View source for Brian A. Britt

{{Short description|Director of The Pride of Oklahoma}}
'''Brian A. Britt''' is assistant director of the school of music, assistant [[professor]] of music, and director of [[The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band]] at the [[University of Oklahoma]]. Britt is only the fifth person to hold the position since the first full-time director of The Pride was hired in 1929.

As assistant director and coordinator of undergraduate studies, Britt oversees the entire [[undergraduate]] program for the OU School of Music. He is [[Conducting|conductor]] of the OU Symphony Band. He instructs [[music education]] students in conducting, and upper-division and [[graduate education|graduate students]] in [[marching band]] administration and techniques.

==Education==
Britt was born in [[Tampa, Florida]], raised in [[Durant, Oklahoma]], and graduated from Durant High School in 1983. He attended the University of Oklahoma and was a member of The Pride as an undergraduate, ultimately becoming The Pride's [[marching percussion|percussion]] section leader.  Britt earned his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[music education]] in 1987, which was the year The Pride received the [[Sudler Trophy]], and remained at OU as a percussion [[graduate assistant]] for The Pride in 1987.  As a graduate assistant, he was responsible for creating and organizing audition materials for the OU [[Drumline]], arranging percussion scores for all shows, and preparing the drumline for performances. In addition, he designed and implemented an off-season drumline training program.

While serving The Pride in this capacity, Britt also worked full-time at [[Norman High School]] as their assistant director of bands. He became the director of bands at [[Chickasha, Oklahoma|Chickasha High School]] in 1989, and continued his graduate studies on a part-time basis.

After graduating from OU with a [[Master of Arts|master's degree in music]] (percussion) in 1992,  Britt worked throughout [[Texas]] as assistant director and director of bands for public schools and universities. At [[Texas Christian University]], he was interim associate director of bands, and at [[Stephen F. Austin University]], he was associate director of bands and director of the Lumberjack Marching Band. Britt was the director at [[McNeil High School]] in [[Round Rock, Texas]], when he was hired as the Director of The Pride in 2001.  He succeeded [[Gene Thrailkill]], who had led The Pride for 30 years, including the years Britt attended OU.

==Director of The Pride==
As The Pride's director, Britt leads an instructional staff and team of three faculty, six graduate assistants, and 40 student leaders, who prepare The Pride for its many performances and public appearances representing the University and the [[Oklahoma Sooners]].  Britt has responsibility for all aspects of the band's performance, including research, planning, and production design for all shows, trip planning for all away games, coordination with the OU Department of Athletics for all [[college football|football]] and [[college basketball|basketball]] events, administration of both the department's budget and its scholarship budget, and coordination of the graduate staff's teaching and logistical responsibilities.

Britt is the faculty advisor for the Delta chapters of [[Kappa Kappa Psi]] and [[Tau Beta Sigma]], and he is the immediate past governor of the Southwest District of Kappa Kappa Psi, serving as an advisor to chapters on all college campuses in [[New Mexico]], [[Arkansas]], [[Louisiana]], Texas, and Oklahoma. He also chairs and serves on various University committees and campaigns, including as the faculty chair of OU's Annual Campus Development Campaign, the Undergraduate Studies Committee, and as a member of the Football Game Operations Committee.

Outside of OU, Britt is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, lecturer, adjudicator, percussion arranger, drill designer, and consultant. He has conducted an extensive repertoire of [[concert band]] music, including two world premieres, and has produced and recorded several CDs. Britt has presented sessions and served on panel discussions at the National Athletic Band Symposium in 2004 and 2005, and he is the recording secretary of the [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] Band Directors Association. His professional associations include the College Band Directors National Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, [[Pi Kappa Lambda]], [[Kappa Kappa Psi]], [[Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia]], [[Tau Beta Sigma]] (honorary), and [[Kiwanis International]].

Britt lives in [[Norman, Oklahoma]] with his wife, Alicia, and their daughter Avery.

It was announced on October 4, 2012, that Britt will be stepping down from his position at OU to accept a position as the director of fine arts for the Richardson (TX) Independent School District.  This change was effective February 1, 2013. He was replaced by Dr. Justin Stolarik. On October 23, 2014 Justin Stolarik resigned, upon his resignation OU president David Boren invited Britt to return to the university. Britt will also be the associate dean of the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts. Britt will begin immediately to resume the prides preparations for its upcoming performances.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.koco.com/news/director-of-the-pride-of-oklahoma-has-stepped-down/29298836 | title=Director of the Pride of Oklahoma has stepped down | publisher=koco.com | date=October 23, 2014 | accessdate=October 23, 2014 | author=Hendrix, Laura}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Front ensemble]]
* [[John Philip Sousa Foundation#The Sudler Trophy|The Sudler Trophy]]
* [[Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts]] - The University of Oklahoma

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://bands.ou.edu/staff/britt/index.html University Bands -  biography of Brian Britt]
* [http://music.ou.edu/bio_britt.htm University of Oklahoma School of Music - biography of Brian Britt]

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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Durant, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:American male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:American percussionists]]
[[Category:University of Oklahoma faculty]]
[[Category:Musicians from Norman, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:University of Oklahoma alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:Norman Public Schools teachers]]