Step in a New Direction

The School of Music has passed the baton to a new associate director of bands and director of athletic bands.

Andrea E. Brown (left), the first woman to hold that job in the university’s history, comes here after five years at a fellow Big Ten Conference institution, the University of Michigan. She hopes to amplify the success of the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band within the Big Ten and beyond.

“There’s an incredible tradition and pride in the ensemble at Maryland,” she says.

Brown says she’ll be doing a lot of listening and learning in her first year with the marching band, which began preparing for football season with intensive Early Week practices in August. There, she took her place in the cherry picker with the megaphone, overlooking the band scattered across the Chapel Fields.

She’s had a lot to listen to.

For more information about Maryland bands, text MIGHTY to 301.307.2677 or visit https://go.umd.edu/msom-info.