R. Alan Sullivan
Interim Director of Bands
Director of the Panther Marching & Basketball Bands
email: rasullivan@eiu.edu
From 1993 until 2011, Interim Director of Bands, Mr. R. Alan Sullivan served as Director of Athletic Bands/Associate Director of Bands at the University of Nevada, Reno. His responsibilities included directing the Wolf Pack Marching Band, three basketball pep bands, the symphonic band, teaching marching band methods, percussion methods, applied percussion, supervising student teachers, and assisting the Director of Bands with administrative responsibilities.
During his tenure at the University of Nevada, his bands made appearances in the Sports Humanitarian Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, the first, second and sweet 16 rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament, and at the Western/Northwestern College Band Directors National Association divisional conference.
A graduate of Chaparral High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mr. Sullivan received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State University and the Master of Music Education degree from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Prior to his appointment at the University of Nevada, Reno, Mr. Sullivan served as Director of Bands at Western High School in Las Vegas, and has held similar posts at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona, and St. Frederick High School in Monroe, Louisiana.
Mr. Sullivan is an alumnus of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and has been actively involved with drum corps and bands throughout the United States. He currently serves as an adjudicator for Drum Corps International adjudicating both music and percussion, and the American Drum-Line Association. In addition, he has served as an adjudicator in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and in Canada, and is active as a guest conductor and clinician. Mr. Sullivan recently had the honor of conducting the Nevada Small School All-State Band. He has also designed drill for numerous bands in New York, Nevada, and Texas.
As a performer, he has performed with the Reno Wind Symphony, Reno Municipal Band, Reno Philharmonic and the Nevada Festival Ballet orchestras along with the Moody Blues, Flash Cadillac, Neil Sedaka, The Smothers Brothers, Don Rickles, Charo, and Al Martino. He holds membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the College Band Directors National Association.
Lisa Dallas
Pink Panthers Coach
Lisa Dallas is in her fourth year as the head coach and advisor of the EIU Pink Panther Dance Team. She is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a BS in Computer Management and Marketing, and a MS in Physical Education with an emphasis in adult fitness. A native of Indianapolis, IN, Ms. Dallas began dancing at a very young age and continued her studio dance in jazz, ballet, and tap during high school. She attended Carmel High School in Mundelein where she was a member of the show choir and a cheerleader.
As a former Pink Panther during the 1983-1984 season, Ms. Dallas performed under the direction of Dr. Phoebe Church. Since then, Ms. Dallas continues to train at Jacqueline Bennett Dance Studio, Charleston, IL. where she has also taught adult tap. Since 1980, Ms. Dallas has taught fitness classes involving Step, Kickboxing, Pilates, low-impact aerobics, and yoga.
In addition to coaching and dancing, Ms. Dallas works full time at EIU as an Assistant to the Dean for Academic Computing for the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences. She has worked at EIU since 1988. In her spare time, she also works with the youth at St. Charles Catholic Church.
Ms. Dallas is married to John and has three children, Nicole, Jacob, and Isaac.
Kayne O'Brien
Panther Marching Band Color Guard Instructor
Kayne O'Brien is currently finishing his Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education-Social Science with a Middle School Endorsement. He is from Columbia, Illinois where he graduated from Columbia High School. This will be Kayne's 4th year with the Panther Marching Band and he is very excited to be returning in his 2nd year as Color Guard Instructor. He has marched 3 years with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps in the years 2008, 2009 and aging out in 2010 as the Flag Line Section Leader. He is very excited to see where the Panther Marching Band Color Guard is headed for this upcoming season. In his free time he loves to watch movies, read and design flags.
Matt Black
Panther Marching Band DrumLine Instructor
mablack@eiu.edu
Matt Black is currently finishing his bachelors degree at EIU studying music education with an emphasis in percussion. He performs with the Marimba quartet, the Afro-Cuban Ensemble, the Percussion Ensemble, and with Eastern's Wind Symphony. Matt is taking on a new role as the percussion instructor after spending 4 years in the Panther Marching Band and 3 years as section leader. Matt has extensive experience in both the DCI and WGI circuits recently aging out of both the Colts (as battery section-leader) and Rhythm-X (two-time world champions). He appreciates where the line is going and is honored to have the opportunity to further his leadership role with the Panther Marching Band.
Don Fisher
Senior Assistant
Don Fisher is currently finishing up his bachelor's degree at Eastern Illinois University in the field of Music Education. He has studied under the direction of Jeffrey Steiner, Barry L. Houser, currently the director of the Marching Illini, Dr. Milton Allen, and currently R. Alan Sullivan. He has served the Panther Marching Band for 5 years, 2 of which being Drum Major. During his tenure as Drum Major, the band has performed at Soldier Field for a Chicago Bears' home game, and many high schools in the Central Illinois/Suburban Chicago area. This is his first year in an assistantship role and hopes to gain knowledge to be able to teach collegiate marching band. He will student teach next fall.
