Directors

Dr. Talley is a strong supporter and advocate of music in the public schools. He regularly serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad, including appearances engagements in Germany, Switzerland, England, and Spain, among others.

Prior to his appointment at LSU, Dr. Talley held the position of Director of Bands at Shenandoah Conservatory, where he was responsible for guiding the wind band program, conducting the EDGE New Music Ensemble, and teaching graduate conducting. He has also taught on the faculties at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan. He has recorded on Best Classical Records, and received favorable reviews from publications including Gramophone magazine and the American Record Guide. He has also served as producer or associate producer on commercial recordings by the Naxos, Klavier, and Equilibrium, record labels, and is published in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, distributed by GIA Publications.

As an avid supporter of new music for the wind medium, Dr. Talley has conducted numerous world premier performances and has commissioned composers to write for the wind band. He has won praise for his work by composers such as William Bolcom, Steven Mackey, Kevin Puts, Joseph Schwantner, David Maslanka, Donald Grantham, and Michael Daugherty, among others. He regularly hosts visiting composers of national and international status on the campus of LSU, and is a strong advocate for young composers, often premiering pieces by student composers.

Prior to his graduate studies, Holoweiko taught in the Florida public schools as the Director of Bands at Martin County High School (Stuart). At Martin County, he coordinated all aspects of the band program including instruction of the marching band, two concert ensembles, and also founded a curricular jazz band and AP music theory course. He is also the conductor and a co-founder of the Treasure Coast Summer Band Camp in Jensen Beach, FL and is an active clinician. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Michigan State University.

Holoweiko is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and holds professional membership in the College Band Directors National Association and the National Association for Music Education.

Dr. Jones is an active drill designer and music arranger for high school and university music programs across the country with his arrangements being performed throughout the United States, including the Dallas Winds. As a conductor, Jones has conducted ensembles international and nationally, including the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, TN and Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has worked on new music commissioning projects and has received praise on his interpretations from composers Steven Bryant, Alex Shapiro, Omar Thomas, John Mackey, Anthony Barfield, Ayatey Shabazz, Joshua Hobbs, among others. 

In great demand as a guest conductor, Jones has travelled internationally working with music programs in South America (Chile) and with the LSU marching band in Dublin, Ireland. He is a Conn Selmer Educational Clinician and also serves as a clinician/instructor at the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinic held in Charleston, Illinois working with high school and college drum majors from across the country. Jones has also served as a consultant for school districts and music programs throughout the country along with presenting at international, national, and state music conferences across the United States. He is published in the Instrumentalist magazine, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, distributed by GIA Publications, the Oxford University Press Publications, among others. 

Jones is a former recipient of the Louisiana Music Educators Association’s Young Music Educator of the Year, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Teacher of Distinction, and the LSU A.P. Tureaud award recipient for significant contributions to the university. He has received numerous accolades and distinctions for his contributions within the local community from community leaders including the governor and Baton Rouge mayor. A huge advocate and champion for diversity, inclusion, and equal rights, Jones serves as an ambassador for the university through his service and mentorship across various initiatives and contributions throughout campus, recently he received the 2022 LSU Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mentorship award given to faculty who are making outstanding contributions to the mentoring activities of faculty, staff and/or students from underrepresented groups

A former K-12 public school educator, he was the band director at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana. At WFHS, he led an active, comprehensive music program that produced numerous award-winning performances at state and national events, including the 2013 United States National Presidential Inauguration Music Festival in Washington DC. He holds degrees in Music from Jackson State University and Louisiana State University. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Beat Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity Inc., LSU Black Faculty and Student Caucus, Louisiana Music Educators Association, HBCU Band Directors Consortium, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He resides in Zachary, LA with his wife Felicia, a nurse practioner, and their sons, Samuel and Kye-Parker. 

During his time as a student at LSU, Mr. Dowie served as Drum Major of the Tiger Band for three years. He served as Chapter President of Kappa Kappa Psi in 2007 and was a founding member of the Tiger Tenors. In 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Student Leader Award by the LSU Office of the Dean of Students to recognize his involvement with Kappa Kappa Psi, Tiger Band, and Phi Mu Alpha.