Georgia State Names Director of Athletic Bands, Associate Director of Bands

ATLANTA - The Georgia State University School of Music has named T. Devin Reid (M.Mu. '15) as director of athletic bands and associate director of bands, effective fall 2026. Reid has held both positions on an interim basis since June 2025, and the appointment makes his leadership permanent.

In these roles, Reid leads the Panther Band, conducts the Wind Orchestra and the Panther Basketball Band, and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting and band literature.

"Professor Reid has been a valued member of the Georgia State Bands faculty for over a decade, and over the past year as interim director of athletic bands, he has fostered a wonderful spirit of collaboration and excellence," said Julia Bullard, director of the School of Music. "I am excited to see the continued growth of the band under his excellent leadership."

Reid came to Georgia State in 2013 as a graduate student in wind band conducting and joined the band area as an employee in 2015, after completing his Master of Music. He was named assistant director of bands in 2018 and has also served as undergraduate director for the School of Music. Over that time he has guided the University Concert Band - an ensemble open to students from every college on campus - into the largest instrumental concert ensemble at Georgia State.

Reid has twice helped guide the Panther Band to selection as a featured marching band for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conference Review - in 2020, while he served as assistant director, and again in 2026 as interim director of athletic bands. The band has also performed on some of the country's largest stages during his tenure, including the Super Bowl LIII Pepsi Halftime Show in 2019, an appearance Reid led, and the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., where he served as assistant director of bands. This summer the band performed at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Centennial Olympic Park as Atlanta hosted matches for the world's most-watched sporting event.

"I am thrilled that Professor Reid has been appointed associate director of bands and director of athletic bands," said Robert J. Ambrose, director of bands. "Professor Reid is an extraordinary teacher and visionary leader whose student-centered approach has served thousands of students during his tenure at Georgia State. His appointment to this position ushers in a new era of excellence for the programs that he oversees."

Reid's impact on the program was marked in November 2025 with the world premiere of "With Courage Unyielding," a fanfare for wind ensemble composed by Jonathan P. Kochik (B.M. '16, M.M. '19) and commissioned by the Nu Alpha chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi to honor Reid's 10 years of service. The Wind Orchestra premiered the work at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Beyond the podium, Reid has been a faculty partner in Georgia State's Inclusive Digital Expression and Literacy (IDEAL) program, working to make ensemble participation accessible to students of all abilities. He is a frequent clinician and adjudicator across Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina, and has presented at the Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida Music Educators Conferences as well as the American String Teachers Association National Conference. He is a recurrent guest conductor at the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival.

"I've been a part of the GSU Bands family since 2013 - first as a graduate student, then as assistant director and now in this role," Reid said. "In that time I've been a part of watching students succeed in performances on many different stages. It is an honor to lead the students and this program, and to continue uniting the spirit of Georgia State through entertainment with excellence and energy."

Reid said his focus going forward remains on what students carry with them after graduation.

"I'm passionate about helping students learn life and leadership skills through the medium of athletic bands, and I try to design a curriculum that will serve students well for life," he said. "Helping students to be present and grow consistently is why I do this every day."

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Reid is a 2005 recipient of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State.

The Panther Band was founded in 2010 alongside Georgia State's football program and has since performed for live, televised and motion picture audiences, including the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade and the 88th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2014.