Music Directors & Conductors

Dr. Bruce V. Ayers, Jr., is a native of Dover, Delaware. He serves as a Professor of Music and an Instructor of Applied Euphonium at Tennessee State University, and Is the Founder/CEO, and Musical Director of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc (NAAWS).  Dr. Ayers has made many appearances as a guest euphonium soloist, pianist, wind band conductor, adjudicator, and music composer in Alabama, the Bahamas, Canada, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Dr. Ayers obtained his bachelor's degree in music education from Virginia State University, where he served as Head Drum Major for the University Marching Band; his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Music at Tennessee State University, where he also served as a graduate assistant for the Music Department and world-renown Aristocrat of Bands; doctoral from Trevecca Nazarene University. Prior to his role at Tennessee State, and NAAWS, Dr. Ayers served as the Director of Bands at the Grammy award-winning Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School in Nashville, Tennessee. During his tenure at Pearl-Cohn, the band made many appearances on national stages. Most notably, under Dr. Ayers’ direction, the band was nominated for an Emmy for their performance with African American artist Nick Cave for his exhibition: Nick Cave: Feat. Nashville, which debuted at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony. Dr. Ayers is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Phi Mu Alpha, Sinfonia. Dr. Ayers has served in various leadership positions in these organizations, which received three National Top Chapter Awards under his tenure. As a recent 2024 graduate of the Nashville Emerging Leaders (NEL) Cohort 2024, and a 2024 recipient of the NashvilleBusiness Journal 40 Under 40 Award, Dr. Ayers is an ambassador for the Honda Battle of the Bands and is a member of the Tennessee Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Educators, the Conn-Selmer Institute, the National HBCU Band Director’s Consortium, the National Band Association, the Intercollegiate Music Association, Who’s Who in America, the NASPAAM, and the Tri-M Honor Society.

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Alexandro Nichols currently serves as the Director of Bands at East Nashville Magnet High School. Nichols began his musical journey in 1999 at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois. In 2000, he transferred to Thornridge High School (Dolton, IL), where he studied percussion intensely under Golden Apple Award recipient and Grammy-nominated educator David Eanes. Under Eanes’ direction, Nichols made first chair in the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Honors Orchestra during his senior year, becoming the top high school percussionist in the state. In 2003, he earned a music scholarship to attend Tennessee State University (TSU). At TSU, Nichols studied percussion under well-established instructors Dr. Tony Artimisi, Johnny Lee Lane, Teddy Hall Jr., and Dr. Sean Daniels. During his time at TSU, Nichols became a member of the nationally acclaimed Aristocrat of Bands, serving as percussion section leader from 2005 to 2008. He also served as principal chair percussionist in the Wind Ensemble. In addition to percussion, Nichols played baritone saxophone, performing with the internationally renowned TSU Jazz Collegians. While a member of the Collegians, he earned awards such as “Best Style,” the “Woody Herman Jazz Award,” and “Outstanding Musician.” Throughout his studies, he performed with well-known artists including Maynard Ferguson (trumpet), Pharez Whitted (trumpet), Rod Magaha (trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), and others. Nichols is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education at Trevecca Nazarene University. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Tennessee State University, where he published work on muscle memory. He is a member of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (where he serves as a judge for Mid-State percussion auditions), the Tennessee Music Educators Association, the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and the National Association for Music Education. His wind ensemble at Thurgood Marshall Middle School has consistently received Superior Ratings at music festivals and concert performance assessments and continues to uphold that standard of excellence.

Rontrell Callahan is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Callahan served as the Band Director at Harris Middle School in Shelbyville, TN, at LaVergne High School in LaVergne, TN and James Lawson High School in Nashville, TN. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Tennessee State University, where he also served as a graduate assistant for the Music Department and the world-renowned Aristocrat of Bands. Mr. Callahan began his teaching career at Harris Middle School. During his tenure there, he increased the retention rate of the band program, started a middle school jazz band, and earned numerous superior ratings at concert festivals. Following Harris Middle School, he served as the Band Director at LaVergne High School. His responsibilities included directing the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. In addition, he taught Basic Music Theory, Dual Enrollment General Music, Digital Music, and oversaw extra-curricular band activities such as the pep band, marching band, and battle band. Mr. Callahan has earned numerous awards with LaVergne High School band program and received consecutive superior ratings at concert festivals. He has written marching band drill designs for high schools marching band in Georgia and Tennessee. He has also written marching band show drills for Mississippi Valley State University Mean Green Marching Machine from 2018 to 2021. Mr.Callahan is the current band director at James Lawson High School. Mr.Callahan professional affiliations include the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), and the Tennessee Bandmasters Association (TBA). He is also an alumni member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and serves as a Board Member and Conductor of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony (NAAWS). Mr. Callahan has made many appearances as a wind band conductor and adjudicator in Georgia and Tennessee. Mr. Callahan is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and currently resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife, Kanetha Callahan, daughter, Kiznie Callahan, their cockerpoo, Onyx and Cavapoo Chai. ​