WSSU director of bands serving as president of national HBCU band consortium
Dr. Michael Magruder, director of bands for Winston-Salem State University, has been appointed president of the HBCU National Band and Orchestra Directors’ Consortium (HBCU-NBODC). He will lead the only conference designed for HBCU band directors and students for a two-year term that began in 2024.
The consortium is dedicated to empowering and advancing the legacy of musical excellence at historically black colleges and universities. With a rich history rooted in cultural expression, leadership and innovation, the consortium unites the finest music educators, directors, and performers from across the nation to celebrate and enhance the vibrant tradition of Black music.
“I am extremely thrilled and excited to serve as president of this prestigious organization,” Magruder said. “I became involved with the organization in 2004. Since that time, the WSSU band program has attended each conference, and our students have represented the university well.”
Among his presidential duties are engaging constituent HBCU band directors for participation in the 2025 conference; working closely with the consortium’s e-board to plan the conference; and serving as the official representative of HBCU directors via the HBCU-NBODC.
At the heart of the consortium’s mission is a deep respect for the transformative power of music education. The group aims to ensure that every student musician receives the mentorship, resources and opportunities necessary to thrive, both on and off the stage.
“My hope is that all HBCU directors see the value in an organization that focuses on HBCU band and orchestra directors,” Magruder said.
The opportunity to grow, develop, interact, collaborate, make presentations and display conducting skills is invaluable, he said. The convention serves as a platform for sharing innovative ideas, best practices and resources to enhance music education for all. It allows directors to use their efforts on a national stage to prepare for tenure and promotion at their respective institutions.
A native of Jackson, Miss, Magruder received a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Louisiana State University in 1979 and his doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 2001.
His teaching career began as band director of Sadie V. Thompson Jr. High School in Natchez, Miss. He has also served as director of bands at Texas College in Tyler, Texas; as band director of L.B. Landry Junior Senior High School in New Orleans, LA; and as assistant professor of music/associate director of bands at Jackson State University.
In 2004, he joined WSSU, where the Red Sea of Sound Marching Band, under his direction, has won numerous awards and scholarships for its members.
