Biography
Dan McDonald is Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. At NSU, he teaches the “Spirit of Northwestern” Marching Band, the “Purple Haze” Basketball Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Band Techniques and Conducting.
Mr. McDonald is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting at the University of Washington where he served as Graduate Assistant Director for the Husky Marching Band, conductor of Campus Band and was an assistant conductor for the Wind Ensemble. He earned a B.A. in Music (Saxophone) and a M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Mr. McDonald was assistant conductor for the Symphonic Band, Concert Band and assisted with undergraduate conducting. Prior to his graduate work, he taught in Ashford, CT and was Director of Instrumental Music at The Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT.
He has conducted ensembles who performed at Benaroya Hall, Chunghwa Clarion Shanghai Spring International Wind Music Festival, Fight Hunger Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl, NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and on international tour in Beijing, China. Dan is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi, College Music Society and Washington Music Educators Association.