 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
University of Arkansas Bands Staff
Dr. Christopher Knighten
Director of Athletic Bands
Dr. Christopher Knighten is Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Professor in the University of Arkansas Department of Music. His duties include directing the 330-member Razorback Marching band, overseeing all aspects of Athletic Bands, conducting the Symphonic Band, and teaching conducting and music education courses.
Prior to his appointment at UA, Dr. Knighten served as Associate Director of Bands at East Carolina University. Under his direction the Symphonic Band performed at the 2005 NC Music Educators Association conference and the ECU Marching Pirates performed at seven bowl games and several NFL games for the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers. He has also served as Director of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band and taught instrumental music at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, TX.
Dr. Knighten has presented sessions on band literature and pedagogy at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, the Music Educators National Conference, and the North Carolina and Tennessee Music Educators conferences. His articles on conducting and band literature have been published in The Instrumentalist, The Journal of Band Research, The North Carolina Music Educator, Today’s Music Educator, and in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the SEC Band Directors Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band fraternity, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
Dr. Knighten holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting and the Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baylor University. His primary conducting teachers were Michael Haithcock and Allan McMurray.
In his spare time Dr. Knighten is an avid triathlete, and is a two-time finisher of the Ironman distance, including the 2007 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
W. Dale Warren
Director of Concert Bands
W. Dale Warren is Director of Concert Bands and Professor of Music in the University of Arkansas Department of Music. Professor Warren’s primary responsibility is conducting the University of Arkansas Wind Symphony. Professor Warren also teaches Junior, Senior, and Graduate level Music Education Courses, and is responsible for the Undergraduate and Graduate Instrumental Conducting Program. Professor Warren is the former Director of the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band (1991-2000).
Born in Greenville, Kentucky, Professor Warren attended Muhlenberg Central High School where he played euphonium for Joe Allen. Professor Warren received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He received his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky. Professor Warren is a former conducting student of Edward A. Knob, John Larkin, George Mabrey, W. Harry Clark, Skip Gray, Dennis Johnson, John Paynter, John Whitwell, and Larry Rachleff. Professor Warren also served on the music department faculty as Associate Director of Bands at the University of Kentucky from (1986-1991).
Professor Warren has taught in the public schools of Bremen High School in Bremen, Kentucky (1980-1982) and at North Hardin High School in Radcliff, Kentucky (1982-1986). While at Bremen and North Hardin, Mr. Warren's bands received numerous awards and Division I ratings. Professor Warren has guest conducted All-District, All-Region, and All-State honor bands, as well as several university bands in 35 states. Professor Warren has completed a faculty residency with the Kasetsart University Wind Symphony in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thailand residency included conducting rehearsals, teaching master classes and guest conducting a full concert program of all American composers. Professor Warren is a computer clinician/designer for Advantage Showare Inc., and Arrangers' Publishing Company. He also serves as an adjudicator for Musicfest Orlando and Music for All/Bands of America. Professor Warren serves as chairman of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield Award Committee, is a John Philip Sousa Foundation Board Member, and is a Past President of the Southeastern Conference Band Directors Association.
Since Professor Warren arrived at the University of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas Wind Symphony has made special guest appearances at the College Band Directors National Association Convention on five separate occasions and was invited to perform again at the 2008 Conference held at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. In addition, the UA Wind Symphony performed at world famous Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2000. The UA Wind Symphony has also performed at the Arkansas Music Educators Convention All-State Conference on two occasions under Professor Warren's baton. The UA Wind Symphony is featured with composer David Holsinger on a compact disc entitled "Holsinger I" and is featured on several TRN Music Publishers demonstration recordings.
During Professor Warren's tenure as Director, the Razorback Marching Band performed numerous times for former President William Jefferson Clinton, including the 1992 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Under Professor Warren's leadership, the Razorback Band has also performed at the 2000 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, the 1999 Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, the 1995 SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, the 1995 Carquest Bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and at the 1991 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Razorback Marching Band also appeared as the Grand Finale Band at the 1997 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.
Professor Warren's affiliations include: National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Conductors Guild, Arkansas Bandmasters Association, Arkansas Music Educators Association, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Back to TopChalon Ragsdale
Professor of Percussion/Staff Arranger
Chalon Ragsdale came to the University of Arkansas in 1975 as Percussion Instructor and Assistant Band Director. He currently serves as Director of Percussion Studies, and Director of the UA Summer Music Camps. From 1990-1998, he was Chair of the UA Department of Music.
He has served as Professor of Percussion and as Director of the UA Percussion Ensemble; as Director of the "Razorback" Marching Band; as Director of the UA Concert Band; and from 1989 to 1992 served as Conductor of the UA Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.
