DR. JOHN PASQUALE
Director of the Michigan Marching and Athletic Bands
Donald R. Shepherd Professor of Conducting
Faculty Associate, African Studies Center, LSA International Institute
Chief Marshal to the University
An international conductor, author and lecturer, Dr. John D. Pasquale is the Donald R. Shepherd Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan where he serves as Director of the Michigan Marching and Athletic Bands. In this position, he directs and oversees the athletic band program, is the conductor of the University Band, guest conductor with the Symphony Band and Concert Band, and teaches classes in rehearsal and ensemble pedagogy. In addition, Dr. Pasquale is a faculty associate within the African Studies Center in the International Institute of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and is the Chief Marshal to the university. Outside of the university, he is a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician.
Prof. Pasquale's research interests span the intersection of the conductor as an artistic leader and ensemble pedagogue, the codification of instrument and ensemble pedagogy, and the teaching of aural analysis skills to conductors. His scholarship, culminating in the publication of "Probenmethodik Blasorchester: Geführtes Hören in der Ensemblearbeit," is published by Helbling Verlag in Esslingen, Germany, and has been further disseminated globally through its English edition, "The Directed Listening Model: A Rehearsal Guide for Ensemble Musicianship."
Currently, Prof. Pasquale is a primary lecturer in a multi-year wind band pedagogy residency in Africa in conjunction with the University of Cape Coast in Cape Coast, Ghana. This project involves working with over 700 university, amateur and professional conductors and musicians from universities, national defense ensembles, government ensembles, primary schools, and church and community ensembles in thirteen African, Middle Eastern and European countries.
An ardent advocate for international education, Dr. Pasquale previously held an affiliate lectureship within the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. In this capacity, he taught study abroad classes in Austria titled "Art and Music in Vienna." In 2012, Dr. Pasquale led a cross-cultural performance and pedagogy project in China titled "Instrumental Music Education in China: Cross-Cultural Performance and Pedagogy," leading a team of American conductors and researchers in fostering international musical collaboration and understanding.
Receiving the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Oklahoma in 2008, Dr. Pasquale served as a conducting associate to the Wind Symphony, Opera Orchestra, “The Pride of Oklahoma” Marching Band, New Century Ensemble, Faculty Composer Concert Series, Symphony Band, Concert Band, and the Weitzenhoffer Family Department of Musical Theatre. In addition, he was an adjunct instructor and graduate teaching assistant within the Music Education Department. He holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Christian University.
In the genre of marching and pageantry arts, Dr. Pasquale served as an ensemble music consultant with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps from Boston, Massachusetts, the Associate Brass Caption Manager of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from Santa Clara, California, and taught ensemble music with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois. Through his teaching at the Cavaliers, Pasquale was a contributor to the instructional DVD entitled, The Cavaliers Brass: From the Concert Hall to the Football Field, which has been met with international acclaim. During his tenure from 2002-2009, the Cavaliers were named Drum Corps International World Champions three times and were the recipient of two Jim Ott Awards for “Excellence in Brass Performance.”
Dr. Pasquale is in demand as a conductor, clinician, lecturer, pedagogue, and adjudicator in band and orchestra programs throughout North America, Africa, Europe and Asia.