University of Arkansas Bands Announces Jeffrey Summers as Assistant Director of Bands

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Jeffrey Summers

The University of Arkansas Bands and the Department of Music are pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Summers as assistant director of bands, beginning July 1, 2020.

A passionate music educator with experience in both university and public school teaching, Summers has extensive experience as a conductor and marching band director and has designed marching band shows and served as a clinician for high school bands throughout Texas and Florida.

Summers, a native of Buda, Texas, will complete his doctor of musical arts degree this semester in the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. While serving as a graduate teaching assistant at Sam Houston State University, he was director of the SHSU Bearkat Pep Band, and from 2008 to 2014 he was Director of Bands at Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston. He holds a bachelor of music education from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin.

Chris Knighten, director of bands, chaired the committee to find the next assistant director of bands and said all were impressed with Summers' past experience and academic work.

"Summers has completed scholarly work in the area of contemporary band literature, has more than a decade of excellent public school and university teaching experience, and is committed to providing excellent experiences for his students in music," Knighten said. "He has designed marching band shows for high school and university marching bands across the country and has experience as a successful university pep band director."

Summers said he and his wife, Carla, are very excited to move to Fayetteville.

"We are honored to be joining the University of Arkansas family, and I am thankful for the opportunity to join a music program with such an exceptional faculty, bright student body, and loyal alumni base," Summers said. "We look forward to getting an opportunity to meet everyone this Fall. Wooo Pig Sooie!"

As assistant director of bands, Summers will assist with the teaching and administration of the 330-member Razorback Marching Band, direct the popular Hogwild Pep Band, conduct the Symphonic Band, and serve as a faculty member in the Department of Music.

Knighten said that Jamal Duncan, who previously served in the role of assistant director of bands, has accepted a position as associate director of bands in the School of Music at Arizona State University, "we thank Jamal for his exceptional service for the past seven years, and wish him the best in his new endeavors."