Alabama State University Department of Music

09/23/2026

Bravo Tavaris!

Congratulations from WSFA and Alabama State University to Tavaris Marlow of Brewbaker Middle School for being this week's Class Act winner and receiving the Alabama State University gift bag!
Sponsored by Alabama State University
https://www.wsfa.com/news/education/class-act/

09/23/2026

So thankful to have such wonderful colleagues, and dear friends, to play with at ASU! Absolutely beautiful playing by ASU trombone professor, Dr. Jonathan Houghtling, and Dr.Joel Jones continues to be an absolute treasure on piano. Special night indeed, in Tullibody Recital Hall 🙂

09/22/2026

Our High School Honor Band Festival & 12th grade Band & Music Scholarship Audition Day will take place on the campus of Alabama State University on February 19-21, 2027. During the Honor Band Festival weekend, faculty from the Department of Music evaluate 12th grade instrumental students who are hoping to earn a scholarship to attend ASU, to consider overall musicianship, leadership potential, and the potential for academic success at the college level. We are looking for talent, and want the best of the best at ASU. The High School Honor Band for students in grades 9-12 is a concert honor ensemble where students visit campus on Friday and Saturday to rehearse and perform advanced symphonic literature with our Director of Bands and guest clinicians. We typically award over $75,000 in Music & Band scholarships to deserving high school seniors at the grand finale concert that takes place on campus that Sunday afternoon, open to friends and family to attend. If you have students or know a high school senior hoping to major in music at ASU or hoping to march in the Band at ASU, please encourage them to register and attend the High School Honor Band Festival. During the festival weekend, students will have the opportunity to meet ASU Music faculty, to hear our collegiate ensembles perform, to tour campus, and to meet other high school seniors from across the southeast who will be attending ASU after graduating from high school. The festival is open to students in grades 9-12, but we really prioritize bringing in high school seniors, in order to provide seniors with an opportunity to audition for Band & Music scholarships to attend ASU while they are with us that weekend. Our big areas of need for the Class of 2031 include CLARINETS (Bb soprano, bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet), FRENCH HORNS (concert French horn), TRUMPETS, and PERCUSSION (students who are proficient on mallets, timpani, and snare rudiments). The deadline to register for the High School Honor Band is December 1st. For questions on how to register, please contact the Music Office at (334) 229-4341 or email us at [email protected]

09/22/2026

The Fall Convocation performances by the University Choir and Mighty Marching Hornets were outstanding! Bravo to all!

09/21/2026

Yesterday, a number of ASU Music Faculty members who play regularly with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra were able to meet, greet, and share the stage with the incomparable Yo-Yo Ma on the opening concert of the season for the MSO. Please enjoy a few photos from yesterday!

09/16/2026

At ASU, we are committed to reinforcing fundamental musical skills that go beyond preparing for the next concert. We believe that developing strong music reading, good tone quality, and informed musical judgment is what enables musicians to develop musical independence — the ability to play music without direction from the teacher and have a life-long relationship with music.

Big shout outs to our ensemble directors who have really dialed this focus on fundamentals this year:

Dr. Derrick Smith, Director of the The Mighty Marching Hornets and the ASU Wind Ensemble

Dr. Shane Colquhoun, Director of the Flex Band and Pop Ensemble

09/16/2026

Congratulations to the Mighty Marching Hornets on a terrific performance representing ASU on the road at Troy University last weekend! Please enjoy a collection of some of the wonderful photos taken by our media team, alumni, and fans, celebrating the hard work, talent, and efforts of the students!

09/15/2026

Next Week!

09/14/2026

Congratulations to ASU music alumnae on her years of service to Auburn University and music!

Few measures of a composition’s impact are more meaningful than hearing new generations continue to perform it.

First composed in 1996, Auburn University Department of Music Professor of Voice Rosephanye Powell’s celebrated composition “The Word Was God” has filled concert halls and inspired choirs around the world.

Congratulations, Dr. Powell, on 30 years of an extraordinary musical legacy!

Learn more: https://aub.ie/JoXKXe