Brian Rhodes was born September 28, 1967 and is a native of Rison, Arkansas. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR and a Masters of Music in Saxophone Performance from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. He also spent some time at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN studying recording technology. During his undergraduate studies, he studied saxophone with Dr. Jackie Lamar. For his master’s degree, he studied saxophone with Mr. Richard Condit and composition with Mr. Keith Gates.

As of this writing (2023), Rhodes just finished his 29th year of band directing. He spent 9 years at the Smackover School District in Smackover, AR, 9 years at the Paris Independent School District in Paris, TX and just finished his 11th year (and current job) as Director of Bands at Booneville Public Schools in Booneville, AR. As an educator, his bands have won numerous awards over the years including 4 straight top 5 finishes at the Arkansas State Marching Assessment and several Arkansas State Sweepstakes Awards.

During his early years as an educator, Rhodes began writing compositions for young bands and this led him (and his business partner Mr. Lester Pack) to form Twin Towers Music Publications in 1998. TT Music’s mission is to provide music for young bands without any loss of integrity. Currently, TT Music has over 150 concert band titles, the majority of which were written for the young band in mind. In addition, Rhodes has been commissioned by several bands across the south to write concert band works.

In the early 2000’s, Rhodes began an interest in writing music for the big band jazz ensemble. Currently, he has over 80 original big band compositions available and several arrangements of other songs. Rhodes’ big band music has been performed all across the United States.

Rhodes has been active in the marching band arena as well. He has completed several halftime shows which are written with limited instrumentation in mind. Through the ArrangeMe platform, Rhodes has over 60 pep band arrangements, any of which could be combined to make halftime shows.

As a composer of saxophone music, saxophone quartets “Petite Quatour” and “Sailor’s Story” along with his composition for alto saxophone and piano “Icefire” have been included in the Jean Marie Londiex book of significant saxophone literature. Rhodes has had two commissions for the International Navy Symposium at George Mason University (“Thermosphere” for alto saxophone/piano, and “Swirling Vortex” for solo soprano saxophone). Two of his compositions (Transformations I for alto saxophone/piano and “Nas-T” for solo alto saxophone) are on Todd Oxford’s CD release “Synaesthesia”
Rhodes currently resides in Booneville, Arkansas with his wife Angela and two boys Trenton and Aaron.