Andrew McMahan

Conductor | Music Educator
Wind Band and Orchestra

Leonard Bernstein

E-mail: amcmahan@lamar.edu Address: PO Box 10044, Beaumont, TX, 77710
Phone: 409-880-8147 Website: www.amcmahan.com

Andrew McMahan is the director of bands and associate professor of music at Lamar University. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and music education, and serves as the artistic director and conductor of the Wind Ensemble. He also oversees all ensembles under the purview of the Lamar University Band Program and is the executive and administrative director of the Lamar University Summer Band Camp program.

Prior to his appointment at Lamar University, McMahan served as the director of bands and associate professor at Cal Poly State University, a position he held from 2010-2017. He taught courses in music theory and conducting, as well as instrumental literature and rehearsal techniques. He also served as administrator, artistic director and conductor for the Wind Ensemble. During his tenure at Cal Poly, the Wind Ensemble performed internationally, including a 12-day performance tour of England, Ireland and Scotland in 2013. McMahan and the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble also hosted the 82nd annual American Bandmasters Association convention in 2016.

Before moving to California, McMahan served as the director and principal conductor of the University of Minnesota Campus Orchestra. Additionally, he often appeared as a guest conductor with the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and University Bands. He also served as the announcer and for the 320-member strong “Pride of Minnesota” Marching Band.

McMahan spent four years as the director of instrumental studies and instructor of secondary music education at Simpson College, just outside of Des Moines, Iowa. He also served as the executive director and founder of the Simpson College Big Band Jazz Camp, a week-long festival of jazz studies held each June.

A native of North Carolina, McMahan earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western Carolina University, Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. He began his teaching career as a high school band director in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

Affiliations

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BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

  • 2008

    Doctor of Musical Arts (Conducting)

    University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Mentor: Craig Kirchhoff

  • 1998

    Master of Music (Conducting)

    University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Mentor: Thomas Dvorak

  • 1996

    Bachelor of Music Education

    Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina

    Mentors: Bob Buckner, Brad Ulrich, and John West

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

  • 2017-Present

    Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)

    Director of Bands

    Associate Professor

  • 2010–2017

    Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo, California)

    Director of Bands

    Associate Professor

  • 2008–2010

    California State University Stanislaus (Turlock, California)

    Interim Director of Bands

    Coordinator of Instrumental Studies

  • 2005–2008

    University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

    Music Director and Principal Conductor, UMN Campus Orchestra

    University Bands Teaching Assistant (with Craig Kirchhoff)

  • 2001–2005

    Simpson College (Indianola, Iowa)

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    Instructor of Music Education

K-12 TEACHING

  • 2000–2001

    Nicolet High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

    Director of Bands


  • 1998–2000

    Catholic Memorial High School (Waukesha, Wisconsin)

