U of A Bands Announces Jeffrey Summers as Director of the Razorback Marching Band

Jeff and Carla Summers

After a national search, the U of A Bands and the Department of Music are pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Summers as associate director of bands and director of the Razorback Marching Band, removing the interim title he has held since July 2022. 

After two years as assistant director of the Razorback Marching Band, Summers stepped into the interim role, overseeing teaching and administration of the ensemble. Under his direction, the 350-member band performed at all football games in Fayetteville and on trips to Arlington, Texas, for the Southwest Classic; Memphis, for the Liberty Bowl; and Fort Smith for the ASBOA Region VIII Assessment. As director of the Hogwild Band in 2021-2022, he led the band during the men’s basketball Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament after appearances at all home men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games. During his time in Northwest Arkansas, Summers has also become active in the community, visiting several area high school band programs and guest conducting for the Arkansas Musicworks Brass Band, the U of A Horn Choir and the Arkansas Saxophone Workshop. 

Chris Knighten, director of bands, chaired the committee to find the next director of the Razorback Marching Band and said that a national search was necessary to secure the best possible candidate. 

“The field of candidates for this position was outstanding,” Knighten said. “For Dr. Summers to emerge as the unanimous selection of the committee is a testament not only to the great work he has done already on campus, but the promise he offers to the program moving forward.” 

In addition to leading the teaching and administration of the Razorback Marching Band, Summers will conduct the Wind Symphony and serve as a faculty member in the Department of Music, where he will teach courses in conducting and pedagogy. 

Summers says he is thankful for the opportunity. “I am very honored to continue to lead the Razorback Marching Band, and I look forward to my continued work with not only that group, but with students throughout the band program and the Department of Music.” 

Summers is a native of Buda, Texas, and completed his doctor of musical arts degree at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. While serving as a graduate teaching assistant at Sam Houston State University, he was director of the SHSU Bearkat Pep Band, and from 2008 to 2014 he was director of bands at Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston. He holds a bachelor of music education from the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.