The Fred Fox School of Music welcomes Chad Shoopman as the newly appointed Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands. His duties include conducting the Wind Symphony, directing The Pride of Arizona Marching Band and PeBand, as well as teaching leadershiand marching band techniques courses. A proud alumnus, Professor Shoopman earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education 1996) and Master of Music degree in conducting performance 1999) at the University of Arizona. While at UA, he studied conducting with Gregg Hanson. He continued studying choral and orchestral conducting with Dr. John Sinclair at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Prior to his appointment at the University of Arizona, Shoopman was a distinguished adjunct faculty member at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where he taught Film Music History, trumpet and conducting. He worked for the Walt Disney World Company conducting and performing on countless multi-million dollar studio projects for Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Lines. He also worked as a conductor, performer, arranger, and choreographer for live shows seen by millions of guests throughout Walt Disney World including FutureCorps, the Tomorrowland Countdown, the Main Street Philharmonic and Disney’s Candlelight Processional. As the most requested clinician for Disney Performing Arts formerly Magic Music Days) he was honored to lead thousands of educational workshops for middle school, high school and college bands and orchestras from all over the world. In 2010, Professor Shoopman was appointed music director and conductor of the Brass Band of Central Florida. Under his baton, the BBCF won a national championship, recorded three albums, and earned the ranking of 13th best brass band in the world; the highest placement any band outside of Great Britain has ever achieved. He was known for innovative show designs and arrangements that appealed to a wide range of audiences while still maintaining artistic integrity in the ever growing American brass band movement.