Wind Bands
We strive to promote personal musical growth within a collective environment.
The students share in this commitment, aspiring to the highest possible standards of musical excellence and maximizing their own trajectory by setting personal goals for the productive use of ensemble rehearsal time. Balancing the needs of the community with those of the individual, the ensembles study and perform a range of wind band repertory on campus and throughout the Valley.
The Wind Band program in the Herberger Institute School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University honors its rich history while reflecting the “state of the art” through dynamic and innovative performances. The Wind Bands at ASU have performed multiple times at national conventions of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the American Bandmaster’s Association (ABA), the Music Educators’ National Conference (MENC) and at the Midwest International Clinic.
Community
Ensembles commonly define “community engagement” as giving public concerts from a stage. This phenomenon is a recent one, however. History demonstrates, for the most part, making music has always been an interactive, participatory activity. To that end, the ASU bands in the Herberger Institute School of Music, Dance and Theatre regularly venture beyond the campus and embark on activities that truly embed our music making in the community. We visit schools and teach children through our art. We offer informal concerts for hospitals, shelters and community events. We perform for retirement communities and small arts series throughout the Valley. Not only do we invite patrons to visit us in ASU concert halls, but we also look forward to venturing into the community and coming to you.
History
The current leadership of Jason Caslor, director of bands; Jamal Duncan, associate director of bands; and James G. Hudson, director of athletic bands, continues to build on the superb efforts of those who preceded them.
- Lillian Williams, 1915–1917
- J. Paul Jones, 1929–1931
- Carl G. Hoyer, 1931–1938
- Robert G. Lyon, 1938–1943
- Miles A. Dresskell, 1945–1946
- Felix E. McKernan, 1946–1952
- Charles D. Bowers, 1948–1950 (associate)
- E. Joseph Scrafford, 1950–1956 (associate)
- Harold C. Hines, 1952–1966
- Ronald A. Holloway, 1957–1963 (associate)
- Ronald K. Fuller, 1963–1968 (associate)
- William H. Hill, 1966–1969
- Kenneth O. Snapp, 1970–1974
- Robert W. Miller, 1970–1973 (associate)
- Eugene D. Anderson, 1973–1974 (associate)
- Richard E. “Doc” Strange, 1974–1999 (Director of Bands Emeritus)
- Robert C. “Coach” Fleming, 1974–2002 (Associate Director of Bands Emeritus)
- Martin Province, 2002–2007 (associate)
- Wayne Bailey, 2007–2015 (associate)
- Gary W. Hill, 1999–2019 (Director of Bands Emeritus)
- Jason Caslor, 2015–2019 (Associate Director of Bands and Orchestras)
- Elliott Tackitt, 2019–2020 (Instructor of Wind Band Conducting)
Listen and watch
Scott McAllister: More Cowbell!
John Cage: 4'33"
Cait Nishimura: Chasing Sunlight
Leonard Bernstein: Slava!
Jordan Nobles: Slipstream (excerpt)
John Frantzen: SKRONK
Alumni highlights
Trae Blanco serves as Director of University Bands at Butler University. Previous positions include Director of Bands at Murray State University, the University of Southern Maine, and Las Cruces High School. Dr. Blanco holds degrees from New Mexico State University, Indiana University, and Arizona State University. Dr. Blanco has been a guest conductor with the United States Army’s "Pershing's Own" Concert Band in Washington, D.C. as well as several All State Bands. Additionally, he has been an invited presenter for the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, WASBE, and other state conventions.
Dr. Malcolm Jones has been a Professional Lecturer of Music/Director of Bands at Marist College since the fall of 2022, after two successful years at Dr. Camille Casteel High School post-ASU. At Marist, he oversees the comprehensive band program which includes the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, and a plethora of small ensembles. In two short years, aside from guest conducting obligations and conference presentations; Malcolm has also had two opportunities for abroad travel, including Ireland with the Marist Pep Band to accompany the Women’s Basketball team for the MAAC/ASUN Challenge in Dublin in November of 2022; along with being granted a Fellowship through Marist to research in Italy in June of 2024.
Dr. Dylan Maddix is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. In this role, he conducts the MUN Wind Ensemble and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting.
Outside of his teaching and conducting duties, Maddix serves as chair of the Canadian Band Association and is on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Band Association. He is also the founder and host of “The Band Room Podcast”, alongside composer Cait Nishimura, and hosts the conducting leadership podcast titled "Changing Your Pattern."
He has also provided his expertise as a music consultant for Netflix's "Umbrella Academy" and Global TV's "Private Eyes."
Dr. Bruce Mansfield is associate professor and director of bands at Point Loma Nazarene University. He joined the PLNU faculty in 2022 following a 22-year career as a Navy Musician. In addition to directing jazz and concert bands at PLNU, he also runs the music education program.
Dr. Mansfield holds Bachelor and Master of Music in trombone performance from Duquesne University, a Master of Music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from Arizona State University. In 2015, he was recognized with the Colonel Howard Citation of Musical Excellence from the J.P. Sousa Foundation.
With nearly 20 years of public school teaching experience, Phil Vallejo is a music educator that finds inspiration serving his students, community and music education as a whole.
Phil is proud to serve as the Director of Bands at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Prior to his arrival at Marshall University, he served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at Oklahoma State University. Phil serves as an adjudicator and clinician for wind bands, orchestras, percussion ensembles and marching bands.
Phil enjoys camping with his wife Courtney and their three kids.
Wind Band opportunities
Wind band Degrees
Director of bands
Associate director of bands
Director of athletic bands
2024-2025 teaching assistants
Grant Knox (he/him) is an Arizona-based music educator, conductor, and musicologist. Originally from Lexington, KY, Grant holds degrees in music education and musicology from Murray State University (BM ’18) and the University of Arizona (MM ’20). With over five years of teaching K-12 music in Kentucky and Arizona, Grant most recently served as the Director of Instrumental Music at Cienega High School in Vail, AZ, instructing all aspects of the string orchestra, concert, jazz, and athletic bands. During his post-secondary studies, Grant entertained a diverse array of scholarly topics. Participating in multiple academic conferences and substantial research projects, Grant has presented research on Chicago hip-hop in addition to exploring racial identity in the music of Tucson-native composer, Ulysses Kay. Grant continues to be passionate about amplifying the wind band works of composers from underrepresented backgrounds. As a music educator, Grant is an advocate for healthy practices of inclusion, representation, and diversity in the music classroom/ensemble, and enjoys interdisciplinary studies of musicology, music theory, and popular music in the wind band idiom. Grant is an alumni brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. He also holds active memberships in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Arizona Music Educator’s Association (AzMEA), and the Society for American Music (SAM).
Lieutenant Joel Thiesfeldt has had an extensive and varied career in the U.S. Navy, transitioning from enlisted trumpet player to commissioned officer. He has held various roles across different Navy bands and completed advanced training at the Naval School of Music. Thiesfeldt is currently the director of Navy Band Northwest, where his expertise and leadership in music continue to make an impact as they strive to inspire patriotism and honor the sacrifice of our veterans.