Brashier named VSU director of bands

Dr. Joe H. Brashier has been named Valdosta State University's director of bands. He is responsible for directing the Blazin' Brigade marching band and conducting the concert band.

Brashier, a trombonist, comes to VSU from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he was associate director of bands.

Brashier, a native of Clinton, Miss., said he's happy to be back in the South, and looking forward to strengthening VSU's musical recruitment efforts.

"I think there's a potential here that's yet to be tapped," Brashier said. "We have several strong band programs in our recruiting area." To familiarize South Georgia's young musicians with VSU's programs, Brashier is currently visiting high schools to talk to students and band directors.

"We in the Department of Music are absolutely delighted by the appointment of Dr. Joe Brashier as director of bands at VSU," said Dr. Tayloe Harding, head of the Department of Music. "He brings to us a mature and distinctive background both as a marching and a concert band leader and conductor. I am confident that he will forge meaningful connections as a chief mentor to our students, as a dedicated colleague to our faculty, and as an approachable and capable leader to our numerous other constituents."

Brashier's past musical experience includes director of the marching band and conductor of the symphonic band at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., from 1987-92, and supervisor of music in the Kansas City, Kansas, School District.

Brashier earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1975 and his master's degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1977. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Kansas in 1987. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, Kappa Kappa Psi (national honorary band fraternity) and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (national music fraternity).

Brashier's wife, Susan, is a professional oboist. They have two children, Elizabeth and Kathryn.