College names new Director of Bands

Brandon Slocumb
Dr. Brandon Slocumb of Pelham, Alabama, has been named Director of Bands at LaGrange College, replacing Josh Roberts, who recently took a job at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville.

Dr. Slocumb comes to LaGrange from Samford University and Birmingham-Southern College, where he was an adjunct professor of music. He also served as interim director of athletic bands at Samford.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at Samford before moving to Texas to complete a master’s degree in trombone performance at the University of North Texas. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

While in Birmingham, Dr. Slocumb also taught at Vestavia High School, Alabaster City Schools, Berry Middle School, Spain Park High School and Alabama A&M University.

He said he is looking forward to working with the bands at LaGrange.

“I am so excited to take over such a young program,” he said. “I can’t wait to build on the successes of the former director.”

Dr. Toni Anderson, Director of the Music Program, said she is excited about what Dr. Slocumb will bring to the college’s instrumental curriculum.

“His expertise, energy and enthusiasm are a perfect fit for us,” she said. “We won’t miss a beat – the band will continue to keep growing and enriching our athletic programs.”

Dr. Anderson said the new director has experience with college bands similar to LaGrange’s.

“He has a large network of band directors in our region,” she said. “He is an accomplished professional trombonist, and his students have been accepted into some of our nation’s most reputable music programs.”

As a trombonist, Dr. Slocumb has been active in the Southeast playing with several big bands and backing up performers such as The Temptations, Wayne Newton, The Irish Tenors and Natalie Cole.

He also owns a private studio in Birmingham, teaching students ranging from sixth-graders to college music majors.

He is married to Youlanda Morse Slocumb and they have two children – Cecilia, 4, and James, 5 months.