Taylor L. Whitehead
Dr. Taylor L. Whitehead, a native of Meherrin, Virginia, is the Director of Marching and Pep Bands at Virginia State University. Dr. Whitehead received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Virginia State University, a Master of Music Education from Norfolk State University, and a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University. From 1997 to 2018, he served as the band director at Warren County High School in Warrenton, North Carolina.
In 2013, Dr. Whitehead returned to VSU to serve part-time as the Assistant Band Director at Virginia State University. In 2018, he became the full-time Assistant Band Director at VSU. He was named Interim Director of Bands in 2022. Dr. Whitehead is very active in several collegiate organizations, including the HBCU Band Directors’ Consortium, where he is an Executive Board Member, and the Intercollegiate Music Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He has served as President of the North Carolina Show-style Band Director’s Association and advisor to the National Board for High Stepping. He was named the 2011 Warren County High School Teacher of the Year and the Spectacular Magazine “Man of the Year” in Education for 2013. In 2023, the Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated selected Dr. Whitehead as their Trailblazer of the Year for Educational Development. Dr. Whitehead is also an Amazon best-selling author and one of the co-authors of The HBCU Experience and The HBCU Band Alumni Edition.
Dr. Whitehead is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Service Sorority, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tuba Phi Tuba Brass Fellowship, Mu Phi Sigma National Percussion Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa International Association, and Omega Nu Lambda.