J. Corey Francis

Assistant Director of Bands 

Director of the Panther Marching & Basketball Bands

email: jcfrancis@eiu.edu

J. Corey Francis currently serves the Assistant Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University, joining the faculty in 2012. His responsibilities at EIU include directing the Panther Marching Band, Concert Band, and teaching courses in instrumental arranging.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Francis served as Director of Athletic Bands at Indiana State University. There, he oversaw all aspects of the athletic band program. Under his direction the Marching Sycamores performed at the Bands of America Super Region in Indianapolis, as well as performed the National Anthem at the BOA Grand National Finals.  
 
Currently, Mr. Francis is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he studies with Thomas V. Fraschillo. Mr. Francis also holds a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State University (KY). 

Prior to his arrival to USM, Mr. Francis served as Director of Pep Bands at Georgia State University. Under his direction, the Pep Bands earned the acclaim and praise of officials from the Colonial Athletic Association, as well as the administration and alumni of Georgia State University. Additionally, Mr. Francis served on the staffs of Alpharetta (GA) High School (2004-2009) and Taylor County (KY) Schools (2002-2004). 
 
As a conductor, Mr. Francis’s enjoys working on contemporary and traditional masterworks of the Wind Band and Chamber Winds. Current projects include conducting and lecturing on Ecstatic Waters by Steven Bryant, and completing his dissertation on Jonathan Newman’s Symphony No. 1: My Hands are a City. Mr. Francis’s  focus on energetic and musical performances has led him to become an active clinician and guest conductor. His article “Creating a Expressive Gesture Palette” is due for publication in the March 2011 issue of “The Instrumentalist.” 
 
Mr. Francis is an active marching band drill designer for schools in the Southern US. Arrangements of his, including "El Toro Caliente" and "Thriller," have been performed by high school and collegiate ensembles. Mr. Francis holds membership in the National Band Association, The Collegiate Band Director’s National Association, the College Music Society, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Kappa Kapp Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. 

 

Alison Christian/Josh Milliman

Panther Marching Band Color Guard Instructor

 

 

 

Andy Baldwin

Panther Marching Band DrumLine Instructor

pjrheingruber@gmail.com

 

Lindsey Alexander

Graduate Assistant

 

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Maura Shepherd
Senior Assistant 2013

 

 

Kayleigh Nuernberger

Senior Assistant 2013