Marty Reynolds Named Assistant Director Of Bands At University Of Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - When the Razorback Marching Band members reported Monday to the University of Arkansas to prepare for the new academic year, Marty Reynolds, the newly appointed assistant director of bands, was a new face on campus.

The Arkansan from Morrilton immediately begins assisting Director of Athletic Bands Tim Gunter in the direction of the Razorback Marching Band and will direct the Lady Hogwild Basketball and Volleyball Bands. He will also direct the concert band and will supervise student teachers.

The 315-member Razorback Marching Band began practicing Monday, meeting for three hours in the morning, two and one half hours in the afternoon and two hours in the evening each day through Thursday with three hour morning rehearsals on Friday and Saturday.

"It was a quick summer for me. I interviewed in mid-June and then moved in mid-July," Reynolds said. "But there’s nothing like being back at home. It’s neat to be back."

Reynolds comes to Fayetteville from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces where he was the associate director of bands. As such, he directed the 300-member "PRIDE" of New Mexico State Marching Band, the Roadrunner Revue Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble I and a concert band. Before that, he was a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona in Tucson and spent five years at the University of Arkansas at Monticello as director of bands/assistant professor of music from 1990-95.

Although he served as associate director in Las Cruces, Reynolds’ assistant position at the U of A will take on more responsibilities.

"I’m more involved with the athletic bands here than at New Mexico State. At New Mexico State, we didn’t have a band at volleyball games, but at the U of A we do, so I’ll be picking up additional opportunities I didn’t have before," Reynolds said. "So when looking at the big picture, it’s pretty much a lateral move."

Reynolds earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Central Arkansas in 1987 and then got his Master of Music from the University of Maryland. He is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting at the University of Arizona.

He taught band at several area high schools in Arkansas including positions as associate director of bands at Springdale High School, director of bands and fine arts coordinator for Warren Public Schools and was director of bands and coordinator of instrumental music for Alma Public Schools. While there, the Alma High School Concert Band was selected as the Outstanding Concert Ensemble at the 1996 Music Showcase Festival Competition in Nashville, Tenn.

Although he was content at New Mexico State, Reynolds says the move to Fayetteville was a "no-brainer."

"I have wanted to be a Razorback all my life," he said. "I remember very well listening to games when Frank Broyles was coach, watching Eddie Sutton coach the basketball team and witnessing all of the great players we’ve seen come through the university."

Reynolds said that not only is he excited and pleased to be a Razorback, he is also very excited about now residing in Fayetteville.

"Las Cruces is the same size of Fort Smith but didn’t have near as much going for it as Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas does," he said. "This is such a beautiful place to live. We have access to big city life in a smaller community. When you combine that with major Division 1 college athletics, it’s world-class at both ends."

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