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). 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. He 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, and doctoral from Trevecca Nazarene University in Organizational Leadership EdD.

 

During Dr. Ayers’ 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. Mr. 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 Nashville Business 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. 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.