Faulkner University Band
The Faulkner University Band is the university's largest instrumental ensemble. Members are selected by audition and perform as the "Marching Eagles" in the fall and as the Faulkner University Concert Band in the spring. Membership is open to both music majors and non-music majors. Scholarships beginning at $16,000 per student per year are available to qualified applicants, regardless of the student's major. These scholarships are fully funded and available to any student who qualifies. For more information, contact mbird@faulkner.edu or call (334) 386-7496.
Faulkner Swingin' Eagles
The Faulkner University “Swingin’ Eagles" is a traditional jazz combo/big band that performs music from a variety of jazz eras including swing, bebop, funk, and fusion. The group gives performances in the community and at least one on-campus concert per semester. Membership is open to both music majors and non-music majors. The “Swingin’ Eagles” also play host to the Faulkner Jazz Festival in the spring, spotlighting jazz band programs from around the state. For more information, contact mbird@faulkner.edu or call (334) 386-7496.
About the Band Directors
Mr. Michael Bird serves as the assistant Director of Bands and is the director of the “Swingin’ Eagles” jazz band at Faulkner. Following graduation from Robert E. Lee High School, he earned his B.M.E. and M.S. degrees from Troy University. Mr. Bird taught for 28 years in Alabama’s public schools, serving at Frisco City High School, Zion Chapel High School, and Robert E. Lee High School before spending 20 years with Tallassee City Schools. As a choir director, Mr. Bird team-taught in a program that featured seven different choral groups encompassing over 220 choral students. He directed the “Gold Edition” all-male show choir that was the original men’s show choir in the state of Alabama and one of the few in the country. Mr. Bird was the co-director of Capital City Classic show choir competition for 15 years, which brought over 40 high school show choirs to the MPAC in Montgomery every year. On the band side, Mr. Bird was the founder of the Tallassee Jazz Fest and managed it for 10 years. Bands from all over the state, from middle school to collegiate, came to Tallassee to perform. Mr. Bird is also a writer for the Tallassee Tribune and radio host for WACQ-AM 580 & FM 98.5. He serves as a night manager for Tallassee Super Foods and marketing director for Jaco Sales. In 2015, sales of Mr. Bird’s book Fanfare: The 75-Year Legacy of the Troy University Bands helped to raise over $20,000 for the band program at his alma mater. He is married to professional trumpet player and music teacher Sena Thibodeaux Bird and together they have seven children: Michaela, Miriam, Abbey, Danielle, Gregory, Lydia, and Norah. His major instrument is the trombone.