The Percussion Ensemble under his direction has performed for audiences at state, regional and national conventions. His private students have won performing honors at the state, regional and national levels of MTNA. He performs as percussionist frequently, and holds the position of solo timpanist with the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Ragsdale has received recognition as a music arranger, and is published by Southern Music Company of San Antonio, Texas. His band arrangements featuring percussion have been featured at several CBDNA conventions, and his Tribute to Grainger for Concert Band was chosen for performance on the 1999 Mid-West Clinic.
Mr. Ragsdale earned an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama in 1973 and the Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina in 1975. He served as Director of Instrumental Music in the Tallapoosa County, Alabama school district from 1973-74. He has studied percussion principally with Harold A. Jones, Johnnie Vinson, and Larry Mathis. Professor Ragsdale is sponsored by Innovative Percussion, makers of specialty sticks and mallets.
Back to TopJessica Roberts
Administrative Assistant
Jessica Roberts assists the University of Arkansas band program in an administrative capacity. She coordinates auditions for the Razorback Band and instrumental music scholarships, serves as supervisor for hourly and work-study staff and makes travel arrangements for the RMB.
Jessica is a native of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She moved to Fayetteville in 2007 after completing her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas in English where she was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity for women and Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in English Literature.
Back to Top
Leigh Hudson
Color Guard Coordinator
Leigh Hudson is the Color Guard Coordinator for the University of Arkansas. She is a native of Alma, Arkansas. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish Education from Arkansas Tech University, where she marched with the Arkansas Tech Band of Distinction, serving as color guard captain, for four years; and a Master of Science degree in Secondary School Counseling from John Brown University. In addition to her duties with the University of Arkansas Color Guard, Leigh is a counselor and color guard/winter guard instructor for Fayetteville High School. She is currently the president of the Arkansas Visual Arts Association, the Arkansas branch of WGI. Leigh is additionally the designer for the Ozark, Clarksville and Bryant guard programs.
Back to Top
Holly Abell
Majorette Coordinator
Holly Abell is a native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and a 2005 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. While attending the U of A, she was a majorette with the Razorback Marching Band for four years. She currently lives in Fayetteville and works as a registered nurse in the Coronary Care Unit at Washington Regional Medical Center.
Back to TopGraduate Assistants
Lynn Francis
Graduate Assistant/Front Ensemble Coordinator
Lynn Francis is a second year Graduate Assistant with the University of Arkansas, working with the front ensemble and teaching percussion lessons to undergraduates while pursuing a Masters of Music Degree in Percussion Performance. In May of 2007, Lynn received her Bachelors of Music from the University of Arkansas where she double majored in Music Education and Percussion Performance and was also a member of the Razorback Marching Band. Lynn is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and is the current Chair of the CollegiateCommittee for the Percussive Arts Society.
Back to TopCaleb Pond
Graduate Assistant
Caleb Pond is a second year as Graduate Assistant for the University of Arkansas. A native of Texas, Caleb graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2004 with a Bachelors degree in Music Education. He completed his teaching certification in Texas and taught at Northwest ISD as assistant band director for the Jr. High and High School. Caleb is currently pursuing a Masters in Music degree with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting. He also performs in the Wind Symphony as well as the Clarinet Ensemble.
In his first year as Graduate Assistant, Caleb worked with the Razorback Marching Band, the Hogwild Basketball Pep Bands, and the Volleyball Pep Band. His primary responsibilities throughout the year included creating Media Guides for football games, being the on-the-field liasion assisting the band directors during rehearsal He also had the opportunity conduct the Campus Band for both Spring concerts. He is a member of TMEA and Phi Mu Alpha and is very excited to be serving the Razorback Band once again.
Back to Top
Micah Hardwick
Graduate Assistant/Drumline Coordinator
Micah recently graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Percussion Performance. He served as an assistant instructor for the Million Dollar Band his last year at Alabama. Micah has marched snare drum with several drum corps including Magic of Orlando, Blue Knights, and most recently the Santa Clara Vanguard. He aged out in the award winning 2004 SCV percussion section. Since aging out of drum corps, Micah has taught several high schools, colleges, and is currently the snare technician for the Santa Clara Vanguard. Micah currently serves as the battery percussion coordinator for the Razorback Marching Band.
Back to TopStephanie Richardson
Graduate Assistant
Stephanie Richardson is a first year Graduate Assistant for the University of Arkansas. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Music with emphasis on Instrumental Conducting. Prior to joining the band staff at the University of Arkansas, she was a band director for the award winning bands of McAlester, Oklahoma. Stephanie is an active volunteer for Bands of America and has been a staff member for the George Parks Drum Major Academy and the University of Arkansas Summer Music Camp since 2002. She is currently the Vice President of Membership for the Fayetteville Alumnae chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity for women.
As a Graduate Assistant, Stephanie works with the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Basketball Bands, Volleyball Pep Band, and the Campus Band. She also performs with the Wind Symphony and teaches instrumental sectionals and private lessons for local public schools.
Back to Top