Professor Ralph Ford, Conductor
Dr. Mark Walker, Associate Conductor

The Symphony Band is comprised of the top fifty-five wind and percussion students in the Long School of Music. This premiere group has recently released its second compact disc recording in association with Grammy-nominated and Telly award-winning composer Stephen Melillo entitled: “Stormworks, Chapter 13: Whispers in the Wind” available on digital download sites such as ITunes and CDBaby.  This recording has also been released on the “DigiMusicard” format. The band is the first university ensemble to use this new distribution format, which was featured in the November 8, 2008 issue of ”Billboard Magazine.” Most recently, the band has completed recording and will soon release ”The Band Music of Carl Vollrath, Vol. I, Symphonies No.1 and No. 2.” Other recent releases include: “Stormworks Chapter One, Prime: A Wish to the World” in collaboration with internationally known composer, Stephen Melillo. Additionally, this group provides demo recordings for the Belwin Division of Alfred Publications, TRN Publications, and others on a regular basis. Throughout its distinguished history, this band has recorded chapters for the series “The Heritage of the March” and broadcast its own program “Strike Up The Band!” for twenty years on the Southeastern Public Radio Network.

Since 2001, this ensemble has been under the baton of every living member and inductee of the National Band Association’s Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors. Over the years, the band has performed at the national conventions of the American Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the Women Band Directors International, Alabama Bandmasters Association and is the featured band at the annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic. The band is open by audition only at the beginning of each semester. The band gives numerous concerts year-round, and tours extensively throughout the southeast during the spring semester.

For information regarding band scholarships, auditions, or opportunities support the band program through the University Foundation, please contact the university band office by email: troyband@troy.edu or phone: 334-670-3281. Street Address: 113 Long Hall, Troy University, Troy, Alabama 36082. Websites: www.troy.edu, music.troy.edu, and www.soundofthesouth.org.