He also served as the second president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe (1944-1950, then called Ouachita Parish Community College).
The director spent his entire time making plans for performances, conducting rehearsals and supervising presentations.
As a lifelong educator spending much of the 1950’s and 60’s in the Deep South, he held a firm belief in the work of the civil rights movement, often taking stands that put him at odds with the political and social climate of the times.
Dr. Daniel Pittman, now professor emerit at Georgia Southern University, served that institution in several capacities: For 16 years he was the director of bands after leaving Louisiana Tech, and most recently he served as interim director of the University’s Center for International Studies; Pittman led the GSU Studies Abroad Program in Music, combining European concert tours by the performing ensembles with academic music classes offered in overseas locations in its European Academic Residency.
His drill designs were intricately unique to Tech Band and fans came from all over, especially from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas to enjoy good music and great teamwork.
Mr. Robken was also formerly a student of Louisiana Tech, and was a member of Phi Mu Alpha[1] Dr. Christopher Heidenreich was appointed Associate Professor and Director of Bands in Fall 2021 after serving at the University of Michigan-Flint since 2009.
Prior work includes three years at Youngstown State University and 14 teaching public school in Ohio.
From 2011-2021 he served as Conductor and Music Director of the Washtenaw Community Concert Band of Ann Arbor, Mich.
Heidenreich has long been in demand as an adjudicator for concert and marching bands throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Heidenreich studied under the mentorship of Ray E. Cramer and Stephen W. Pratt while at IU and assisted there with the Marching Hundred.
He held various guest conducting responsibilities with each of the wind bands and continued trumpet study with Professor Joey Tartell.
His doctoral project, completed in partial fulfillment of the degree, included creating a new edition of Gordon Jacob’s An Original Suite, composed in 1924.
In the 2005 post-season, the Hoop Troop was featured in a Sports Illustrated's College Edition article, "65 Things We Want to See During March Madness" in which states, "30) The Louisiana Tech pep band, a.k.a.