Michael Tarr Joins The 2018 Visual Team Headed By Leon May And Aaron Bailey
Michael Brady Tarr is originally from Wyandotte, Michigan and is grateful to have enjoyed a successful career in the pageantry and performing arts that spans nearly three decades. Teaching and consulting with many drum corps and high school programs throughout the world, Michael’s extensive and successful career includes previously working with The Cavaliers (1994-1998, 2013-2017), The Santa Clara Vanguard (2007-2009), The Bluecoats (2001-2004), and The Glassmen (2000).
Currently, Michael is an active staff member/consultant for the Avon High School Marching Band (Avon, IN), the Owasso High School Marching Band (Owasso, OK) and the Lake Hamilton High School Marching Band (Pearcy, AR). Previously, Michael was a staff member with the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band (Canton, MI) from 1993-2002. During this time, the program was the Bands of America Grand National Champion (1999) and was twice awarded the Steve Brubaker Outstanding Visual Performance Award (1998 and 2001). In addition, Michael also worked with many outstanding programs including the Kennesaw Mountain High School Marching Band (Kennesaw, GA), the Flower Mound High School Marching Band (Flower Mound, TX), the Carlton J. Kell High School (Marietta, GA), the Milford High School (Milford, MI), The Aimachi Band and Color Guard (Nagoya, Japan), the Horwang High School (Bangkok, Thailand), and St. Joseph School (Bangkok, Thailand), as well as many other national caliber programs.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to join such a great organization and staff that has proven itself as one of the activity’s leaders on and off the field!”
As an adjudicator/clinician, Michael is in high demand judging throughout the world. Michael is an active adjudicator for Bands of America/Music for All, WGI, the Colorado Bandmasters Association, the Indiana State School Music Association, and the Michigan Competing Band Association. Michael also had the honor to adjudicate the All Thailand Marching Championship and the All Japan Marching Championships. Learning from many great teachers and educators, Michael credits Mitch Rogers, Patrick Ruddy, David McGrath, Don Booher, Scott Seal, Gregg Rinehart, Sylvester Sybilski, Chad Jacobs, Steven Estudillo and Tim Barr as influences and mentors on his career where he has been fortunate enough to work with so many talented, artistic, and dedicated individuals.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interpersonal Communication (1997) and a Master of Arts Degree in Communication Arts (1999) from Eastern Michigan University. During his undergraduate studies, Michael’s work on a presentation for the Undergraduate Research Symposium was later expanded and developed into a research article focusing on Adolescent Children and Deception, which was presented at the National Communication Association Convention (1997). In addition, Michael served on the adjunct faculty at Eastern Michigan University and The University of Michigan-Dearborn and most recently served as the Assistant Director of Student Affairs for the Mercer University School of Medicine – Savannah, Georgia Campus. When not teaching, Michael is avid reader who enjoys traveling, staying active, and studying the works of Benjamin Hoff and W. Timothy Gallwey.