Episode 105 - Philip Obado

Apr 1, 2019

Philip Obado is the Director of Bands at Allen ISD in Allen, Texas where he oversees a high school and middle school band program with over 1,800 musicians.

Topics:

• The story of how Phil went from dreaming about a career as a concert trombonist to earning a doctorate in conducting and eventually landing as the director of bands for one of the largest high school music programs in the country.
• The decision to leave his position as the Assistant Director of Bands at Baylor University to return to high school teaching.
• The structure of the program at Allen and how Phil and his assistant directors are able to manage what is very likely the largest marching band in the world by developing a culture of leadership.
• A very general conversation about student discipline, having them buy into a program, and teaching by putting the students first.
• The extremely hierarchical band boosters at Allen High School and how they support the program.

Links:

• Allen High School Band Boosters
• Strauss: Four Last Songs

Biography:

Dr. Philip A. Obado is currently the Director of Bands at Allen I.S.D. in Allen, Texas. His responsibilities include serving as director of bands at Allen High School where he oversees the Allen Eagle Escadrille as well as conducts the AHS Wind Ensemble, Concert Band White (Fall), Concert Band II (Spring), and Jazz Band II. In addition to Dr. Obado’s teaching duties, he helps maintain a comprehensive and vertically aligned band curriculum (grades 6-12) with the help of the directors at Allen High School, Lowery Freshman Campus, Curtis Middle School, Ereckson Middle School, and Ford Middle School. Dr. Obado was previously Assistant Director of Bands at the Baylor University School of Music. His responsibilities included serving as Associate Director of the Golden Wave Band, director of the Courtside Players, director of the Concert Band, and teaching courses in conducting. Prior to this appointment at Baylor, Dr. Obado was Associate Director of Bands at Illinois State University where he was the director of the Big Red Marching Machine, conducted the Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band, and taught courses in conducting and marching band techniques. He has also enjoyed twelve years teaching in the Florida public schools most notably as the Director of Bands at East River High School (Orlando), University High School (Orlando), and South Fork High School (Stuart).

Originally from Florida, Dr. Obado received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from Michigan State University, a Master of Music Education degree from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Education and Performance from Ithaca College. His primary conducting teachers include Kevin Sedatole, John T. Madden, Stephen Peterson, and James Croft. Dr. Obado’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Tau Beta Sigma.