GREENVILLE, Pa.—Brian Harris is the new director of the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride and Thiel College Concert Band effective immediately.
“I am excited to be joining the Thiel College community,” Harris said. “I look forward to continuing the Thiel bands’ tradition of musical excellence and growth.”
Prior to joining Thiel College, a leading liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania, Harris served as the assistant concert band director at Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music and as the assistant director of bands at Saint Francis University. Previously, he was a director of the Canfield Community Concert Band and director of the Cardinal Mooney High School Band and Chorus. He has taught music, provided instrument instruction, participated in symposia in numerous states and has a rich history as a performance conductor. For more than 13 years, Harris has participated in a wide variety of professional vocal and instrumental performances. He has performed professionally with the Butler Symphony Orchestra, Nittany Symphony Orchestra, Joe McConnell Jazz/Dixieland Band, and the Keystone Wind Ensemble.
Harris received a Bachelor of Science in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Master of Music Performance (conducting) from Youngstown State University. Currently, he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in performance and wind band conducting at Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music.
In its ninth year, the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride is open to students of all majors with previous band experience and performs at all home football games. The Marching Pride has been featured at many local and regional band festivals including a performance at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The Thiel Concert Band, also available to any student with prior experience, performs a major concert during the spring. The Thiel jazz ensemble and chamber ensemble offer students further performance opportunities. Scholarships are available through an audition process.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.