JOHN C. CARMICHAEL
John C. Carmichael was the director of bands at the University of South Florida
from 2007 to 2018. Previously, he served as the director of bands at Furman
University, Greenville, South Carolina from 1989 to 1993, and at Western
Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, from 1993 to 2007. He received
the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University (1974),
the Master of Arts from the University of South Florida (1985), and a Ph.D. in
Music Education (1994), also from Florida State University. In addition to his
university experience, Dr. Carmichael served as a band director at Leon High
School, Rickards High School Auburndale High School, and Lakeland High
School. The LHS wind ensemble, under his leadership, made two appearances at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and was awarded the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor. Other performances of Dr. Carmichael's bands occurred at the Festival of Winds, Tournament of Roses Parade, Tri-State Band Festival, NBA National Convention, Southeastern Band Clinic, and Southern Division MENC Conference. During his tenure at Lakeland High School, Dr. Carmichael was honored as Polk County Teacher of the Year, received the key to the city of Lakeland, and was awarded four Citations of Excellence by the National Band Association.
While at Furman University, Dr. Carmichael was selected as the outstanding new faculty member by the Association of Furman Students in 1990 and was granted honorary membership by the Gamma Eta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha in 1991. Under his leadership, the Furman University Bands increased significantly in size and maintained an active schedule of performances and recording sessions. In addition to his duties at Furman, Dr. Carmichael served as conductor of the Metropolitan Orchestra (for the Carolina Ballet) and as guest conductor of the Greenville Civic Band. Additionally, he founded one of the region's first professional wind groups–the Furman Civic Wind Ensemble, which produced two widely distributed compact discs. Phi Mu Alpha awarded Dr. Carmichael the prestigious Orpheus award in Spring 1993.
At Western Kentucky University, Dr. Carmichael established several performance groups, most notably the Southern Kentucky Concert Band and the Lost River Cave Big Band. The WKU Wind Ensemble achieved national prominence as a commissioner of new works for wind bands through the production of over twelve major compositions. Under his direction, the WKU band has performed at 1996, 2000, and 2004 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division meetings and 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007 KMEA In-Service Conferences. He was selected as the District 3 KMEA College/University Teacher of the Year for 1995-96 and the District 2 KMEA College/University Teacher of the Year for 1996-97 and 1997-98. He was named the “Outstanding Contributor to Music” for 1999 by the Kentucky chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and received the Western Kentucky University Public Service Award for 2000. Dr. Carmichael was recognized as the KMEA College/University Teacher of the Year for 2002-2003. The WKU Wind Ensemble and the athletic band performed at the 60th Anniversary Victory Celebration in Moscow, Russia, May 2005, as guests of the Russian Ministry of Culture. The performances at both the Moscow Conservatory and the Russian Officers Palace in St. Petersburg were highly acclaimed.
Since arriving at the University of South Florida, Dr. Carmichael has overseen exceptional accomplishments in the band program with the addition of a third and fourth concert band and with the receipt of invitations to perform at the 2010 and 2016 Southern Division Meetings of the CBDNA. The USF Wind Ensemble was a featured ensemble in Carnegie Hall in 2014 and performed for the 2013 National Convention of the American Bandmasters Association. Two compact discs of live performances by the Wind Ensemble have been released through Mark Records. Dr. Carmichael has also founded in 2008 the Florida Wind Band, a 501c3 organization with the goal of it becoming a full-time, civilian, professional concert band. He was awarded the designation of Professor Emeritus by USF at the conclusion of Spring semester 2018.
During his career, Dr. Carmichael has been an active proponent for the production of new wind band music, having participated in or initiated over 30 commissioning projects. His conducting has received positive critical review from Morton Gould, Christopher Marshall, Timothy Reynish, Paul Basler, Karel Husa as well as others. He has collaborated with a number of the finest instrumental performers in the world, including Steven Mead, Eugene Rousseau, Earle Louder, Robert McCormick, J.D. Shaw, Brian Bowman, the Boston Brass, Clifford Leaman, and Dee Stewart. Additionally, he has directed numerous professional, college and select bands around the country, including the U.S. Army Field Band, U.S. Army Pershing’s Own Concert Band, Army Ground Forces Band, University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, Stetson University Symphonic Band, University of Florida Wind Ensemble, North Dakota State University Wind Ensemble, Southern Winds, Hollingsworth Winds, Nova Winds, and both the Florida State University Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band. Recently, he has worked as a clinician with three band programs in Singapore (2010), served as a delegate to the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Taiwan (2011), and was twice a guest conductor and conductor mentor for the National Concert Band of Costa Rica (2011 and 2012). In 2014, Dr. Carmichael served as a clinician and conductor for several bands in Amman, Jordan while also teaching conducting at the National Conservatory.
Dr. Carmichael has belonged to numerous professional and honorary organizations, including the American Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, WASBE, CBDNA, KMEA, FMEA, NAfME, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Phi, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, ASBDA, IGEB, Phi Beta Mu and the Conductors Guild. He has served as state chairman of both the South Carolina and Kentucky CBDNA chapters and as the Kentucky chairman of the National Band Association (1996 to 2007). He has also served on the national board of directors of both CBDNA and NBA and is a past president of the Southern Division College Band Directors National Association. He was elected to the FSU Marching Chiefs Wall of Fame in 2017 and has been honored by the opportunity to serve as the conductor of the 2018 Florida 11 and 12 All-State Band. Most recently, Dr. Carmichael has been inducted into the Roll of Distinction of the Florida Bandmasters Association. He was designated a Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida in May 2018. Carmichael is in demand as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician throughout the United States. He and wife Alisa are proud parents of a son and a daughter who are both outstanding musicians.
Dr. John C. Carmichael
10743 Cypress Ave
Kansas City, MO 64137
270-791-5056
Addendum: Dr. Carmichael received the university-wide public service award from Western Kentucky University in 2000. While in Tampa, Florida, he was a member of the Temple Terrace Rotary Club and a regular provider of public service. Throughout his life, Dr. Carmichael has been a church musician, either singing in the choir, performing on his major instruments, or directing the choir. Currently, he is the choir director at St. Peter and All Saints Episcopal Church in Kansas City. Over the last 30 years, Dr. Carmichael founded five adult bands, four of them being professional. They are the Furman University Civic Wind Ensemble, the Lost River Cave Big Band, the Southern Kentucky Concert Band, the Florida Wind Band, and the Pinnacle Winds (Kansas City). Dr. Carmichael regularly makes charitable contributions to a wide array of organizations including those that focus upon providing assistance for families in need. He is a member of the Hickman Mills C-1 Educational Foundation Board of Directors, the South Kansas City Alliance BoD, and the Community Assistance Council BoD, all located in Kansas City, Missouri. Respectively, he holds the following offices: Secretary, Treasurer, and President.
