Episode 55 - Emily Threinen

The director of bands at the University of Minnesota, Emily Threinen joins me to discuss her career and share her thoughts about music and teaching. Topics: Emily’s background and the teacher, Tim Smith, who she credits with inspiring her career. Leading students to success without fear or intimidation. A discussion about gender in the band world including the importance of diversity in leadership positions. A discussion about concert programming and finding a balance between new music while performing standard repertoire and transcriptions. Links: Emily Threinen at the University of Minnesota Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestra Drive by Daniel H. Pink The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh Copland: Appalachian Spring Biography: Emily Threinen currently serves as Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota School of Music in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. In this position, she conducts the acclaimed Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind band conducting program, instructs undergraduate advanced conducting, and provides administrative leadership for all aspects of the University of Minnesota Bands. Prior to her appointment at Minnesota, Threinen served as Director of Bands and Artistic Director of Winds and Brass at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before her work in Philadelphia, Threinen served as Director of Bands at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia; Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony in Durham, North Carolina; Director of the Concordia University Wind Ensemble in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Conductor of the Dodworth Saxhorn Band in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Harding High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, receiving the Outstanding Teacher Award. Threinen consistently works with composers, arrangers, and performing artists of varied disciplines. Residencies and projects with composers and new compositions are integral to her creative work. Threinen is published in multiple volumes of the GIA Teaching Music Through Performance in Band book series where she has been recognized as a strong scholarly contributor. She is an active guest conductor, clinician, conference presenter, and performer. Threinen currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild and was elected to the American Bandmasters Association in March, 2016. She is an active member of these organizations: World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles (WASBE), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Pi Kappa Lambda, and Kappa Kappa Psi as an honorary member. Threinen is a Yamaha Master Educator.