Josh Brown - The Appalachian

Tobias is Appalachian’s newly appointed assistant director of Bands.

“Scott Tobias is very smart with a high level of savvy,” said Satterwhite. “He understands the great importance of tradition.”
While in Seattle, Satterwhite recalled watching the reaction of prominent critics of marching bands from around the country with father-like pride at the annual invitation.

“He is the bench mark of how we measure our graduate program,” he said. “Scott was and is the best graduate assistant we ever had.” Tobias is not only a well-respected educator, but he is still a student of music. Completing his dissertation in music conducting, Tobias is still learning his craft.

“[Learning] is an essential way of life,” said Tobias. “Constantly strive to get better and continue to work at [goals].”

As director of North Carolina’s Band of Distinction, Tobias and the 230 members of Appalachian’s marching band provide pre-game, halftime and post-game entertainment.

“We are a public relations tool,” he said. “The marching band is the most visible music program [on campus]. It represents the school of music and serves an education purpose.”

Moreover, the marching band educates the audience by performing different styles of music for each halftime show.

“We use different genres of music,” said Kiley Gold, a second-year Marching Mountaineer. “We try to play what the crowd would like.”

Committed to a high level of excellence, Tobias believes in doing the job well and maintaining the heritage attributed to the Marching Mountaineers.

“Marching band is an art form,” said Tobias. “We are committed to doing the job well, proficient and as classy as possible.”

Josh Brown - The Appalachian

As director of North Carolina’s Band of Distinction, Scott Tobias and the 230 members of Appalachian’s marching band provide pre-game, halftime and post-game entertainment.

Assitant Director of Bands
continues tradition of excellence

Newly appointed director Scott Tobias believes in maintaining the heritage attributed to Marching Mountaineers

Malcolm Smith - Features Beat

When Appalachian State University’s new Assistant Director of Bands Scott Tobias talks about music, it quickly evolves into its own entity.

Music becomes human-like, ingrained with its own history, philosophy and culture.

“Music is a reflection of society,” said Tobias. “[Music and society] affect each other. Life events affect [people] and music affects [people], and it becomes reciprocal.”

Tobias’ love of music began at the age of six when he was trained as a classical pianist.

As a member of the prestigious Sumter (S.C.) High School Marching Band, Tobias studied the clarinet and later attended Furman University and the University of Georgia (UGA), earning a bachelor of arts degree and then a master’s degree in music education.

Tobias’ career came full circle when he earned the director of bands position at his alma mater Sumter High in 1996.

During his four years at Sumter, Tobias received outstanding performances by the South Carolina Band Directors Association for three consecutive years.

Ben Thomas, a former student of Tobias’ at Sumter and a current student at Appalachian, remembers fond memories of his days as a pupil of Tobias’.

“He’s a heck of a nice guy,” said the sophomore. “He’s one of the most professional teachers I ever met.”

Thomas recounts the tradition and task belonging to Tobias at Sumter.

“In middle school, everyone was eager to go to join Sumter High’s marching band,” said Thomas. “There’s a lot of tradition in the band. Even the band room is a prestigious place to be. But Mr. Tobias knew what he wanted to get done and it [was accomplished].”

Dr. Dwight Satterwhite, director of bands at UGA, has known and taught Tobias.

Satterwhite was given the unique honor as guest conductor of Tobias’ band in 1999 at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Wash.