Band Faculty

Mr. David Willson is in his twenty-first year as Director of Bands at the University of Mississippi. Under his leadership the band has developed into a truly outstanding university band and has doubled in membership. A Jackson, MS native who attended Provine High School and the University of Mississippi, Mr. Willson has directed bands in Mississippi at Independence, Columbus and Clinton. His bands have consistently won awards at the state and national level. Mr. Willson was awarded the A.S.B.D.A. Outstanding Young Band Director Award in 1985 and in 1990 the Mississippi Bandmasters Outstanding Band Director of the Year. Willson worked on the Mississippi Lions All-State Band Staff five times including serving as head director in 1995 when the All-State Band won the international parade in Seoul, Korea. He has served as president of the Mississippi Bandmasters, Mississippi Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, the state chair of C.B.D.N.A., and served four years on the N.F.I.M.A. national board. He is now currently serving as the International President of Phi Beta Mu. Willson is active nationally as a conductor, adjudicator and speaker. Mr. Willson conducts the UM Wind Ensemble and instructs music education and various courses within the music department. His “Band Calisthenics” and “Starting Beginning Bands” books are used extensively throughout the Mid-South. Mr. Willson was the 2005-2006 recipient of the Frist award for outstanding service to students and is the 2006-2007 recipient of the Elsie M. Hood Oustanding Teacher Award for the University of Mississippi.

Dr. Bill DeJournett is in his ninth year as the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Mississippi. He directs the "Pride of the South" marching band, conducts the UM Symphonic band, and teaches courses within the music department. Prior to coming to Ole Miss, Dr. DeJournett was Director of Athletic Bands at Colorado State University and at Elon University in North Carolina. Dr. DeJournett has also taught in the public schools of Alabama and Georgia. He posesses degrees from the David L. Walters Department of Music at Jacksonville State University, Northern Illinois University, and the University of Mississippi.

Dr. DeJournett is the author of "Brass Secrets", and his articles have appeared in the Instrumentalist, Fanfare, the NFIMA Journal and the NACWPI Journal. He has presented his research at professional confereneces throughout the Southeast and in Seattle, Washington. His professional associations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Omicron Delta Kappa, the Mississippi Bandmaster Association, Music Educators' National Conference, the College Music Society and the College Band Directors' National Association, and has served as state chair for the National Band Association. Dr. DeJournett has conducted honor bands and adjudicated concert festivals in Mississippi, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, West Virginia and Saskatchewan. He has earned a reputation as a respected marching band adjudicator having judged numerous contests in Georgia, North Carolina, Colorado, Mississippi and Arkansas and is currently sanctioned by the USSBA. Dr. DeJournett is a former member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and a former member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford/Loves Park, Illinois, and has instructed various drum corps at the Open Class and World Class levels.

Mr. Randy Dale is in his second year as the Assistant Director of Bands The University of Mississippi. Mr. Dale assists with the marching band, directs the basketball pep bands, directs the UM Concert Band, and teaches courses within the music department, including Instrumental Arranging, Percussion Methods, and Fundamentals of Conducting. Mr. Dale serves as an adjudicator for marching band competitions and indoor percussion competitions throughout Mississippi and Tennessee.

Mr. Dale earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education from The University of Mississippi in 2001.  He served with the Ole Miss Band as a graduate assistant for one year before becoming the Director of Bands at Southern Baptist Educational Center (SBEC) in Southaven, Mississippi in 2002.  Mr. Dale continued studying through the University of Mississippi to earn his Masters degree in Music Education in 2005.  Mr. Dale holds memberships in The College Band Directors National Association, The Music Educators National Conference, The Percussive Arts Society, and The Texas Music Educators Association.

In eight years as the Director of Bands at SBEC, Mr. Dale was able to produce outstanding results that were unprecedented for the program.  Under his direction the band tripled in size and won numerous awards and superior ratings at marching contests throughout Mississippi and Tennessee.  Mr. Dale has produced students that have made the Mississippi Lions All-State Band and who have participated in World Class drum and bugle corps. In 2005 Mr. Dale was awarded SBEC Teacher of the Year by the Staff and Administration.

Pride of the South Graduate Assistants

Cody McElwain - Kosciusko, MS
Cody McElwain is a native of Kosciusko, Mississippi and is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Music Education. Cody is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he received his bachelor's degree in Music Education. As a student at MSU, Cody participated in saxophone quartets and ensembles, the Symphonic Band, and the "Famous Maroon Band" where he served as saxophone section leader during the 2009 season.

Jim Stites - Bowling Green, KY
From Bowling Green, Kentucky; Stites earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Western Kentucky University. While at WKU, Stites served as principal tubist with
the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Big Red Marching Band, Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra, and Quintessential—an undergraduate brass quintet.
Stites also served as bass trombonist for the WKU Jazz Band, and was a member of
the WKU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble. Stites is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda national
music honor society, and he was named in Who’s Who in American Colleges and
Universities. Stites is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree.

Will Curry - Eupora, MS.
Will Curry is a native of Eupora, Mississippi and is pursuing a Master of Music in Music Education.  Will is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in music education.  At MSU, Will was a part of the percussion ensemble, steel band, the principle percussionist of wind ensemble, and the “Famous Maroon Band,” where he served as the section leader of the front ensemble from 2008 to 2010.

Paul Morgan - Byram, MS.

Paul Morgan was a 2007 transfer student from Hinds Community College, receiving his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from The University of Mississippi in 2010. While at Ole Miss, Paul served as the drum line captain for three years and was a part of the Wind Ensemble for four years. He has taught and written percussion music for Hillcrest Christian School, Hinds Community College, Oxford High School, and Center Hill High School. Morgan currently shares responsibilities for teaching and writing music for the Ole Miss Percussion Section. Paul is pursuing a Masters Degree in Music Education

Instructional Staff

PERCUSSION - Randy Dale, Paul Morgan, Will Curry, Fred Dunlap, and Lee Moyer

COLOR GUARD - Melissa Perry and Charlie Miles

REBELETTES - Jaime Weaver

SPIRIT COORDINATOR - Amanda Hoppert

ARRANGERS - Randy Dale, Tom Wallace, and Courtney Mosley

VISUAL DESIGNERS - Alan Alexander, Alan Temby, and Heath Hopper

BAND SECRETARY - Kristi Boggan