    Director of Music


SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY

EDITIONS/TRANSCRIPTIONS
  • “Apothéose” from Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale by Hector Berlioz. New edition for modern wind ensemble; includes separate choral parts/score with new piano reduction. Premiered October 24, 2014. Performed in November 2016 by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble. Performed by UC Berkeley University Chorus and Contra Costa Wind Ensemble in April 2017. Scheduled performance by University of Northern Arizona in Spring 2020.
  • “Fanfare” from Otello, Act III by Giuseppe Verdi. New transcription for large brass ensemble (11 tpts., 6 horns, 3 euphs., 3 tbns., bass tbn., 2 tubas.)
  • “Nessun Dorma” from Turendot by Giacomo Puccini. New transcription for solo tenor voice, trombone or euphonium accompanied by brass ensemble (4 tpts., 4 horns, euph., tbn., bass tbn., tuba.)
  • Novorossiysk Chimes: “The Fire of Eternal Glory” by Dimitri Shostakovich. New transcription for trumpet ensemble (piccolo tpt., 4 tpts., flugelhorn, optional bass tpt.)
  • Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare by Richard Strauss. New edition/arrangement for modern brass choir and timpani.
  • Psalm 141, “I Cry Unto Thee” by Pavel Chesnokov. New transcription for symphonic wind band.
PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND CLINICS
  • Clinician/Conductor, ATSSB Region 10 All-Region Band. Silsbee, Texas. [rescheduled to Jan. 2022 due to COVID-19]   (Note: Region 10 includes all southeast Texas excluding Houston.)
  • Clinician/Conductor, TMEA Region 10 All-Region Band. Nederland, Texas. January 17–18, 2020.  (Note: Region 10 includes all southeast Texas excluding Houston.)
  • Clinician/Conductor, TMEA Region 33 All-Region Band. Houston, Texas. January 18–19, 2019.   (Note: Region 33 includes Aldine ISD, Crosby ISD, Galena Park ISD, Humble ISD, New Caney ISD, Sheldon ISD, and Spring ISD.)
  • Clinician/Conductor, TMEA Region 19 All-Region Band. Houston, Texas. December 7–8, 2018.   (Note: Region 19 includes Barbers Hill ISD, Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Goose Creek ISD, La Port ISD, Pasadena ISD, and Pearland ISD.)
  • Guest Conductor, Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble Concert. Cullowhee, North Carolina. February 9, 2018.
  • Conductor, “Forgotten Gems”, CBDNA NW Regional Conference. Reno, Nevada. March 17, 2016
  • Clinician/Conductor, University of Massachusetts Honor Band Festival. Amherst, Massachusetts. February 8, 2014.
  • Conductor, P. Bradley Ulrich’s 25th Annual Recital. Cullowhee, North Carolina. September 10, 2013.
  • Clinician/Conductor, San Luis Obispo County Honor Band. February 20, 2013.
  • Adjudicator, San Luis Obispo County Band Directors Association Concert Band Festival. San Luis Obispo, California. March 16, 2011.
  • Adjudicator, Spring Band Festival - Clovis Unified School District. Clovis, California. March 9, 2011.
  • Clinician, Chabot College Band Music Festival. Hayward, California. February 26, 2010.
  • Clinician/Conductor, Summer Music at Stanislaus. Turlock, California. June 2009.
  • Clinician/Conductor, Minnesota State Community and Technical College Music Festival Band. Brainerd, Minnesota. March 27–28, 2008.
  • Clinician/Conductor. South Central Conference Honor Band. Bloomington, Iowa. January 31, 2005
  • Clinician/Conductor. Rolling Hills Conference Honor Band. Walnut, Iowa. March 16, 2004.
  • Clinician/Conductor. South Central Conference Honor Band. Osceola, Iowa. February 2, 2004.
  • Clinician/Conductor. Tri-II 2003 Honor Band Festival. Dubuque, Iowa. April 30–May 1, 2003.
  • Clinician/Conductor. West Central Iowa All-Conference Band. Stuart, Iowa. November 13, 2001.
COORDINATING AND DIRECTING

  • 2017-Present

    Lamar University Summer Band Camps

    Camp Director

    Artistic, Executive, and Logistics Director for the Lamar University Summer Band Camps: a week-long camp for middle school students in mid-June, followed immediately by a week-long camp for high school students. In total, these camps involve over 300 middle and high school students with over 50 paid staff and a budget of approximately $170,000. Campers participate in band rehearsals, chamber ensembles, private lessons, master classes and elective courses such as music composition, conducting, beginning piano, jazz improvisation and more.

  • 2015-2016

    American Bandmasters Association (ABA) National Conference

    Host and Conductor

    Selected to host the 82nd annual national American Bandmasters Association national conference March 1–6, 2016 on the campus of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. This conference was a joint endeavor with the Japanese Bandmasters Association; therefore, it included concerts by six well-known and high-quality performing ensembles from the United States and Japan as well a performance by the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble. Approximately 200 distinguished members of the American Bandmasters Association attended the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble concert performance.

  • 2012-2013

    Cal Poly Performance Tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland

    Coordinator and Director

    Designed, coordinated, and directed all aspects of the Cal Poly Bands performance tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland in June 2013. A concert band made up of 65 students from the Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, and Mustang Band performed across the British Isles, in venues such as The Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England), and St. John’s Smith Square in London. The students also enjoyed cultural excursions in all three countries through visits to Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, Oxford, York, and London.

  • 2011–2017

    Cal Poly All-State Music Festival

    Executive Director

    Since 1993, Cal Poly has been sponsoring a state-wide music festival to provide an opportunity for approximately 100 talented high school musicians to perform great music conducted by internationally acclaimed conductors at the world-class Harman Hall in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center. Our festival involves two student performing ensembles: Festival Jazz Band, and Festival Wind Orchestra. Students arrive on Friday, rehearse throughout the weekend, and then perform on Sunday afternoon. The Cal Poly Wind Ensemble, Symphony, and Jazz Band I perform for the students on Friday evening.

  • 2008–2010

    Central Valley Band and Orchestra Festival

    Executive Director

    Coordinator and Director of the Central Valley Band and Orchestra Festival: a one-day event for high school bands and orchestras held each April (currently in its twenty-fourth year.) Designed with the goal of providing high school students with a positive experience in a non-competitive atmosphere, this festival offers bands and orchestras the opportunity to receive comments from nationally known clinicians in performance as well as have the chance to work with one of the clinicians in a rehearsal setting.

  • 2002–2005

    Simpson College Big Band Jazz Camp

    Founder and Camp Director

    Founder and Camp Director of the Simpson College Jazz Camp: a six-day summer camp featuring the Jim Widner Big Band. This experience for middle school and high school students features over 20 professional jazz musicians from around the world working with students from across the continental U.S. and Alaska. Participants have a full schedule each day including master classes, improvisation classes, sectionals, big band rehearsals, jazz theory classes, and combo rehearsals. The professional staff performs each night for the campers, and the participants, in turn, perform a large concert for their friends and families on the final night of the camp.

