Key Poulan - Brass Composer/Arranger

Key Poulan is the brass composer and arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard. Key also serves as an arranger or composer for the Bushwackers, Renegades, Allegiance, Elite and Millennium (Italy) Drum and Bugle Corps. As the owner of Key Poulan Music, he has been recognized as one of the country's top arrangers and composers in the area of contemporary marching band and has several concert band works to his credit. His marching band arrangements have won several national titles at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships. His works have won many state titles throughout the United States, and has been performed in Canada and Japan. His transcription of "The Promise of Living" from Copland's "Tender Land" was extremely well received at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival and his original works "Carnegie Fanfare and Dance" and "A Fortune in Steel" were premiered at New York City's Carnegie Hall.

Formal Education
Key Poulan graduated from Marshall High School in Marshall, Texas in 1980 and received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from East Texas State University (currently Texas A & M - Commerce) in 1985. Key had the opportunity of studying under many fine educators including: Gary Hill, Dave Ward, Dr. Robert Houston, and Dr. Gene Lockhart. Key studied trombone under the late Dr. Neill Humfeld and composition with Dr. Ronald Yates and Dr. Margaret Wheat at ETSU. Key also credits his success to his mentors: Philip Geiger, Bill Watson, Eddie Green, Dr. Lawrence Sutherland, Dr. Gary Gilroy and Dr. Jerry Payne.

Drum Corps Experience
Key was fortunate enough to audition for the Concord Blue Devils and be selected to the baritone line in 1983. As a fan of Wayne Downey's electrifying writing style, Key spent time studying Wayne's work and assisted him in lifting tunes during the 1983 Blue Devils season. Since 1985, Key has become an integral part of the Drum Corps International and Drum Corps Associates community.

  • 2003-2008 Santa Clara Vanguard Brass Composer/Arranger
  • 2004-2007 Spartans Composer/Arranger
  • 2006-2008 Millennium (Italy) Brass Composer
  • 2008 Bushwackers Brass Arranger
  • 2006-2008 Renegades Brass Arranger
  • 2007 Skyliners Composer
  • 2003-2006 Hawthorne Caballeros Composer/Arranger
  • 2005-2006 The Magic Composer
  • 2006 Appalachian Sound Composer
  • 2005 Allegiance Elite Composer
  • 2005 Teal Sound Composer
  • 2005 Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets Composer
  • 2005 Pride of the Lions Composer
  • 2005 US Naval Academy Brass Arranger
  • 2005 Crunchy Frog Arranger
  • 2003 Esperanza Brass Arranger
  • 1993 Spirit of Georgia Brass Arranger
  • 1992 Spirit of Atlanta Brass Arranger
  • 1990-2002 DCI Brass/Music Judge
  • 1986-1989 Cavaliers Brass Staff
  • 1986-1987 Cavaliers Visual Staff
  • 1985 SkyRyders Visual Staff
  • 1983 Blue Devils Member (Baritone #7)

Public School Teaching Experience
Key was the Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chairman at Buchanan High School in Clovis, California from 1991-2003. Key's leadership in a fundamental approach to music at the Buchanan Educational Center has yielded several of the top musical ensembles in the State of California. Key's first teaching experience was from 1985-87 as an assistant director at Westfield High School (Houston, TX). In 1987, Key moved to California to become the assistant director at Merced High School (Merced, CA) from 1987-88. He served as director of bands at Clovis High School (Clovis, CA) from 1988-91 before opening Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA) in 1991. Key left Buchanan High School in 2003 to pursue composing and arranging as a full time occupation only to find himself teaching brass at Clovis West High School (Fresno, CA) in the Fall of 2006. Key has now returned to Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA) as the band's program coordinator for the Fall of 2007. Key has a passion for teaching and works it into his busy schedule whenever possible.

Career Awards and Service
Key has received several awards as an educator such as the Sudler Order of Merit by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, Four-Time Classical Symphonic Band Winner by Down Beat magazine, and several Citations of Excellence by the National Band Association. In 2000, his Buchanan High School Wind Ensemble won the CMEA State Concert Band Championships. Key's marching band at Buchanan High School has won its division 5 of the past 7 years at the WBA Marching Band Championships (1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002). In 1998 and 2002, the Buchanan High School Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California Band Director's Association State conference. For the 2001 concert season, his wind ensemble "A" and "B" were both selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps and the Hawthorne Caballeros All Age Corps won simultaneous World Championships in 2003 using Key Poulan's arrangements and compositions. Key's music also lead the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps to a gold medal at the 2004 World Championships and another World Championsip Title in 2007.

Music Associations and Service Groups
Key is known for his service and philosophy of diligent work to improve the quality and functionality of the groups he is involved with. During his 18 year span as a highly involved high school band director, Key was the presiding administrator of the San Joaquin Valley Color Guard and Percussion Review (SJVCGPR), San Joaquin Valley Jazz Festival (SJVJF), Fresno Color Guard Camp (FCCG), and the Golden State Tournament of Bands (GSTOB). Key was an active member of Fresno-Madera Counties Music Educators Association (FMCMEA) and was the secretary of the Western Band Association (WBA), formerly the Western Scholastic Marching Band Conference (WSMBC). He is also an active member of the California Band Directors Association (CBDA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), American Schools Band Directors Association (ASBDA) Winter Guard International (WGI), International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and is a current member of the American Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Publishers (ASCAP).

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