Bethany Amundson
Director of Bands | Director of Instrumental Studies
Year Started: 2015
Strengths: Achiever | Maximizer | Strategic | Learner | Intellection
Education History: Augustana University (BA degree in music education), University of South Dakota (Master of Music degree in trumpet performance and a Master of Music degree in Conducting), University of Kansas (Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting)
Professional History: Dr. Amundson conducts the Wesleyan Band and the Tiger Pep Band, both of which were begun by Amundson in 2015 when she joined the faculty at DWU. She also conducts DWU's LyricWood Orchestra. Before coming to DWU, Dr. Amundson taught band in Wessington Springs, S.D., and at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, S.D. She currently serves as President of the South Dakota Music Education Association and is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, College Orchestra Directors Association, South Dakota Bandmasters, and Phi Beta Mu. Her research on small college band repertoire, along with her research on the influence of pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance music on the wind band repertoire, has been presented at national and international conferences. She is also published in the 2021 edition of "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, vol. 12."
Areas of Expertise: Instrumental conducting, brass (specifically trumpet) performance, music education, and music history
Hobbies: Hiking, canoeing, reading, traveling
Family: Parents Loren and Ann Amundson, brother Michael Amundson
What do you love most about DWU?: I love the wonderful staff, faculty, and students I get to work with each day!