F. Mack Wood is in his fourth year the Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Big Red Marching Machine at Illinois State University. Prior to his appointment at ISU, he was a graduate assistant and pursuing at Doctorate of Music and Arts degree in Wind Conducting at The University of Miami, Frost School of Music where he studies primarily with Dr. Robert M. Carnochan. Mack also has the great fortune to learn from Dr. J. Steven Moore, conductor of the Frost Symphonic Winds and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Professor Jay C. Rees, Director of Athletic Bands, and Professor Douglas McCullough, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands. At the Frost School of Music, Mack has the opportunity to assist and guest conduct the Frost Wind Ensemble, Frost Symphonic Winds, and co-conducts the University Band with his fellow graduate colleagues. Mack also has the opportunity to assist with all aspects of the Frost Band of the Hour marching band, including arranging some pep band charts.
Prior to his time at The University of Miami, Mack was a Graduate Assistant pursuing a Masters Degree at Louisiana State University where he studied Wind Conducting with Dr. Damon Talley, Dr. Dennis Llinás, and Dr. Kelvin Jones. He assisted with and guest conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, co-conducted the LSU Chamber Winds, worked with all aspects of The Golden Band from Tigerland marching band, and with the Bengal Brass athletic band. Mack had the great fortune and opportunity to arrange music and design drill for both Tigerband and the Bengal Brass.
Before attending graduate school, Mack was the Director of Bands at North Forney High School just east of Dallas, TX. He opened North Forney High School and created the band program in 2009 where he oversaw all operations of the high school bands and middle school feeder program. Opening a high school was a special opportunity for Mack to learn how to build a band from the ground up. While at North Forney High School, Mack’s ensembles received numerous awards and accolades, but most importantly, many of his students continued on to participate in music beyond high school.
Mack earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin in Music and Human Learning. While at UT, Mack served as the drum major of the Longhorn Band from 2003-2005 and as a trumpet section leader in 2002. Once Mack graduated from UT, he was an assistant director at Irving Nimitz High School in the DFW metroplex and then moved to be an assistant director at Forney High School just east of Dallas, TX. An active adjudicator, clinician, music arranger, and drill designer, Mack truly loves all aspects of the wind band world. In his spare time, Mack enjoys cooking and bar-b-que (they are very different according to him), playing golf, and spending time with his wife Rachel and daughter Imogen.