Mike Hammonds

Mike Hammonds has been a member the of the band staff at Tallassee (Alabama) High School for the past decade, where he serves as director of the jazz bands at both the middle and high schools, and arranges and composes music for the marching and jazz bands.

Hammonds studied Music Education at Troy University in the early 1990’s under famed band director Dr. John M. Long. During his time at Troy, he studied music theory and trumpet with composer and arranger Ralph Ford. After college, he enlisted in the United States Army. After a brief time in short range air defense, he transferred into the Army bands as a trumpet player, which allowed him the opportunity to perform in five different countries in Western Europe while stationed with the 76th Army band in Germany. His stations at Ft. Jackson, SC and Ft. Rucker, AL allowed him to perform for former First Lady Laura Bush, General Tommy Franks, former commander for Central Command, and the Secretary of the Army. While stationed at Ft. Rucker, his duties expanded into leading the 98th Army Silver Wings Jazz Band, and serving as rehearsal conductor for the concert band and arranger for the ceremonial, concert and jazz bands. He was also selected to compose part of the soundtrack for the US Army Warrant Officer School’s recruiting video. Post-Army, he performed as a trumpeter before accepting his current position with the Tallassee City School’s band program.