ATLANTA — Israel La Fleur's Georgia State Music Education journey began with a televised Rose Parade performance that changed everything.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to the Georgia State University School of Music?
My name is Israel La Fleur and what first put Georgia State on my radar was the Panther Band. I saw them marching in the Rose Bowl on TV. I didn’t even realize how big that performance was at the time — I just happened to be watching and I came from a really small high school band at Chapel Hill High School in Douglasville. Seeing such a large ensemble that was still incredibly polished, clean and energetic really inspired me. I remember thinking, I have to be part of that group. From that moment, I knew Georgia State was where I wanted to be.
What first sparked your interest in music and how did that lead you to pursue it in college?
I’ve wanted to be a music educator for as long as I can remember — since elementary school, honestly. In fourth grade at Lithia Springs Elementary School, we had to make a poster about what we wanted to do when we grew up. I printed out a photo of my music teacher, Mrs. Stovall and made her the centerpiece of my board. I said I wanted to be a music teacher just like her. We still keep in touch and this past summer we even performed together in the Carrollton Wind Ensemble. That was a huge full-circle moment for me and reminded me how early this path really began.
What has been your favorite class or professor in the School of Music and why did they leave an impression?
All of the band directors have been huge inspirations to me — Dr. Robert Ambrose, Professor Devin Reid and Dr. Lawrence Williams. Even before I started at Georgia State, Professor Reid reached out to me and invited me to a Zoom conversation just to get to know me and welcome me into the program. That really left an impression.
Dr. Ambrose is one of the smartest musicians I’ve ever met. The way he connects to music and teaches it pushed me artistically in new ways. Dr. Williams, who joined the faculty recently, has also had a big impact — he’s incredibly relatable, knowledgeable and shows what’s possible early in a teaching career.
I also have to mention Dr. Charles Jackson. His attention to detail and his incredibly high standards motivated me to do better every day. The depth of knowledge he brings to the classroom has truly shaped how I think about musicianship and education.
What’s a project, performance, recital or piece you worked on at GSU that you’re especially proud of?
I’m especially proud of my senior recital performance of Effie Suite by Alec Wilder. It’s standard tuba repertoire and technically very challenging. There are six movements and at first I only planned to perform three because I was intimidated by how demanding it is tonally and technically. But I decided to push myself and perform all six movements.
It ended up being one of the strongest performances of my recital. That moment taught me something really personal: when you fully commit and trust the process, you can exceed your own expectations.
How have you balanced the demands of musical practice, rehearsals, performances and academic work during your time here?
It takes discipline and a lot of planning. Every Sunday I sit down and map out my entire week — when I’ll practice, rehearse, study, sleep, eat — all of it. Flexibility is just as important as organization. Music schedules can change quickly and I learned not to let stress take over. Instead, I just focus on staying calm, adjusting when needed and keeping things moving forward.
Beyond classes, in what ways have you been involved in the musical community on or off campus?
I was an active member of the Panther Band for four years — marching sousaphone for two seasons before auditioning and serving as drum major for the past two years. I was also a member of the Panther Basketball Band, performing on sousaphone for the full season during my sophomore year and for one semester during my junior year.
In spring of my junior year, Professor Devin Reid personally asked me to step in on bass guitar for the Basketball Band’s travel performance at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Pensacola after our bassist graduated midyear. Even though he had never heard me play bass before, he trusted me with that opportunity because of my musicianship. I had experience playing bass through church ensembles and that performance led to me auditioning for both sousaphone and bass guitar for my senior year. I was selected again on bass guitar, which has allowed me to perform in both the marching wind ensemble and amplified rhythm-section worlds — two very different but equally exciting experiences.
I’m also an active brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, initiated in fall 2024 and served as a student conductor with the Nul Alpha Wind Ensemble. Off campus, I’ve performed with the Georgia Aquarium Brass Quintet holiday series, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra and most recently the Carrollton Wind Ensemble under Terry Lowry for their Fourth of July community concert. I’m also a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME).
In 2025, I was honored to receive the Panther of the Year Award at the Panther Band Banquet, recognizing my leadership, service and dedication to the ensemble.
How has being part of GSU’s music program influenced you personally?
Georgia State has taught me what it means to be professional and confident — to set a standard for yourself and uphold it. I see that professionalism modeled constantly by faculty, graduate students and alumni of this program. The way people from Georgia State carry themselves has had a huge impact on me and shaped how I plan to present myself as an educator and leader.
What kind of impact do you hope to have with your music?
I hope to inspire students to pursue music because they love it — not for awards or recognition, but simply because it brings them joy. Music isn’t always easy. You do it whether you’re excited, tired, frustrated or overwhelmed. If you choose to do something, I believe you should do it fully and do it well. That’s the legacy I hope to leave behind.
As you graduate, what are you most excited about next, and how has your training at GSU prepared you for what comes next?
I’m most excited to start teaching and sharing my passion with young students. Almost everyone remembers a meaningful experience they had in a music classroom growing up, and I love the idea of being the person who helps create that spark for others—the same kind of spark that kept me coming back to music from the very beginning.
My time at Georgia State has prepared me well for that next step. The program has built a strong foundation in both pedagogy and performance, while also giving me leadership opportunities that strengthened my confidence and adaptability. I feel ready to step into the classroom, lead, and connect with students through music.
I’m also excited to continue my journey at GSU as I pursue a master’s degree in wind band conducting.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the School of Music?
Two moments stand out.
The funniest was traveling with a small pep band to Boise, Idaho, for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl my sophomore year. It was about 12 degrees — far colder than anything we were used to in Georgia. Our instruments wouldn’t stay in tune, half of us were going for hot chocolate just to stay warm and everything sounded a half-step flat. But we were laughing the entire time. It was freezing…but unforgettable.
The most meaningful memory happened this semester at the White Columns Invitational. Performing our exhibition show to more than 40 high schools and hearing the crowd erupt during Defying Gravity from Wicked was indescribable. That moment reminded me exactly why I fell in love with music in the first place.
What advice would you give to incoming music students at GSU?
When it gets hard — and it will — always remember why you started. Stay connected to your passion and your love for music. Keeping that “why” in front of you makes everything else manageable. It keeps the motivation alive and helps you push forward, even on your toughest days.