Directors
Damon Talley
Associate Professor
Manship Director of Bands
292 Band Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
O: (225) 578-2384
Ensembles
Biography
Damon Talley serves as Director of Bands and the Paula G. Manship Associate Professor of Conducting at Louisiana State University School of Music, where he oversees all aspects of the LSU Department of Bands, conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate conducting. The nationally recognized Band Department at LSU serves as an integral component of the thriving School of Music.
Under his leadership, the Department has established an annual conducting symposium, high school and middle school camps that serve hundreds of students annually, and numerous outreach events for public school educators. The Golden Band From Tigerland has been selected to present at national conferences on multiple occasions, and most recently, the LSU Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the CBDNA College Band Directors National Association National Convention.
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.
Simon Holoweiko
Assistant Professor
Associate Director of Bands
292 Band Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
O: (225) 578-2384
Ensembles
Biography
Simon Holoweiko is the Associate Director of Bands at Louisiana State University, where he conducts the Symphonic Winds, teaches undergraduate conducting and graduate wind literature, guides doctoral students minoring in conducting, and works with the Golden Band from Tigerland. Holoweiko joined the faculty following successful appointments at Michigan State University and Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida.
After serving as Assistant Director of Bands at MSU, where his duties included Associate Director of the Spartan Marching Band, conductor of the Concert Band, Spartan Youth Wind Symphony, and teaching courses in the College of Music, Holoweiko completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University as a student of Dr. Kevin Sedatole. He also holds the Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University where he studied with Dr. Jamie L. Nix and assisted with all aspects of the wind program.
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.
Kelvin Jones
Director of the Tiger Marching Band
Assistant Director of Bands
292 Band Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
O: (225) 578-2384
Ensembles
Biography
Dr. Kelvin Jones is the Assistant Director of Bands at Louisiana State University. His responsibilities include conducting the LSU Symphonic Band, teaching undergraduate conducting, Marching Band techniques, working with graduate students, and leading the Sudler-winning, 325-member "Golden Band from Tigerland.”
Bands under Jones’ direction have performed at events on the state and national level, including the Zulu Mardi Gras parade, New Orleans Saints, in Washington DC, Walt Disney World, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in Atlanta, GA, College Football Playoff (CFP) Peach Bowl and the CFP National Championship games. Under his direction, numerous performances of the LSU Tiger Marching Band have been selected for recognition and viewing at regional and national conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, including the Athletic Band Symposium and recently nominated for a 2023 Grammy award from the Recording Academy for the collaborative album entitled Full Circle with Zydeco artist Sean Ardoin.
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.
Rob Dowie
Director of Operations
Assistant Director of Bands
292 Band Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
O: (225) 578-2384
Ensembles
Biography
Rob Dowie currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Operations for the Band Department. In this role, Mr. Dowie serves as the Bengal Brass Director and assists with the LSU Tiger Band, working closely with the student leadership team, incoming students, alumni, and other campus partners. He oversees department operations for events and camps, as well as game-day outreach activities and visitors. He is also the Sponsor for the Beta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Outside of his duties with LSU Bands, Mr. Dowie serves as an instructor in the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education, teaching LHRD 2723, 3723, 4723, and 4808. He is an avid SCUBA diver and NAUI Instructor, and owns SELA Aquatics, a commercial swimming pool management company operating in Louisiana and Alabama.
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.