| HATTIESBURG -- Of 10 marching
bands participating in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
in New York City Thursday, four of them will be led by University
of Southern Mississippi music education graduates.
Dr. Thomas Fraschillo, director of bands at Southern Miss and
conducting mentor to three of the four directors, said the number
of band graduates participating in such a prestigious and highly
visible American icon is a credit to the university and its
band program. “I’m very proud of our former students,” he said.
“I plan to be there with my family to show our support of their
success.”
The Southern Miss graduates include the following:
• Richard Suk, who earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees
in music education at Southern Miss, directs the Ohio University
Marching 110 of Athens, Ohio. His band will lead the two and
one-half mile parade through the streets of Manhattan.
• Brian Taylor, who received a master’s in music education
and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Southern Miss, now directs
the University of Louisiana-Lafayette marching band. His group
will be the featured band on the Today Show Wednesday morning.
• Roger Duran, also a master’s in music education graduate
who came to Southern Miss from the University of North Texas
to study conducting, will lead the John B. Alexander High School
marching band of Loredo, Texas.
• Jody Dunn, who earned his bachelor’s in music education,
now teaches at Crestview High School of Okaloosa County, Fla.
For 77 years, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has kicked off
the holiday season with spectacular bands, balloons and floats.
More than 2.5 million people line the streets of New York to
get a glimpse of one of the world’s most famous parades, while
another 44 million tune in by television as they celebrate the
holiday at home with family and friends.
For more information on the Southern Miss band program, contact
Angela Kilcrease at 601.266.4988 or visit the Web at www.usm.edu/bands.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is
a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling
its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering
individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition
of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating
a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural
enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern
Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss, with an additional campus
and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast;
further information is found at www.usm.edu.
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Last updated:
12/23/05 |
