Our Director
John Martin serves as associate professor and Director of Athletic Bands at Grand Valley State University. His duties include teaching music education courses, conducting the Concert and University bands, and oversees all aspects of the athletic band program. Prior to his appointment at GVSU, Martin served as Interim Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He assisted the nationally acclaimed “Pride of the Southland” Marching Band as instructor, drill designer, and arranger. Martin’s other responsibilities included conducting the Concert Band, administering and conducting all pep band activities, and teaching undergraduate courses in brass methods and marching band techniques. He began his music education career at Vance Middle School in Memphis where he served as band director.
Dr. Martin earned his DMA degree in wind conducting at the University of Southern Mississippi where he studied conducting with Dr. Thomas V. Fraschillo and Dr. Steven R. Moser. He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Wind Conducting degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he studied conducting with Dr. Gary Sousa, Dr. WJ Julian, and Dr. Gary Schallert. Among Martin’s other conducting activities, he served as conductor of the Babahatchie Community Band (Harriman, Tennessee) and guest conductor of the East Tennessee Concert Band. He has presented at the College Band Directors National Association Athletic Band Symposium, the Michigan Music Conference, and the Tennessee Music Educators Conference. Martin continues to actively serve as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout the nation. He has numerous tuba/euphonium arrangements published through TUBA Press.
Dr. Martin holds membership in many professional organizations including the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is an honorary member in the Michigan Schools Bands and Orchestra Association (MSBOA). In 2001, he was awarded Phi Mu Alpha’s Orpheus Award.
2022-2024 FHACB Board
President: Darren Willey
Vice President: Ken Patten
Treasurer: Barb Sears
Secretary: Alicia Mullens
Membership: Jackie Dennen
Librarian: Raymond Stakenas
Marketing: Abigail Blackman
Events Coordinator: Valerie Peacock
Members-At-Large: Gary Parker