SPURLIN NAMED AU MARCHING BAND DIRECTOR

Robert Greenleaf, interim chair of the Auburn University Music Department, has announced that Corey Spurlin has been named marching band director, effective June 1, and that former director Rick Good has been promoted to director of bands.

"The Auburn Band is a tremendous program for this university and we wanted to build on the band’s previous success and excellent reputation,” Greenleaf said. “Spurlin has worked with some of the best band programs in the country and I know he will help the band continue to move forward.”

Spurlin, who graduates in May from Louisiana State University with a doctorate of musical arts, earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Alabama and was a graduate teaching assistant with University of Alabama band from 2002 to 2004. He has assisted with the LSU band since 2004.

Good takes over the director of bands position from Johnnie Vinson, who is retiring from Auburn after 38 years of service. As marching band director, Good led the Auburn Band in winning the 2004 Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy, generally recognized as the highest honor a university marching band can receive. In 2005, the marching band performed in the Inauguration Parade of President George W. Bush. This was the third performance in an inaugural for the Auburn band.

Vinson, who was elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1998, had been director of bands at AU since 1991. He has published nearly 350 works for bands and is a member of the board of directors of the American Bandmasters Association.