  • 2004–2005

    Simpson College Festival Orchestra

    Founder and Artistic Director

    Founder and Artistic Director of the Simpson College Festival Orchestra, a new event at Simpson College held in October. This ensemble includes approximately twenty-five professional string players from the Des Moines Symphony performing standard orchestral literature with wind and percussion students studying at Simpson. As the college does not have a standing orchestra, this concert is designed to give the students at Simpson College the experience of performing in an orchestra setting.

  • 2002–2005

    Simpson College Orpheus Middle School Honor Band Festival

    Executive Director

    Executive Director of the Simpson College Orpheus Middle School Honor Band Festival, a day-long event held for middle school band students from around the state of Iowa. Since 1990, Simpson College has hosted one of the only honor band festivals in the Midwest dedicated to middle school band students. This festival, known as the Orpheus Band Festival to our local directors, is an Iowa phenomenon – drawing directors and students from around the state. The format of the festival involves an all-day rehearsal time, followed by a gala concert involving the festival bands and the Simpson College Wind Ensemble.

  • 2003–2004

    Iowa Intercollegiate Honor Band Festival

    Committee Chair and Coordinator

    Served as the Organizing Committee Chair for the 2003 and 2004 Iowa Intercollegiate Band Festival, an event held each year in November. In 2004, the Honor Band Festival and involved 103 students from 18 separate colleges and universities from around Iowa. McMahan was elected as chair of the organizing committee beginning with the 2003 festival last year. It was his responsibility to organize all nominations for the festival, establish and maintain all communication with the directors, hire the guest conductor, handle all finances, preside over the gala concert, and most other logistical issues involving the festival.

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
  • Investigation and Application of Early Twentieth Century Wind Band Performance Techniques through Cylinder Recordings Produced Between 1900 and 1920. Unpublished Thesis. Minneapolis, Minnesota. University of Minnesota. (2008)
  • Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1 – an Analysis. Unpublished Thesis. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin. (1998)
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS
  • Lamar University Bands Websites. All new content and a complete re-design of https://www.lamar.edu/bands as of Fall 2018.
  • Cal Poly Bands Websites. All new content and a complete re-design on http://windorchestra.calpoly.edu and http://mband.calpoly.edu as of Fall 2014.
  • BandChat Online. 1997-2003. “A free service providing serious musicians interested in the wind ensemble and symphonic band idiom, with current information pertinent to the field. Here one will find a forum upon which to discuss important issues with others in the field, a resource guide for repertoire, and submitted programs from around the world.” (No longer active)
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
  • “Song for Friends, by Larry Daehn.” Richard Miles, Editor. Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band. (pp. 325-330). Chicago:GIA Publications, 2000.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
  • The Importance of Tongue Placement in Trumpet Performance. Iowa Bandmasters Association Journal. Spring 2004.

TEACHING

COURSES TAUGHT
  • Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)
    • Wind Ensemble (MULB 1177.01 / 3177.01)
    • University Band (MULB 1177.03 / 3177.03) [co-taught with Eric Shannon]
    • Marching Band (MULB 1175.01 / 3175.01) [co-taught with Eric Shannon]
    • Instrumental Music Methods (MUSI 3260.01) (Note: This is a Music Education class and is often called “Secondary Music Education Methods” at other universities.)
    • Instrumental Conducting (MUSI 3280.01)
    • Advanced Instrumental Conducting (MUED 5370.01)
    • Instrumental/Band History and Literature (MUED 5371.01)
    • Current Issues in Band Pedagogy (MUED 5372.01)
    • Computer Applications in Music (MUED 5310.01)
  • Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo, California)
    • Wind Ensemble (MU 173/373)
    • Instrumental Chamber Ensembles (MU 171/371) (Clarinet Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Saxophone Ensemble, Woodwind Quintet, Flute Choir)
    • Chamber Winds (MU 177/377)
    • Jazz Band (MU 170/370) [served as sabbatical replacement]
    • Introduction to Music Theory (MU 101)
    • Instrumental Literature and Rehearsal Techniques (MU 466)
    • Instrumental Conducting (MU 342)
    • Music and Society: The Symphony (MU 324)
    • Special Projects (MU 200/400)
  • California State University Stanislaus (Turlock, California)
    • Wind Ensemble (MUS 2440/4440)
    • Symphony Band (MUS 2460/4460)
    • Basic Conducting (MUS 3270)
    • Directed Listening (MUS 2880/4880)
    • Instrumental Conducting (MUS 4290)
    • Brass Techniques (MUS 3683)
    • Instrumental Literature (MUS 4550)
    • Introduction to Music (MUS 1000)
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
    • Campus Orchestra (MUS 3430)
  • Simpson College (Indianola, Iowa)
    • Symphonic Band (MUS 214B)
    • Applied Trumpet (MUS 270TP)
    • Brass Methods (MUS 181)
    • Percussion Methods (MUS 184)
    • Instrumental Techniques (MUS 284)
    • Secondary Music Education Methods (MUS 323)
    • Secondary Music Education Student Teaching Observations (MUS 388)

