ABOUT

Lee Harrelson is a Distinquished Professor of Music at Missouri Western State University, where he serves as the Director of Instrumental Studies and Bands and conducts the Missouri Western Symphonic Winds. Dr. Harrelson attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied music education and performance, before completing his master’s and doctorate at the UMKC Conservatory.

Dr. Harrelson is the founder of the Fountain City Brass Band and currently serves as its Artistic Director, Executive Director, Resident Conductor, and Principal Euphoniumist. The Fountain City Brass Band (FCBB) is one of America’s premier brass and percussion ensembles and has been featured throughout the United States and Europe in concerts and competitions. The FCBB is currently the top-ranked brass band in the United States. Under Dr. Harrelson’s artistic leadership, the band has won ten North American Brass Band Association Championships, ten U.S. Open Brass Band Championships, and one Scottish Open Brass Band Championship since it began competing in 2004. At the 2011 All England International Brass Band Competition, Dr. Harrelson was named Best Instrumentalist—a first for an American at an English brass band competition. During his tenure, the FCBB has produced four commercial recordings, performed with countless world-class soloists, and developed a thriving youth program, the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy, which serves over 120 students annually.

Under Dr. Harrelson’s leadership, the Fountain City Brass Band has also been featured at prestigious events including the Midwest Clinic, the Missouri Bandmasters Association Conference, the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference (twice), the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference, the Nebraska Bandmasters Association 50th Anniversary Conference, the International Tuba & Euphonium Conference (twice), and the International Trombone Association Conference.

Dedicated to advancing the brass band movement in America, Dr. Harrelson regularly serves on the faculty of the North American Brass Band Summer School and, in 2019, along with his wife Helen, founded the National Youth Brass Band of America. In 2022, he established the U.S. Masters Brass Band Entertainment Championships.

During his sabbatical in 2019, Dr. Harrelson completed post-doctoral study with internationally renowned conductor Professor David King while serving as the first-ever Visiting International Professor with the world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band (England). In this role, he collaborated with and conducted the band and worked closely with Professor King during preparations for the band’s appearances at the British Open Brass Band Championships (Symphony Hall, Birmingham) and the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Royal Albert Hall, London).

Dr. Harrelson can be heard on numerous commercially released recordings and has appeared throughout North America and Europe as a conductor, clinician, soloist, and chamber musician.