Music Initiative
THE VISION
Music is a primary pillar of Mayor Tommy Battle’s workforce development strategy, commitment to quality of life, and his desire to provide more inclusive cultural and creative offerings for current and future residents of Huntsville.
Huntsville is the first city in America to embark on a comprehensive, data-driven journey to strategically amplify its music economy. This visionary understanding of music’s role in placemaking led Mayor Battle to direct his administrative team to assess how the music industry could further enhance the Rocket City’s economy and quality of life.
Huntsville’s music scene, uniquely and equally inspired by its Southern surroundings and high-tech innovation, plays a leading role in the City’s long-term strategy for smart growth.
With this in mind, Huntsville set out to answer this central question: how could the City known for its stellar rocket propulsion propel itself to the forefront of the music universe? The goal – to create a more dynamic music environment, from education to creation, production and performance, in a way that strengthened Huntsville’s growing economy.
The City partnered with international consulting group Sound Diplomacy in late spring 2018 to find the answers and to create the road map to achieve this goal.
THE PROCESS
Sound Diplomacy completed its directive, conducting an extensive Music Audit that assessed the strengths and opportunities of Huntsville’s music offerings. Concluded in August 2019, the plan has been called “the most innovative music strategy in the United States.” The Rocket City’s bold commitment to music affirms the role of the arts in supporting a vibrant economy, sustaining a healthy community and building a well-rounded City.
The audit paved the way for the creation of the Huntsville Music Board, a governing body tasked with implementing and prioritizing the road map provided by the audit to nurture the City’s growing music industry.
THE TIMELINE
The implementation of the multi-year music plan is still in its infancy, but work is already under way.
One of the first steps in the plan was for Mayor Battle to appoint the Music Board, a first-of-its-kind in Huntsville and the State of Alabama. To ensure the board represented the varied interests and needs of the music community, the Mayor asked for candidate recommendations from music industry leaders and Council Members, and he opened up nomination process to allow interested candidates to self-submit applications.
The inaugural nine-member Music Board was officially appointed by Mayor Battle at the January 23, 2020 City Council meeting. One of the Board’s first priorities is to create the position of Music Officer to serve as a resource for the local music scene and to assist in the marketing and recruitment of music-related jobs.
MUSIC OFFICER
The City hired its first Music Officer, Matt Mandrella, in January 2022. Click below to learn more:
As Huntsville’s Music Officer, Matt Mandrella will advocate for the City’s growing music sector and help oversee music-related strategic planning initiatives and economic opportunities.
Coming to Huntsville by way of Memphis, Tennessee, Mandrella last worked as marketing and projects manager for Elvis Presley’s Graceland. There, he was involved with all aspects of marketing for the iconic Graceland campus and served as the primary marketing contact for Graceland Live, a new music venture with Live Nation focused on bringing renowned touring acts to venues at the property.
Though new to the Huntsville area, Mandrella hails from Mobile and earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Alabama. He applied for the Music Officer position after learning more about the role and City of Huntsville.
Before working at Graceland, Mandrella spent more than a decade in one of the nation’s foremost music cities – Austin, Texas. In Austin, he worked for several venues and companies involved in booking, marketing and promoting live music.
Some of his biggest accomplishments there were as Marketing Director of Fun Fun Fun Fest, followed by a role as Director of Business Development at Do512, Austin’s largest and leading source of live event information and a subsidiary of DoStuff Media, an online media group with entertainment websites in more than 20 cities.
THE BOARD
The Music Board held its first meeting in March of 2020 and looks forward to collaborating with the community as it builds the processes and structures to grow the City’s music industry over the coming years.
Erin Huelskamp Bohn is a flutist, stage and music director, and composer. She also serves as artistic director of Opera Huntsville and orchestra director for Asbury Church in Madison. Erin performs frequently in the greater Huntsville area, though she’s also performed in such venues as L’Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris,, Studzinski Recital Hall at Bowdoin College in Maine, the Interlochen Academy of the Arts in Michigan, Bard University in New York, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Harvard University, and many more. Shortly after the completion of her first opera “The Year of the Serpent,” Erin delved into directing theatrical works. Her production of “Light and Power” with the Juventas New Music Ensemble won the American Prize in opera as well as second place in the Professional Division of the National Opera Association’s video competition. Trained as a classical dancer for 16 years, Erin began composing at the age of 10 with no musical training. She holds a bachelor’s degree in both music composition and flute performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s in composition from the Boston Conservatory. A Madison resident, she also maintains a private teaching studio.
Dr. Calame Sammons is a lifelong resident of Huntsville and graduate of Huntsville High School. He developed an early interest in music and played in several bands from junior high school through college at Vanderbilt University. In Nashville, he was immersed in a vibrant musical atmosphere at famous venues like the Grand Ole Opry and The Exit Inn, which featured both country and rock performers. Dr. Sammons’ own musical pursuits took a 40-year hiatus while he attended medical school, completed his residency and started an orthopedic practice in Huntsville. Five years ago, he joined the Unorthodocs – a band comprised of his orthopedic partners and their physician assistants. His love of music was passed down to his two sons, who moved to California in pursuit of their own musical dreams. Dr. Sammons enjoys all genres of music and looks forward to seeing Huntsville become a regional center for diverse music enjoyed by all.






