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Bird

Bird new THS choral director

Contributed

After an extensive search, Tallassee High School has selected veteran music educator Michael Bird to serve as its new choral director. 

Tallassee’s choral program was led for over two decades by Jerry Cunningham. Cunningham is the Fine Arts department chairman for Tallassee City Schools and will continue as the THS golf coach, director of the fall musical production and co-director of the Divas girls’ show choir.

Anderson

Amanda Anderson is coming to Tallassee High School as the assistant choral director. She is a recent graduate of Auburn University.

Bird is excited about this transition, switching to choral music after 20 years as a band director.

“I was always involved in band and choir,” he said. “Throughout college, I enjoyed participating in both. My first couple of years of teaching, I was a choir director. Through the years, I have served as a church choir director, as well.

“And of course, I’ve been organizing the show choir band here for a long time, so I know the territory. Mr. Cunningham is one of the most respected choral teachers in the state for what has been accomplished here over the years, and I am looking forward to becoming a part of that tradition.”

Bird is going to continue in his role as the system’s assistant band director.

(Left to right); Bird, Cunningham, 2016 THS drum major Arlundo Heard, Glasscock

“Mr. Glasscock is a phenomenal music educator and friend,” Bird added. “I have always enjoyed working with and for him. I am so glad that will continue.”

Bird said he was a little sad to leave the middle school, and band directing, behind.

“After being at Southside longer than this generation of students has even been alive, I guess it starts to grow on you.  “Coach Mac,” Mr. Ron McDaniel, hired me many years ago and I’ve never left. I ended up moving my whole family to Tallassee. Along the way, we had a lot of fun at Southside, especially starting up things like the JazzFest. But I’ll really treasure the memories of having Mr. Linwood Erb coming in to work the band. He was great, and such a wonderful role model. And of course, the times we had amazing band conductors like Mr. Ed Watkins and Mr. Lavone DuBose come back to help. But I doubt I would have had as much success without Mrs. Sena Thibodeaux Bird teaching lessons to so many of my students, and Mr. Mike Hammonds coming back to town to help the band. They motivated the kids, but they also motivated me to do better.”

Bird and Anderson will begin working at THS in mid-July. Band Camp at THS begins July 24.

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