Benjamin James Druffel is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at ...

Benjamin James Druffel is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Minnesota State University Moorhead. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble and teaching courses in Instrumental Music Education. Prior to his appointment at MSUM, Dr. Druffel held teaching positions at McMurry University, Abilene TX and Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL. Dr. Druffel earned a DMA in Wind Band Conducting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. As a Wind Conducting Associate, he studied conducting with Dr. Kraig Alan Williams and regularly guest conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band and Concert Band. His duties also included serving as an instrumental instructor with the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights and leading performances of the Pep Band. In January of 2014, he was part of the instructional staff that prepared the marching band for a pre-game performance at Superbowl XLVIII. Dr. Druffel began his career abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates teaching music at an American/International school. Over his six-year tenure, his duties were varied from elementary general music to high school band to the International Baccalaureate Diploma music curriculum. A special benefit of this experience was the opportunity to work with a truly international student body including a high school concert band with representatives from six continents. He has also conducted and performed with ensembles in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Dr. Druffel is a member of the College Band Directors National Conference (CBDNA), The Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the music educators associations of Minnesota (MMEA), Texas (TMEA), and New Jersey (NJMEA). He is also an honorary member of the national band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi.

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education a...

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He directs the University & Concert Choirs, teaches a range of choral and music education courses, while also supervising student teachers in the field. Previously, Dr. Johnson conducted choirs and taught conducting classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a Composition minor. While at the University of Wisconsin, his doctoral research centered on the modern choral music of social justice. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Luther College. Dr. Johnson has taught K-12 music and choir in Minnesota and within an array of community, collegiate, and church choirs around the country. Dr. Johnson was the recipient of the 2020 Mullen Prize for composition and took first place in the 2018 ACDA conducting competition in Oklahoma City. He studied with Stefan Parkman as a 2019 Conducting Fellow for the International Choral Conducting Masterclass at Baylor University and was named a 2019 University of Wisconsin-Madison Honored Instructor by his students. He spends his free time biking, composing, and enjoying life with his wife Kelsey, son Shea, daughter Summer, and French bulldog Dot.