The 200-piece Racer Band is an exciting group made up of musicians from all curricula in the university (60-70% non-music majors). Students in the marching band receive a stipend in recognition of their contributions to the university. The Racer Band annually performs at all MSU home football games, local parades, and off-campus marching band festivals. The highlight of each Racer Band season is hosting the MSU Festival of Champions marching competition.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Racer Band has been featured at the:
        2006 Bands of America Grand National Championship          (Indianapolis, IN)
        2005 Bands of America Regional Championship                     (Indianapolis, IN)
        2003 Bands of America Regional Championship                     (St Louis, MO)
        2000 Bands of America Regional Championship                     (St Louis, MO)
        1999 Bands of America Regional Championship                     (Louisville, KY)
        1998 Bands of America Regional Championship                     (St Louis, MO)
        1997 St Louis Rams Half time
 
 
The Racer Band is led by:
 
 
Mr. John E. Fannin was appointed Assistant Director of Bands and director of the Racer Band in 1995. He holds degrees from Edinboro State College and New Mexico State University. In addition to directing the Racer Band, Mr. Fannin conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Pep Band,
and teaches courses in music education.
    for information regarding other MSU instrumental ensembles.
                         John.fannin@murraystate.edu
                                                      www.johnfanninmusic.com
 
Mr. Dennis L. Johnson was appointed Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music in 1985 and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Mr. Johnson works with the Racer Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra. Concert Band, and teaches courses in basic conducting, graduate advanced instrumental conducting and
 is the immediate past-president of the
World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.  
        
       for information regarding Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.                                                                              
                                                      Dennis.johnson@murraystate.edu
 
Mr. Todd E. Hill was appointed Director of Jazz Ensembles in 2006. He holds degrees from Murray State University and is pursuing an EdD at Boise State University. In addition to directing the Jazz Bands and Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble at MS, Mr. Hill works with the Racer Band and teaches applied trombone, euphonium and tuba.
 
  for information regarding MSU jazz ensembles.
                       Todd.hill@murraystate.edu
 
 
Brooke Suiter is the color guard instructor and designer for the Calloway County High School Band and the Murray State University Racer Band.  Each year, her groups score consistently well at competition.  She has developed a successful beginning guard program at Calloway County Middle School that helps each student transition into color guard at the high school level.  While at Murray State University, Brooke served as guard captain for three years and was named the Outstanding Color Guard Member for three years.  She holds a degree from Murray State University.  
   to contact Brooke
 
 
 
 
 
Calvin Warren III is the percussion instructor & arranger for the Murray High School Band, a 2006 B.O.A. Super Regional Class A Champion.  In 2005, Calvin founded the Lone Oak Indoor Drumline which earned the bronze medal in the SCGC indoor championships in two consecutive years.  Calvin also serves as the percussion
instructor & arranger for the Murray State University Racer Band.  At the collegiate level, Calvin placed in the top 5 in the Individual College Snare & Tenor Division at the 2003, 2004, & 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Convention and also marched in  the Independent Open World Champion Eklipse Indoor Drumline in 2002.  In addition to Murray High, Calvin has also arranged/taught for the following bands: Christian County High School, Elizabethtown High School, Clarksville NW High School ( TN ), Marshall County High School, Gibson County High School ( TN ), Goodpasture Christian School, and Lone Oak High School.
 
                                Joe Hobbs has been involved with marching percussion for the past 10 years.  As a performer he has received many honors.  In 2002 Joe won the High School PAS snare solo competition.  He also marched 6 years of Drum and Bugle Corps.  He spent 3 years with Southwind drum and Bugle corps where he won the DCI Snare solo competition in 2003.  Joe then spent three years with the 7 time world champion Cavaliers from Rosemont, Illinois.  There he won DCI in 2004 & 2006 and won DCI's mixed ensemble competition in 2006.  Joe also spent time in the university wind ensemble where he performed at Carnegie Hall in 2005.  As an educator Joe's ensembles have won many honors.  Joe has served as the percussion arranger and teacher of the Murray State Racer Band for the past 4 years.  Joe has also worked with the Murray High Tiger band for the past 5 years.  In WGI Joe's groups have also found success.  Joe has been the coordinator for the Marshall County Indoor Drumline for the past three seasons helping them win a silver medal in 2006 and a gold medal in 2007 in the Southeastern Color-guard Circuit.  Marshall county also won the WGI Nashville Regional in 2007.  Joe is currently teaching Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps where he is the snare technician.  Joe is endorsed by Innovative Percussion.
 
                                                         to contact Calvin              
 
                                                           to contact Joe
 
 
Kevin Suiter is the band director at Calloway County Middle School.  He is currently the front ensemble arranger and show designer for the Calloway County High School band, the 2006 KMEA Class 4A State Runner-Up and a 2005 KMEA Class 4A State Finalist.  Kevin also serves as the front ensemble arranger for the Murray State University Racer Band and various high school bands in the area.  He holds a degree from Murray State University and is pursuing a Masters of Music Education from MSU as well.
 
                                                           to contact Kevin
 
 
 
 
Clark Evans is a former member of the Murray State Racer Band.  He spent four years playing snare, two of which were as section leader.  As a vocal student of Dr. Randall Black and a saxophone student of Scott Erickson he was active in many ensembles and performed several solo works.  Clark graduated from Daviess County High School where he played sax, tenors, and bass drum for the band. This is Clark's first year as a racer band instructor.
         to contact Clark
 
 
Josh Powell is the front ensemble instructor for the 2007 Racer Band.  He has taught and written for numerous schools throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.  He is currently the front ensemble instructor for both the Murray High School Tiger Band and the SCGC Champion, Marshall County High School Indoor Drumline.  Josh is also a member of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from Murray State University.  
 
      to contact Josh