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 Conductor Donald K. Miller has a wide range of experience in conducting wind bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles. He is adept at working with musicians of all ages - elementary and secondary students, university students, community musicians and professional performers. Since 2007 he has been a member of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) faculty where he conducts the Symphonic Band, Chamber Winds and is coordinator of the Athletic Bands. His teaching experience includes working in public schools of Oklahoma and Kansas, Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas and the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). He was founding conductor of the YMCA Youth Orchestra in Chesterfield, Missouri and was the Music Director for the YMCA summer music program from 2003 to 2007.
In addition to his position at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Miller has recently been appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Starlight Symphony of Wimberley, Texas. He has been conductor of many regional honor bands, UTSA faculty ensembles and currently hosts Wind Visions, a Texas Public Radio broadcast featuring the best music for wind bands and smaller wind ensembles.
During Miller's tenure at the University of Missouri – Rolla (UMR), the number of students participating in instrumental ensembles doubled. To recognize his leadership skills the UMR Student Leadership Conference presented him with the Black and Veatch Leadership Award. As a result, Dr. Miller has been a featured speaker at numerous leadership events. He also received the UMR College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award in each year of his eligibility.
As an advocate of new music, Dr. Miller has been responsible for commissioning over 20 works from composers such as Timothy Mahr, Andrew Boysen, Barry Morse, James Syler and many others. He is also an advocate for music education serving as a clinician for schools and giving presentations at many professional conferences, including two College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conferences and the Missouri Music Educators Association. He is an adjudicator for Director's Choice Music Festivals, Festivals of Music, as well as many other state and national events.
Dr. Miller has studied with notable conducting teachers such as Myron Welch, William LaRue Jones, Henry Charles Smith and Jerry Junkin. He has music degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Wichita State University and received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The University of Iowa. |
