Michael Alsop has been named director of the 'Spirit of the Carolinas' Marching Band at UNC Pembroke.

Additionally, Alsop will serve as a lecturer of instrumental music education and athletic bands, where he will teach secondary instrumental methods, elementary music methods, orchestration and arranging and music appreciation. He will also coordinate and lead the marching and pep bands. Dr. Alsop completed his Ph.D. in music education at the University of Georgia, where he taught and assisted with elementary, secondary and instrumental methods courses, observed and guided student teachers and helped faculty with administrative needs. He earned prior degrees in music education from DePauw University and the University of Louisville.



Dr. Alsop previously taught middle and high school band and general music in Brazil, Indiana. Under his direction, the North Clay Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade bands received gold ratings at each appearance at the Indiana State School Music Association organizational contest. He has more than a decade of experience working in the marching arts, including teaching with the brass and visual staffs of three world-class drum and bugle corps, Indiana state finalist and champion bands, a Bands of America 3A national champion and grand national finalist band.

He is currently the brass caption supervisor for the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps. He is a yearly guest clinician for the Smith Walbridge Marching Band and Section Leader Clinic in Charleston, Illinois.



Dr. Alsop's research interests include student motivation in elective music settings, the research-practice gap in music education and qualitative research methodologies. He is published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, National Band Association Journal, The Instrumentalist, School Band and Orchestra and Florida Music Director.