ARRANGERS
MARCHING365 DOES NOT FAVOR OR ENDORSE ONE DESIGNER OVER ANOTHER. THESE ARE MUSIC ARRANGERS AND COMPOSERS THAT WE WORK WITH ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
Luke McMillan is a composer, arranger, and designer for the marching arts. Luke has been writing music professionally since 2005 and has composed and arranged full-time since 2015. Luke’s music is regularly heard at numerous competitive circuits, including BOA, USBands, and multiple local and state-sanctioned events across the country. Luke’s music has been played by several state marching band finalists and medalists around the country and has been described as achievable and fun for the performers, and entertaining and engaging for the audience.
Before becoming a full-time composer/arranger, Luke was as a band director for 11 years at Wylie High School in Abilene, TX. During his time at Wylie, Luke designed the shows for and co-taught the Wylie “Pure Gold” Marching Band, which advanced to the state marching contest several times playing his music. Luke also directed the Symphonic Band which earned consistent sweepstakes awards, and the Wylie High School Jazz Band, which earned “Best in Class” awards for most jazz festivals they attended.
Luke is a 2003 graduate of The University of North Texas holding a Bachelor of Music degree. While attending UNT, he played in the marching band, concert band, and nationally recognized jazz lab bands. Luke lives and works in his hometown of Abilene, TX.
John Fannin retired from Murray State University in 2020 where he served as Assistant Director of Bands since 1995. Under Mr. Fannin’s leadership the Racer Marching Band grew from 85 to 300 members. The MSU Racer Marching Band was featured at the 2012 & 2006 Bands of America Grand National Marching Band Championships.
Prior to his appointment at Murray State University, Mr. Fannin was band director at Onate High School (NM), Del Norte High School (NM), White Sand Missile Range Middle School (NM), Thoreau High School (NM), and Ganado High School (AZ).
Mr. Fannin’s awards include the 2017 Max Carman Outstanding Teacher Award, the 2010 Murray State University Distinguished Professor , 2009 KMEA “University Teacher of the Year,” 2006-2007 Outstanding Murray State University Music Teacher of the Year, and the Phi Beta Mu 2007 “Outstanding Contributor to Band in KY.”
John is the owner of Fannin Musical Productions LLC. He serves as a creative resource (music and visual) for many high school and college bands. He has published concert band works with Arrangers Publishing Company, Curnow Music Press, and Alfred Music Company.
Mr. Fannin is an active band clinician and guest conductor. He has been a guest conductor/clinician in Brazil, Dhaka, England, Alabama, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky.
Alex Thode (he/him) would first like you to know that not only is the “e” at the end of his last name not silent, but that he is also a composer and arranger most known for his work in the pageantry arts. He resides in Waukesha, Wisconsin with his cat, Buzz. An alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alex composes and arranges for marching bands across the continental United States.
Alex's clientele have been Bands of America (BOA) Regional Champions and Finalists, UIL State Finalists and Area Champions, and WGI Winds World Champions, with Finalists in every classification. He has also had the privilege of having his arrangements performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Bandfest.
In addition to his compositions and arrangements for the pageantry arts, Alex also composes symphonic band and chamber percussion works.
In his free time, Alex enjoys watching movies and believing he’s a professional film critic, hiking and pretending that he’s athletic, traveling to National Parks — of which he’d eventually like to visit all — and acting like he’s Marco Polo, playing piano, guitar and a variety of kalimbas, and being with good company.
Brandon Smith resides in Southern California, where he works as an arranger and composer for marching programs across the country. Since establishing Brandon Smith Music, LLC, he has designed over 240 shows performed by ensembles at the highest local, regional, and national levels, earning area, state, and world championship titles.
From 2006-2018, Smith taught band in the North Texas metroplex at Prosper High School, Haltom High School, and Southwest High School. Southwest was a Texas UIL 5A State Marching Band Finalist, Bands of America Regional and Super Regional Class Champion, and a featured performing ensemble at the 2015 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
Previously, Brandon taught at Haltom High School, a Texas UIL 6A State Marching Band Participant and Bands of America Super Regional Finalist. Under his direction, the percussion ensemble was selected as a featured performing ensemble at the 2012 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
Smith graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music, where he majored in Film Composition. He maintains an active schedule as a clinician, consultant, adjudicator, performer, and conductor throughout the United States. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).
Scott Ward has been an active teacher, arranger and composer since 1997. Scott earned his B.S. in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2002, and his M.M. in Percussion Performance from Texas Christian University in 2004, where he held the position of graduate assistant.
Mr. Ward was the percussion specialist at Berkner High School in Richardson, TX from 2004-2015, where he helped his students develop a life-long passion for music. Together, they earned the opportunity to perform at the UIL State Marching Contest 6 times, were finalists at numerous BOA Regional and Super-Regional Events, and performed at the Midwest Clinic in 2011. Previously, Scott was an Adjunct Percussion Professor at TCU in 2004-05, where he taught Applied Percussion Lessons, and taught the award-winning TCU Horned Frog Drum Line.
Currently, Mr. Ward is active as a clinician, adjudicator, writer and consultant throughout the United States. He is the owner and operator of The Music Ward, an education-based show design and consultation company that creates wind and percussion arrangements for high school and college marching bands. He arranges for marching bands of all sizes and ability levels, and his shows have consistently been performed at the Texas UIL State Marching Contest at all classification levels from 2A-6A. In addition, his original compositions for winds and percussion are published by C. Alan Publications.
His professional affiliations include: Texas Bandmasters Association, The Texas Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.