This week we welcome to our faculty, Dr. Erin Cooper, as our new Assistant Director of University Bands. Dr. Cooper will be conducting the Symphony Band and teaching music education courses.
“I am thrilled to have Dr. Erin Cooper working with the UNC Bands. Her public school and university teaching experiences allow her to bring a fresh perspective to our program and her involvement with the George Parks Drum Major Academy gives our program a presence nationally with high school students and directors. I look forward to working with her, Dr. Feldman, and our amazing students as the UNC Bands continue to evolve. -Jeffery Fuchs, Director of University Bands
A native of Maryland, Erin Colleen Cooper is the new Assistant Director of University Bands. In this role, Dr. Cooper assists with the Marching Tar Heels and directs the Women’s Basketball Pep Band. She also directs the Symphony Band and teaches music education courses.
Prior to arriving in Chapel Hill, Dr. Cooper was the Director of Bands at Central Connecticut State University, Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Missouri, and the Director of Bands and Applied Flute Instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During these appointments, she taught graduate and undergraduate courses in music education, conducting, wind literature, marching band techniques, and flute pedagogy. Cooper earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting with a secondary concentration in Flute Performance from the University of Alabama. While there, she also served as Assistant Conductor of the Tuscaloosa Youth Orchestra. Dr. Cooper also enjoyed a career as a public high school teacher for five years in both Florida and Maryland. She received her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting Performance degree from the University of Delaware and her Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree (Magna Cum Laude) from James Madison University.
Since 2002, Dr. Cooper has spent her summers teaching at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy. She travels around the country each summer teaching marching, conducting, and leadership skills to high school students. Dr. Cooper has professional affiliations with the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda (National Honor Society for Musicians), honorary membership in Tau Beta Sigma (National Honorary Band Service Sorority), and is a Life Member of Kappa Kappa Psi (National Honorary Band Service Fraternity) for which she serves as the Musicianship Director on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“The most exciting aspect of starting at UNC has been meeting and working with the students! Band camp was so much fun – the students were engaged, enthusiastic, working hard! I am so excited to work with such dedicated musicians in a variety of ensembles!” -Dr. Erin Cooper