EKU Band Faculty

    Joseph H. Allison is currently a Professor of Music, serving as Director of Bands and Graduate Conducting Activities, as well as Director of the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camps at Eastern Kentucky University. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (French Horn) from East Tennessee State University, a Master’s Degree (Percussion) and the Doctorate in Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Allison is the former Director of Bands at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Associate Director of Bands at East Tennessee State University, and Director of Bands at Sumter (SC) High School, Greenwood (SC) High School and Richmond County (NC) Senior High School. He serves as an adjudicator, clinician and consultant for concert, marching and jazz events throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.

   Dr. Allison has held professional affiliations with the Kentucky Music Educators Association (Board of Control), East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association (Board of Directors), American School Band Directors Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, Percussive Arts Society (Advisory Board), The Conductor’s Guild, Drum Corps International Judges Guild (Executive Board), Bands of America (Advisory Board), Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu Honor Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

   During his 19 years of public school teaching, ensembles under Dr. Allison’s direction received consistent superior ratings in adjudicated events and performed regularly at significant regional and national events. During his tenure as Director, the Sumter Bands became the first internationally to be honored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation as laureates of both the Sudler Flag of Honor for concert excellence and the Sudler Shield for marching achievement. The Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensembles, Percussion Ensembles and Chamber Orchestra were all regularly featured in major regional and national settings.

   As an adjudicator, in addition to extensive concert band and jazz ensemble activity, Allison has judged the major competitions of the marching world: the Drum Corps International World Championships, and the Bands of America Grand National Championships, Winter Guard International, Drum Corps Japan, and the World Music Contests in Holland. He is the Founding Director and curriculum designer of the Kentucky Marching Band Adjudicators Association

   A laureate of Teacher of the Year at Sumter High School, Dr. Allison’s personal honors include the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence” and the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Sudler Order of Merit,” as well as achievement awards from both the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Percussive Arts Society. He has been listed in Who’s Who of American Educators, Outstanding Young Men of America, and was honored in multiple resolutions of the South Carolina State Legislature. Allison has received letters of commendation from Presidents Bush and Clinton and is a laureate of both the Order of the Palmetto from the state of South Carolina, and Kentucky Colonel from the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Ken Haddix received his Bachelor of Music Education, post-baccalaureate at the University of Louisville. He received his Master of Music Performance in Trombone at the University of Kentucky, and his Bachelor of Music Performance in Trombone at Indiana University. He has been the Associate Director of Bands and Professor of Trombone at Western Kentucky University for two years. During that time he was also responsible for the trombone studio and directed the Concert Band. He has also worked as a Band Director at Warren East High School, Bowling Green; Russellville Independent Schools, Russellville; and Atherton High School, Louisville.

Mr. Haddix is principal trombonist with the Owensboro Symphony and was with the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra. He directed the WKU Trombone Choir and is active as a soloist, adjudicator, and clinician. He is an active member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, served as the Festival Manager for the Bowling Green site and as president-elect of the Third District Music Educators Association. He is also a member of Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. Haddix is also a trombone section substitute in Evansville Philharmonic in Evansville, IN, and has also been a trombone section substitute in Louisville Orchestra and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra. He has studied with Richard Cryder, Dale E. Warren, Keith Brown, and many other Professors of Trombone.