Michael J. Miller

Michael J. Miller is a freelance composer, conductor, and educator. From 2013-2018 he served as the Director of Bands at Joe E. Newsome High School in Lithia, FL. Under his baton, Newsome’s bands regularly earned superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessments. In 2017 the Newsome band program received the Florida Bandmasters Association’s Otto Kraushaar award for straight superior ratings from every judge at marching band, jazz, district and state concert band music performance assessments. Under his direction the Wolfpack Marching Band was named the 2015 Bands of America Regional Grand Champions in Newark, DE, and performed in the 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, NY. Before his appointment at Joe E. Newsome High School, he was Assistant Director of Bands at Robert Vela High School in Edinburg, TX under Bob Barfield, and the Director of Bands at Weeki Wachee High School. While at WWHS, he was awarded the School Board of Hernando County’s “Hernando H.E.R.O.E.S.” Award (Hernando Educators Reaching Out to Every Student), and was also given the Superintendent’s “Excellence” Award for his services to the community. In 2016, he received the National Band Association's Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence for outstanding contributions to marching bands.

 

Mr. Miller is a published composer and arranger with Alfred Music, Carl Fischer Music, Excelcia Music, the F.J.H. Music Company Inc., and Eighth Note Publications. His music has received several recognitions including J.W. Pepper and Son's Editor's Choice, and Band World's Best 100 New Works for Band. His music for concert band is regularly commissioned, including one of his most recent pieces, Cosmic Expedition, which was commissioned by Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster's Fraternity and will be performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic this December.

 

Mr. Miller serves as a music and drill designer for high school and college marching bands across the United States. His music was performed during halftime at Superbowl XLVIII, as well as numerous B.C.S. Bowl games. He was a conducting drum major and trumpeter for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps under Howard Weinstein, played mellophone for the Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps, served as a member of the educational staff for the 2009 Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and is currently a brass technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.

 

Mr. Miller holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Syracuse University. As a graduate teaching assistant for the University of Florida bands under Dr. David Waybright, he guest conducted the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band, taught undergraduate conducting lessons, and was a staff member and music designer for Florida's Gator Marching Band.

 

Mr. Miller is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Music Educators Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He currently resides in Newnan, GA and is happily married to his wife and best friend, Vivian. When he isn’t writing music or working with a musical ensemble, he enjoys traveling the world and experiencing the food culture wherever he goes.
 

Please visit Mr. Miller on the web at www.michaeljmillermusic.com.