This fall, The Mighty Sound of the South will be marching to the beat of a new associate director as University of Memphis graduate student Quintus Wrighten fills the Associate Director of Bands position. The selection committee consisted of Albert Nguyen, Director of Bands, John Mueller, Head of the Wind, Brass and Percussion Division, Dan Phillips, Undergraduate Theory Coordinator and Lecolion Washington, Woodwinds Coordinator.
"I felt like I was right for the job as soon as I found out it was open, but you never know it's yours until the contract is in your hand. You can never be absolutely sure," Wrighten said.
As a recipient of the Sidney McKay Fellowship, Wrighten served as a graduate assistant last semester conducting each of the three concert ensembles and assisting in the direction of the Mighty Sound of the South marching and pep band, something he said made him a prime candidate for the Associate Director of Bands position.
Candidates went through a process of interviews and demonstrations with students including a marching technique demonstration, basic conducting demonstration and a question and answer session.
"The student demonstrations were easy in the way that I knew the students and the way they think and play," Wrighten said. "It was a great opportunity to be able to work with them and show the committee that I was the right fit."
Wrighten will be Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands for the 2011-2012 academic year. His responsibilities include directing the Mighty Sound of the South marching band, pep band and the Symphonic Band and teaching courses in music education and undergraduate conducting.
"In his interview he was able to connect with the committee easily, he grabbed the attention of the students on the panel and he gave an exceptional teaching demonstration," Nguyen said. "I feel as though his philosophies are in line with what we are doing with The University bands as we move forward."
Wrighten has worked with The Mighty Sound of the South marching and pep band for the past two years as a graduate assistant. He has worked side by side with Nguyen through every aspect of the program including MSS band camp, football games, basketball games and out-of-state trips.
"I think it's awesome that the position was filled by one of The University's own," said Carol Rakestraw, Administrative Assistant for the University Bands. "He knows how it works; he's had two years experience working with the program and the students."
Wrighten received his Bachelor of Music from The University of South Carolina and his Master of Music Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. He is currently attending The University of Memphis as a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate with a concentration in Wind Conducting. Wrighten expects to graduate with his D.M.A. in December.
