Foley High School proudly announces New Director of “The Mighty Band from Lion Land!”

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Posted 6/7/19

Foley High School Principal Russ Moore is happy to announce David Samuel to replace Carl Major, who is retiring, as the Director of Bands at Foley High School. The Baldwin County Board of Education …

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Foley High School proudly announces New Director of “The Mighty Band from Lion Land!”

Posted

Foley High School Principal Russ Moore is happy to announce David Samuel to replace Carl Major, who is retiring, as the Director of Bands at Foley High School. The Baldwin County Board of Education met on Thursday, June 6, and approved this recommendation. Samuel is entering his eleventh year as a band director, with this being his fifth year at Foley High School. While at Foley, Samuel has directed the Jazz Bands and the consistently superior rated Wind Ensemble.

Samuel also started the piano program at Foley High School which has more than tripled in the last two years. Samuel has been writing the halftime music for the Foley “Mighty Band from Lion Land” since 2016. Prior to his time at Foley High School, he served six years teaching in Escambia County, Florida.

In addition to teaching, Samuel is a published composer and arranger through Excelcia Music Publishing Company. Samuel also has music published by Jalen and Matrix Music Publishing Company. He has received several “Editor’s Choice” Awards from JW Pepper. Samuel is a sought-after arranger and adjudicator throughout the Southeast having written music for high school and university bands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.

“I’m excited to be somewhere that has a rich tradition of excellence in the band program,” Samuel said. “I’ve worked hard in my career to be part of a community like this. Our community expects excellence and there are good things already happening in Foley. I am thankful for the opportunity to help continue the band’s legacy and to help our program grow.”

Moore said he is excited about the future of the band’s program under Samuel’s leadership. “The Foley Band has great tradition, high expectations, and generations of supporters,” Moore said. “This is a big hire for our school, and I am confident that David Samuel is the man to continue the successful path the program has experienced. Mr. Samuel brings with him a passion for music, a gift for teaching, a competitive nature and, most importantly, a student-centered focus. He cares about students, their success, and how they represent our school and community.”

Samuel said his approach to teaching is completely student-focused. “It’s all focused toward the students and trying to serve them in all ways in order to help them understand music better and to grow as productive citizens.”

Samuel received his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the prestigious School of Music at Troy University. He is a member of the Alabama Music Educators’ Association, Alabama Education Association, National Association for Music Education, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In his free time, Samuel is a jazz pianist performing at various events across the Gulf Coast. He currently serves as the Music Director at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He has two dogs named Sonny and Margo.