Rick Good, director of bands and associate professor of conducting, was recently elected as vice president of the National Band Association, the largest organization of band directors in the world.
Good was elected by directors from across the United States. Before being elected vice president, Good served in the NBA in a few different capacities.
"I was first their marching band chairman," Good said. "After that, I was the Southern Division Chair. I've done two different stints at that."
The organization encompasses band directors from elementary schools to colleges and universities. Good has been involved with music at every level.
He began his career at the elementary school level before moving on to junior high and high school. He received his Master's degree from Louisiana State University and a doctorate degree from Arizona State University.
Good then made the move to Auburn where he has been ever since.
"I'm starting my 18th year here," Good said. "I think every year it gets better and better. Every year there's been growth, and I think we've been on a steady rise."
Before being promoted to director of bands and associate professor of conducting in 2007, Good served as the marching band director and led the band to great success.
In 2004, the band won the Sudler Trophy, one of the highest awards for collegiate bands. The award was made even more impressive because Auburn's music program is only a department, as opposed to its own separate school as is the case with many other institutions.
"It's like the Heisman Trophy of marching bands," Good said. "We are just a music department. We were the fifth music department, and the first in the SEC to win that award."
The award helped the band gain exposure and was a huge help financially.
"Before 2004, we really didn't have good scholarship money," Good said. "Once we won, the president's office kicked in a nice stipend for scholarships."
Good's work at the University has led to many exciting opportunities. He has directed the Macy's High School All-American Band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the past six years.
"We rehearse for about four days, and then do the parade," Good said. "That's pretty big national exposure. It's great to have 87,000 people in the stadium here (at Auburn), but at the Macy's parade, viewers from that is 50 million."
Though he is no longer the marching band director, current students recognize the impact Good has had.
"(Dr. Good) implemented a lot of things that were rewards based on personal skills," said Roberto Evans, junior in pre-computer science. "His opinion is that you shouldn't have a bureaucracy inside an organization. It should be based on the person, not who the person's friends are."
Despite his personal success, Good credits his time at Auburn with his professional success.
"If I hadn't been at Auburn I don't think (being elected vice-president) would have been possible," Good said. "The reputation of the Auburn band is very well-known throughout the country."
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