Congratulations to Dr. Douglas Overmier on being named the Director of Bands at the University of West Alabama. Brother Overmier will work alongside Assistant Director of Bands, Brother Michael Tignor (Zeta Kappa Chapter – 2011), who served as the Interim Director of Bands over the past few years while the university vetted candidates for the job.
Dr. Overmier is a Yamaha Artist and the President of Arro Music Publishing in Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, he held positions as Director of Bands at the College of Central Florida, Director of Bands and Percussive Studies at the University of West Georgia, and as the Assistant Department Chair and Director of Bands at North Carolina State University. He has also taught in public schools in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio, where his ensembles earned superior ratings.
Brother Overmier’s ensembles have received top honors at The Kennedy Center, three International Society of Music Educators biennial conferences, the national conference of the National Association for Music Education, twelve state music conferences, regional television commercials, pro sporting events, CBS Television movies, National Public Radio, and in tours of Europe, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Antigua.
As a performer, he has appeared with renowned artists such as Winton Marsalis, Alan Jackson, Mark Ford, David Friedman (Kappa Upsilon – 1965), Mary Wilson, Steve Houghton, Dizzy Gillespie, and David Samuels. His numerous performance credits also include The North Carolina Symphony, Triangle Opera Company Orchestra, and the West Virginia Symphony.
Brother Overmier is also a published composer and arranger of over 300 band pieces and more than 100 jazz and percussion works. Many of these works can be heard on the Ozone Percussion CD “La Bamba” (Klavier Records), and “I Said Jazz” (Emerald Records). Additionally, Overmier’s music is featured in the CBS Television movie “Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story.” He has authored numerous articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Instrumentalist magazines. His most recent book, “Approaches to Percussion Performance,” has been widely adopted by numerous colleges and universities.
Dedicated to making a meaningful impact, Brother Overmier takes part in several musical organizations. He is a member of the College Music Society, College Band Directors National Association, Percussive Arts Society, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the Music Educators National Conference. He was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha by the Alpha Kappa Chapter at Ohio University in 1980.
Congratulations, Brother! We wish you all the best as the UWA Band heads into its 71st year.
