Chris Brandenburg, Director Emeritus
Christopher Brandenburg taught instrumental music in the Lakota district for 35 1/2 years prior to retiring. In that time, he was the Lakota High School director of bands, the Hopewell Junior School director of bands, freshman school director of bands, and associate director of the Lakota West HS bands. He also served as the Lakota District Instrumental Music Coordinator for 5 years. The students Mr. Brandenburg taught consistently received superior ratings and other awards at the district and state level in small ensemble, concert band, and marching band competition.
A John Phillip Sousa Award winner and graduate of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Brandenburg attended Ohio University and received a bachelor of fine arts degree with a major in music education. He was awarded a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a performance major in orchestral instruments.
He has been a clinician, guest conductor, student teacher supervisor and chaired several OMEA events. His professional associations include the Ohio Music Association as past OMEA District 13 President, the Music Educators National Conference, the American School Band Directors'
Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and the Central State Judges Association.Mr. Brandenburg has performed as a soloist with the Ohio University Orchestra and Symphonic Band, the Middletown Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, the Hopewell Junior School OMEA Convention Band, the District XIII Honor Jazz Band, and the Lakota West Symphonic Winds at the 54th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.
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Beginning in 1984, Mr. Brandenburg took over directorship of the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band. He led the band for the next 35 years, steadily growing the membership to the 90 or so musicians who now take the stage at every concert. In 2008, the SOSB was a featured community band playing at the Ohio Music Educator's Association's conference in Cincinnati. n April of 2018, the band celebrated another first by joining the Fillmore Community Band and the Lakota East Symphonic Winds for a joint concert at Cincinnati Music Hall. And in May of 2019, the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band celebrated its Golden Anniversary with a concert that included the world premiere of "Between Two Rivers," composed by Paul Stanberry in honor of Chris Brandenburg and the band.
After these many accomplishments, in July of 2019, Mr. Brandenburg decided to step down as Music Director of the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band. He was honored in December 2019 as the second Director Emeritus of the band, joining Bill Steihl, founder of the band, in that distinction.
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Mr. Brandenburg lives in West Chester with his wife, Dawn, the retired senior counselor at Lakota East High School. Their daughter, Erica, is a high school counselor in the Columbus school system. Their son, Matt, is a company representative for Old World Oil Inc.
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