 Joel Mason conducting a rehearsal
Joel Mason, a native of Huntsville, attended both Mountain Gap Middle School and Grissom High School where he played tuba and bass trombone. Following graduation, he attended the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree with honors. At CCM he played in all of the major ensembles, including the prestigious Brass Choir, Wind Symphony and Philharmonia Orchestra. While at CCM, Joel won the Brevard Music Center Concerto Marathon and the MENC/Marine Corps Young Artist Competition. After commencement, Joel took a position with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Wilmington, Delaware, as a Contrabass Bugle Technician. He has completed a Master of Music Degree with honors in Wind Conducting from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.
Joel is Director of Bands at Mountain Gap Middle School where he teaches more than 220 students in both concert and jazz settings. Prior to his appointment at Mountain Gap Middle School, Joel was a co-director at Dupont-Tyler Middle School and assistant director at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally, Joel has served on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University, University of North Alabama, Austin Peay State University, and University of Alabama in Huntsville as adjunct instructor of tuba & euphonium. He currently serves as the conductor of The Brass Band of Huntsville and is the Vice-chairman for the Alabama Bandmasters Association -District One.
Joel is very active as a chamber musician, clinician, conductor and private teacher. He also plays tuba, euphonium or bass trombone in the Brass Band of Huntsville, Twickenham Winds, Bavarian Sauerkrauts, and the Flint River Brass Quintet. In addition to music activities, Joel is an avid boater and motorcyclist.
David SpencerDavid Spencer, director of bands at Huntsville High School since 1980, is the seventh band director in a program that was begun in 1929. He received the B.S. degree from Auburn University, the M.M. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of North Texas. Spencer was a conducting student of Joe Barry Mullins, Sergei Zenacher and Roger Winslow. He has taught brass and jazz at William Carey College and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and has performed with the Huntsville Symphony for 20years, 10 of those as principal trumpet. Spencer is an inductee of Phi Beta Mu and Pi Kappa Lambda music honoraries, and holds membership in MENC, ABA, NEA, AEA, IAJE, and NBA. He has twice served as chairman of ABA District 1.
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About the Directors 
