KEVIN FALLON - BRASS CLINICIAN

Kevin Fallon, a New York native, grew up in the northeastern United States. Throughout his youth, the Fallon family moved frequently, living in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Mr. Fallon was born into the Drum & Bugle Corps activity; his father served as a brass arranger and instructor and his mother played the soprano bugle. As a toddler, Kevin was the mascot of the Bridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps from Bayonne, New Jersey. At the age of 9, he began marching and playing the soprano bugle with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps. By age 13, he was accepted into the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and went on to perform with with Crossmen (1990-1993), the Boston Crusaders (1994-1996), and the 17-time DCI World Champion Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps from Concord, California (1997-1998). After aging-out of the Blue Devils, Mr. Fallon was hired to join the instructional staffs of the Blue Devils organization as well as Yamato Drum & Bugle Corps from Osaka, Japan.

 

As a high school student, Mr. Fallon focused on developing his musical skills as a performer on the tuba, earning the distinction of membership in All-District, All-Region, & All-State Bands and Orchestras in the states of New Jersey (9), Pennsylvania (10 & 11), and Massachusetts (12).

 

Mr. Fallon's post-secondary education career began at Diablo Valley College (DVC) in Pleasant Hill, California. There, he studied brass pedagogy with Dr. Eric Hammer (of the University of the Pacific), Music Theory & Composition with Dr. Owen Lee, and Japanese with Professor (and Jazz Bassist) Akira Hiraguri. From DVC, Mr. Fallon transferred to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. While at BYU, Mr. Fallon performed with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra (the university's top orchestra) as well as the top Wind Ensemble, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and several chamber ensembles. Mr. Fallon was also a founding member of BYU's Jazz Tuba Sextet. In 2008, Mr. Fallon entered into the Master's Degree program of the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. This 3-year advanced degree program afforded Mr. Fallon opportunities to study and learn from such iconic musicians and conductors as: Anthony Maiello, Lowell Graham, Michael Bankhead, Johan de Meij, Paula Crider, Peter Boonshaft, Robert Ponto, Daniel Perantoni, Patrick Sheridan, Sam Pilafian, Jim Self, R. Winston Morris, Marianne Gedigian, Allen Vizzutti, and many, many others. Mr. Fallon also distinguished himself as a performer on several instruments and was called upon as a soloist in performances that included a duet alongside famed guest tuba soloist, Patrick Sheridan. During the final year of his graduate studies, the American Band College ended its affiliation with Southern Oregon University and aligned itself with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, so his Master's Degree (2010) is from Sam Houston State University, although he never stepped foot on the campus until he took the Boswell Jazz Bands to the Bill Watrous Jazz Festival there in Spring, 2016.

 

Throughout his four years as a student at BYU, Mr. Fallon worked on the instructional staff of the American Fork High School Band program. During that time, the American Fork High School Marching Band were State Champion in 2001, 2002, 2003, & 2004, Bands of America (BOA) Regional medalist in 2003 & 2004, and performed in the Presidential Inauguration Parade for President George W. Bush in 2005. Mr. Fallon also maintained a successful private tuba lesson studio throughout his undergraduate years at BYU and began traditions that last to this day among his former students, such as: performing at children's hospitals, veterans' hospitals, retirement homes, and in public to raise money for local charities.

 

Upon graduating from BYU in 2004, Mr. Fallon began his professional teaching career as the Director of Bands at Riverton High School in Riverton, Utah. There, his teaching responsibilities included: Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, two concert Percussion Ensemble classes, two Jazz Big Band classes, Electronic Music & Composition, Steel Drum Band, Athletic "Pep" Bands, and several chamber ensembles and jazz combos. He also served as the administrative director of the school's competitive Drum Line and Colorguard programs, and ran a successful summer music camp for junior high students who wanted to learn to play an instrument. Under Mr. Fallon's direction, the band program at Riverton High School quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most balanced and successful in the state of Utah. The ensembles at Riverton High School consistently earned superior ratings at District, Region, & State contests and Mr. Fallon's students consistently distinguished themselves as soloists and leaders of successful chamber ensembles and jazz combos.

 

After six years at Riverton High School, Mr. Fallon was invited to join the Band staff in Azle, Texas, where he served as the Head Band Director at Azle Jr. High School for four years. As a band director at the jr. high level, Mr. Fallon's focus shifted toward recruitment and the training of beginning and novice band students in grades 6 through 8. Throughout his time there, the Azle bands earned 1st-Division ratings all four years. At the conclusion of Mr. Fallon's first year in Texas, he was nominated for—and elected to—the position of Middle School Band Division Coordinator for TMEA/UIL Region 2, where he was responsible for organizing the All-Region Honor Band Auditions as well as the All-Region Honor Band Clinic & Concert.

 

As Associate Director of Bands at Boswell High School, Mr. Fallon's responsibilities include directing the Band of Gold Marching Band, two Jazz Big Bands, and Concert Band 1, and also teaching AP Music Theory.