Dr. Andrew Trachsel serves as Director of Bands at Ohio University. He is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble, University Concert Band, and the “Under the Elms” Summer Concert Series, and teaches courses in wind literature in addition to graduate and undergraduate conducting. A native of Carroll, Iowa, Dr. Trachsel received a bachelor of music education degree from Drake University and a master of music and doctor of musical arts, both in wind conducting, from the University of North Texas.

Prior to his appointment at Ohio University, Dr. Trachsel taught in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia as an assistant director of bands, and for four years served as a public high school director of bands in central Iowa. He was appointed Assistant Conductor for the inaugural season of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, a professional wind band based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Dr. Trachsel was recently named editor of the GIA music education outreach website teachingmusic.org, and he is published in four volumes of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band as the author of nine teacher’s resource guides. His critical edition of Gordon Jacob’s William Byrd Suite was recorded by the North Texas Wind Symphony and released on the album Altered States in 2007. Trachsel holds professional or honorary memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority.

Dr. Trachsel is active throughout North America as a guest conductor, clinician, and recording producer. Recent engagements have included moderating a public roundtable discussion with composers prior to the North Texas Wind Symphony’s performance at the 2009 International Conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Cincinnati, a clinic entitled “The Servant Conductor” for the 2009 Annual Conference of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, and the 2008 Drake University Honors Concert Band. Upcoming engagements include a performance of the Ohio University Wind Ensemble at the Ohio Music Education Association Annual State Conference in Cincinnati in January 2010, as well as guest conducting appearances in Ohio and Pennsylvania.