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We Have a New Marching Band Director!

After a thorough national search, we are excited to announce that Spencer Martin has been hired as the new Director of Athletic Bands.

Mr. Martin is an alum of UI and has experience with our band as an undergraduate, graduate TA, and staff member. He has over a decade of collegiate teaching experience and is a highly respected music educator in Idaho. He is also an extremely accomplished percussionist and has performed all over the world.

"Having worked with him for many years, I couldn't be more excited about him joining the faculty at the Lionel Hampton School of Music" said Torrey Lawrence, who held the position from 1998-2012. "You'll find his enthusiasm contagious and his character of the highest level. I am sure he will do great things here."

Spencer Martin's Biography

Mr. Martin has been head of Percussion Studies at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington since 2000 and at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming since 2010.  From 2003-2006, Spencer served as the Visiting Director of Athletic Bands at the U of I where he directed the Vandal Marching Band, Basketball Bands, Jazz Band III, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers Ensemble.   

For four years Spencer served as Director of Bands at Sage Valley Middle School in Nampa, ID.  His concert and jazz bands received numerous superior ratings and awards, including top scores at the District III Concert Festival, District III Solo and Ensemble Festival, District III Jazz Festival, and the Gene Harris Jazz Festival. As Associate Director of Bands and head of percussion studies at Vallivue High School, Spencer helped the VHS Marching Band earn the District III Marching Band Sweepstakes Trophy for three consecutive years, with the VHS drum line twice earning the percussion sweepstakes award.

Of Basque decent, Spencer performs internationally as a founding member of the Basque-American musical group Amuma Says No.  Before touring northern Spain and southern France during the summer of 2011, his ensemble was featured at the opening of the Basque Exhibit on Ellis Island in New York City and at both the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  Spencer also teaches the ancient Basque percussion instrument Txalaparta, presenting for the American Folklore Society in 2009.  For 2010-2011, he was awarded the State of Idaho's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant.

On call with Crystal and Carnival Cruise Lines, Spencer has traveled to over 30 countries as a professional percussionist.  As a jazz drummer, he has accompanied many artists, including Claudio Roditi, Jamey Aebersold, Mark Levine, Jay Coble, John Harbaugh, Curtis Stigers, Lee Musiker, Donald O'Conner, John Davidson, and Maureen McGovern.  He has also served as principal percussionist in the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra, and played pit percussion for Monte Python's national touring show Spamalot in 2007.

Spencer holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Idaho.  His percussion instructors include Dan Bukvich, Ronnie Bedford, John Baldwin, and James Harrison. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Is Torrey Lawrence leaving UI?

Absolutely not. He is now the Associate Director of Lionel Hampton School of Music. He will continue to teach tuba/euphonium and co-direct the Concert Band. He will still be found in section 16 during home football games...Go Vandals!!!

Contact Us:
Vandal Marching Band
School of Music, Box 444015
Moscow, ID 83844-4015
Phone: 208-885-4129
Email: band@uidaho.edu

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