Wes King Named Director of Bands

Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay athletic department, alongside the University's visual and performing arts department, is excited to welcome new Director of Bands, Wes King, to Findlay. King joins the Oilers after two years working in the doctorate program at the University of Memphis which followed six years of service as Director of Band at Siena Heights University. King will officially begin his duties at Findlay on July 1.

Currently in his final year of earning his Doctorate of Music in Wind Conducting from the University of Memphis, King has spent the last two years working heavily with the Mighty Sound of the South, Memphis' football band, and the basketball pep band.

In his career, King has experienced multiple major bowl games and high profile events including a pair of Cotton Bowls, most recently with the Memphis Tigers who played Penn State in the Cotton Bowl this past season.

King said, "I'm really excited to take all those experiences I've had…to Findlay and help energize things. I want to bring what makes our environment at Memphis special to basketball games and football games at Findlay."

Asked about what music interests him King stated, "I'm a fan of oldies and standard football and basketball music, but, most of our students are listening to hip hop. What of that can be transferred into marching band or pep band idiom that makes sense for our community so we aren't only playing for our alumni and community, but we're also playing music that reflects our current student body."

About King's hiring, Director of Athletics Brandi Laurita said, "I am very excited that Findlay will be adding Wes King to our Oiler family. The marching and pep bands are critical elements to the game environment at both football and basketball games and Wes possesses not only the knowledge, but the passion and energy needed to grow Oiler bands. Throughout the search for this position, Wes stood out as a man of genuine character who will not only grow the musical talents of participants, but will also help them grow as people. We are excited to see his impact when fans again are allowed to fill the stands during Oilers game days."

"I'm a pretty honest and straight-shooting guy and I care a lot about the students", King continued. "I want the students to know I'm already here for them and I'm already making preparations for us to hit the ground running, no matter what happens next fall."