Pride of the Southland Band taps new director to carry on its storied gameday traditions

Becca Wright, Knoxville News Sentinel
·3 min read

A familiar face at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the new leader of one of the premier marching bands in the country.

Dr. Michael Stewart will serve as the next director of the Pride of the Southland Marching and Athletic Bands, leading a 340-member team of musicians and majorettes that energizes UT fans at every home game.

"I look forward to working with the amazing students of UT as well as the Pride alumni, my colleagues and fans that so passionately support this band and the Vols," Stewart said in a news release. "I'm also humbled, but excited to stand in front of this amazing group of students with 152 years of tradition behind them. I'm grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait for the fall to hear 'Rocky Top' ringing throughout Neyland Stadium."

UT Pep Bands conductor Michael Stewart stands with basketball player John Fulkerson to conduct u0022Rocky Topu0022 after a basketball game between Tennessee and Auburn in February. Stewart was named the next director of the Pride of the Southland Marching and Athletic Bands.
UT Pep Bands conductor Michael Stewart stands with basketball player John Fulkerson to conduct u0022Rocky Topu0022 after a basketball game between Tennessee and Auburn in February. Stewart was named the next director of the Pride of the Southland Marching and Athletic Bands.

Stewart is no stranger to the university. He is an associate professor of music education and an associate director of bands, conducting both the UT Symphonic Band and Basketball Pep Bands. He has worked at the UT School of Music since 2007.

He started his career in Ohio as a music education teacher in Delaware, Ohio, and earned his music degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Not only will Stewart serve as director of the marching band, but he will be the music school's associate director of wind studies. He's the recipient of the WJ Julian Endowed Professorship, an endowment created in honor of one of UT's visionaries.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Stewart will continue in our school and take on this new responsibility,” said Jeff Pappas, director of the School of Music. “His expertise and vision for the Pride of the Southland and other aspects of the band program are exceptional, and everyone looks forward to working with him to realize these goals. The future is as bright as ever for this important area in our unit and for our campus, alumni and friends.”

The search for a new leader started in the fall after Dr. Donald Ryder announced his retirement. Marching band students helped with the national search, which included interviews with three potential candidates.

UT Pride of the Southland Band Drum Major Julia Boylan said that while each candidate brought great ideas, students knew that they could count on Stewart to actually get the job done.

"Dr. Stewart is really the perfect combination, because we're still going to have all of the traditions that have been here for forever, but we're going to get to do it in a more efficient way," Boylan said.

Pride of the Southland Band Drum Major Julia Boylan was heavily involved in the search process for a new director.
Pride of the Southland Band Drum Major Julia Boylan was heavily involved in the search process for a new director.

Boylan said that some of the conversations during the student-led interviews focused on acknowledging and mitigating the stress on the musicians' mental health that can come with balancing schoolwork, hours of marching band practice and potentially other jobs and commitments.

"We're definitely looking at how can we make it better for our students to learn and make it less stressful," Boylan said. "So I think that's something I'm really looking forward to — just having more efficient use of our time.

Marching band alumni also made sure their voices were heard. Andrew Vogel, an alumni band council member, said he and others met with UT Chancellor Donde Plowman before the search process started, emphasizing the importance that whoever comes in continues the traditions that Tennessee fans know and love.

"Dr. Stewart is very student-focused. He's very tradition focused. He wants all the students to feel like there's an open door if they need anything at all," Vogel said. "He doesn't want to lead in a way where people are kind of hesitant to approach him. He wants to lead in a way where people are always feeling welcome to come speak to him. And I think students can feel and know that."

Stewart starts July 1 after current band director Ryder retires.

Becca Wright: Higher education reporter at Knox News
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band taps director