ATLANTA—Dr. Chester Phillips has been appointed interim director of the School of Music in Georgia State University’s College of the Arts.
Dr. Phillips, who has served on the faculty at Georgia State since 2009 and was recently promoted to full professor, will begin serving as interim director on July 1, 2021. Dr. Phillips will take on the role as the current director, Dr. Nickitas Demos, returns to the faculty and the classroom. Dr. Demos served as both interim director and director from 2017-2021 and is credited for important faculty hires, key fundraising efforts, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as seeing the school through the pandemic transition to remote learning.
In Dr. Phillips’ time at Georgia State, he has established the award-winning Georgia State University Panther Band which has performed in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade, 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Super Bowl LIII Pepsi Halftime Show in 2019, and will perform in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
“Dr. Phillips has a long history of achievement at Georgia State including his work establishing the award-winning Panther Band,” said Dean Wade Weast of the College of the Arts. “We are excited to have Dr. Phillips and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”
Dr. Phillips received his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Georgia, his Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Illinois and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at the University of Georgia. He is affiliated with professional organizations that include the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, Drum Corps International and Music for All.
Prior to his appointment at Georgia State, Dr. Phillips taught for seven years as the associate director of bands at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia and for two years in the Gwinnett County public schools at the middle and high school level. He has presented professionally in over 30 states and five countries. In addition to his teaching and research/creative duties, Dr. Phillips is a clinician for the Educational Division of Conn-Selmer Inc. and was recently elected the College Division Chair for Georgia Music Educators Association.
“I am both humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve the students, staff and faculty of the School of Music as interim director in the coming academic year,” said Dr. Phillips of his new appointment. “Together, we will strive to make our alumni proud and empower our students for the future ahead. It is an honor to support the distinguished faculty and staff of the School of Music in this new role. Though the world has been in a dark place for the past eighteen months, the future is bright at Georgia State University. Let’s Go, State!”