Frank Wicks appreciation thread.

I don't think Linda Will take over. She has actually been running the band for some time now. FBW appears to be a figurehead at this point, and has been for some time.

I think FBW and LRM will finally settle down on a small farm in Pennsylvania or something and live happily ever after.

So should Tiger Band get an up and coming young talent who gets the most out of less than stellar musicians?

Or should TB go and find a proven commodity? A director with a proven track record who knows how to march, play, and recruit at the D-1 level?

Morehouse definitly ran it when I was there...especially practices and gameday, but FW was definitely the behind the scenesguy....I auditioned for him so I guess he did a lot of the recruiting work

Pardon my French, but Frank doesn't really do jack shite with Tiger Band. So hopefully Linda gets the call up so she doesn't leave since she does such a great job with the band.

It will be weird not to hear his name in TS as director of bands, Thanks Frank for everything you have done

What a lot of people don't realize is that in a major school of music like LSU, the Director of Bands position usually has nothing to do with the marching band. It's not like a high school band where one person covers everything. In a large school of music, the roles of each band faculty member are highly specialized. Nowadays, the DOB usually is responsible for the concert band ensembles and teaching conducting, which Wickes was one of the best in the world at in his prime. The marching band director usually holds the title of assistant director of bands, or director of athletic bands. While the assistant director may conduct a concert ensemble, their primary responsibility is the marching band/pep band. Wickes being involved at ALL with the marching band is highly unusual in this day and age, and a credit to his love of LSU football and the tiger band. Morehouse, as the assistant, has always been in charge of the marching band, and will continue to do so. The new Director of Bands will continue with the Wind Ensemble/conducting, and may not even be involved with the marching band at all, as is the case with most large schools. In fact, when the job posting for Wickes' job comes out, I doubt that it will have any mention of marching band at all.

As I said, Linda Morehouse will continue to run the marching band. The new director of bands will probably have nothing to do with the marching band. Contact her if you have a problem. Also tell the students to stop screaming profanities during the song.

Here is the job description for the new director of bands to replace Wickes. The only thing that will change for tiger band fans is who conducts the LSU wind ensemble and teaches graduate conducting:


The School of Music at Louisiana State University is seeking an artist/conductor to lead the band program and serve as director of the top wind ensemble/concert band(s). The title will be Associate or Professor (Director of Bands). At the present time, the band program at LSU consists of a Director of Bands, Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Director of Bands--along with 2 office support staff. The Associate and Assistant Directors have primary responsibility for the Tiger Marching Band and other athletic ensembles.

Required Qualifications: Master's or equivalent degree in Music or related field; outstanding musicianship and the ability to work collaboratively and collegially with others; active relationships with leading composers, top-tier professional/performing artists, and respected conductors. Additional Qualifications Desired: Doctorate; experience in commissioning works and recording new repertoire; a compelling vision for shaping wind and percussion performance practice toward the year 2020. Special Requirements: Artistic leader with the ability to coalesce and draw on the intellectual and creative talent at LSU, the region and the nation. Responsibilities: reports to the Director of the School of Music; interacts regularly with faculty colleagues, the Dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, and senior officials in the LSU Department of Athletics; provides the artistic direction for the concert programs; represents the band area within LSU (including the athletic dept. leadership); maintains the national visibility of the entire program; leads the graduate wind conducting program.

I'm a reporter for the Reveille looking for former students who Wickes directed. If you are interested in talking to me about your time under Wickes please contact me at xerxes.wilson@gmail.com

uh but isn't it Wickes?