SERVICE

Worldwide
  • Service to the Profession
Regional/State
  • Service to the Profession
    • College Chair, TMEA Region 10. 2017 – Present
Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas)
  • Service to the Department of Music
    • Director of Bands. 2017–Present
    • Executive Director, Lamar University Summer Band Camps. 2017–Present
    • Chair, Budget Committee. 2017–Present
    • Chair, Visiting Instructor of Flute Search Committee. 2018
    • Chair, University Bands Administrative Assistant Search Committee. 2017
    • Member, Professor of Music Education Search Committee. 2018
    • Member (ad hoc), Annual Fundraising Collage Concert Committee. 2017–Present
    • Faculty Advisor, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Chapters. 2017–Present
  • Service to the University
    • Director, Commencement Ceremonies Brass Ensemble. 2017–Present (The Commencement Brass Ensemble performs for five ceremonies in December, five ceremonies in May, and one ceremony in August.)
    • Member, Faculty Athletic Council. 2020-Present
    • Member, Charter Bus Evaluation Committee. 2018, 2020
    • Chair, University Bands Administrative Assistant Search Committee. 2017
    • Member, Professor of Music Education Search Committee. 2018
    • Member (ad hoc), Annual Fundraising Collage Concert Committee. 2017–Present
    • Faculty Advisor and Sponsor, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Chapters. 2017–Present
Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo, California)
  • Service to the Department of Music
    • Director of Bands. 2010-2017
    • Coordinator, Instrumental Student Recitals. 2010–2017
    • Co-coordinator, Instrumental Music. 2010–2017
    • Chair, Recruitment Committee. 2011–2017
    • Member, Search Committee for Part-Time Faculty. 2010–2017
    • Member, Scholarship Committee. 2010–2017
    • Member, Instrumental Juries Committee. 2010–2017
    • Member, Accompanist Policy Committee. 2011–2017
    • Coordinator, Woodwind/Brass/Percussion Equipment Inventory. 2010–2017
    • Coordinator, Cal Poly All-State Music Festival. 2010–2017
    • Faculty Advisor and Sponsor, Kappa Kappa Psi chapter. 2010–2017
    • Coordinator, Senior Projects. Winter/Spring 2015
  • Service to the University
    • Director, Commencement Ceremonies Wind Ensemble. 2011–Present
    • Member, Commencement Operations Committee. 2013–Present
    • Member, Baker Endowment Selection Committee. 2014–Present
    • Member (interim), Academic Senate Budget and Long-Range Planning Committee. 2013–2014
California State University Stanislaus (Turlock, California)
  • Service to the Department of Music
    • Member, Budget Committee. 2008–2010
    • Member, Scholarship Committee. 2008–2010
    • Coordinator, Instrumental Studies. 2008–2010
    • Director, Central Valley Band and Orchestra Festival. 2008–2010
    • Conductor, Summer Music at Stanislaus. June 2008
  • Service to the University
    • Music Department Program Assessment Coordinator. 2008–2009
    • Director, Commencement Ceremonies Symphonic Band. 2008–2010
University Of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • Service to the School of Music and the University
    • Announcer, University of Minnesota Marching Band. 2006–2008. (Served as the official ‘voice’ of the University of Minnesota Marching Band at all functions at which the band performs including all home football games, the annual indoor concert, and bowl games.)
Simpson College (Indianola, Iowa)
  • Service to the Department of Music
    • Member, Director of Choral Ensembles Search Committee. 2003
    • Member, Jazz Ensemble and Saxophone Search Committee. 2003
    • Member, Director of Choral Ensembles Search Committee. 2002
    • Trumpet Performer (pro bono), Department of Music production of “Sweeney Todd” (2002), “The Merry Widow” (2003), and “The Magic Flute” (2004)
    • Trumpet Performer and Organizer of Trumpet Music (pro bono), Department of Music Madrigal Dinner Productions. 2001, 2003
  • Service to the College
    • Member, College President Search Committee. 2004
    • Member, Faculty Education Committee. 2003–2005
    • Conductor, Commencement Ceremonies Symphonic Band. 2002–2005
    • Director, Simpson College Pep Band. 2001–2005

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E-mail: amcmahan@lamar.edu Address: PO Box 10044, Beaumont, TX, 77710
Phone: 409-880-8147 Website: www.amcmahan.com