OF BANDS
The Tuskegee University Band is under the direction of Dr. J. William Nicholas, a native of Orlando, FL. Nicholas earned the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in band conducting at the University of South Carolina. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Florida A&M University and Florida State University. His professional affiliations include the Golden Key International Honor Society, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Nicholas recently served as the Adjunct Director of Bands at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he conducted the Wind Ensemble and taught instrumental conducting. As an avid tuba player, Nicholas most recently performed as an on-call musician for several churches in the Orlando area. During his undergraduate study, he served as a principal tubist in the Florida A&M University Wind Ensemble and performed in numerous University chamber ensembles and chamber ensembles around the "Big Bend." Nicholas is well-known in the secondary school band community; he has arranged for several bands across the southeastern United States over the last decade, including over ten high schools. From 2014 to 2019, he served as Director of Bands at Jones High School in Orlando, Florida. He grew the band program to 110 students, significantly increased student participation in audition-based honor bands, and earned consistent superior ratings on the District and State level. In 2018, in conjunction with the Jones High School Wind Ensemble, the Jones High School Concert Choir, garnered national attention on the "Ellen" show after receiving a $100,000 donation to fund a trip to perform at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has arranged for the Edward Waters College "Triple Threat" Marching Band and the Allen University "Band of Gold" Marching Band. Nicholas has also served as a Session Coordinator for presentations at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference. MCP STAFFOther Band Staff includes: JeGayde Colvert Kimberly Allen and Robin Cobb Cierra Kenerly and Tunisia Thomas Stefan Smith Tyrone Jackson Jabari Leslie BAND HISTORYThe Marching Crimson Pipers (MCP) Band Motto -- "Setting standards is what we have done…Maintaining those standards is what we do every day." Academic Motto -- “It is more important to march across the stage than it is to march across the field." 
The high-stepping Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers (MCP) is part of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. The Tuskegee University Band Program consists of four band components:
The MCP have enjoyed a long history of excellence, including major appearances in the highly acclaimed Honda Battle of the Bands. This SIAC portion of the Annual Invitational Showcase is usually held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA and features marching bands from 10 participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's). The event attracts and thoroughly entertains nearly 65,000 fans. LISTING OF DIRECTORS Originally, the band was part of the Military Department. Hence, the bandmasters were military captains. In 1931, the School of Music was established under the directorship of William L. Dawson.
DISTINGUISHED BAND ALUMNI Some of the distinguished band alumni include:
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PERFORMANCES For nearly 100 years, the Marching Crimson Pipers, known for their unique marching style, powerful music arrangements, intricate dance steps and quality presentations by the dancing piperettes, flag line and soulful drum majors, have performed at:
BATTLE OF THE BANDS The Honda Battle of the Bands program includes two components. The Celebration Tour provides an opportunity for 45 participating schools from around the country to earn a $1,000 grant for their halftime performances at selected football games during the fall. At the end of the Tour, the 10 bands that demonstrate the most showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction will be invited to the Invitational Showcase. Each of the 10 schools selected will receive an additional funds toward its scholarship fund. The invitees will include the two top bands from each of the four HBCU athletic conferences (CIAA, SWAC, MEAC, SIAC) and two independent schools. The selection process is based solely on a three-tiered process. Thirty-three percent of the vote will be from the on-line fan voting at http://www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com . Thirty-three percent will be from the commissioners of the four conferences and school presidents, and thirty-three percent will be from the band directors. Commissioners, presidents and band directors are not allowed to vote for their own school(s). All on-line surveys must be completed and submitted by the deadline. The Marching Crimson Pipers of Tuskegee University, now under the direction of Dr. J. William Nicholas, historically brought a large number of fans to the Georgia Dome, which seemed to fuel the Crimson Pipers' already dynamic program and performance. BAND SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships (participation grants) are available by audition. For more information, contact: Dr. J. William Nicholas, Director of Bands, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL. 36088; email jnicholas@tuskegee.edu or call 334-724-4789 |
