Chris Brandenburg, Director of the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band
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.
Since 1984, Mr. Brandenburg¹s has directed the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, a community band comprised of amateur, professional and semi-professional musicians, college music students, and advanced high school players that want to perform advanced band literature. The band is a true "community band" with members from the Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, and Dayton areas. The band¹s mission since its inception has been to give these adult players a musical outlet and to perform concert band literature of a high level.
Mr. Brandenburg is in demand as an adjudicator for concert band, marching band, solo and ensemble, and scholarship competitions. 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 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.
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 KostUSA.
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.
Since 1984, Mr. Brandenburg¹s has directed the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band, a community band comprised of amateur, professional and semi-professional musicians, college music students, and advanced high school players that want to perform advanced band literature. The band is a true "community band" with members from the Cincinnati, Hamilton, Middletown, and Dayton areas. The band¹s mission since its inception has been to give these adult players a musical outlet and to perform concert band literature of a high level.
Mr. Brandenburg is in demand as an adjudicator for concert band, marching band, solo and ensemble, and scholarship competitions. 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 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.
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 KostUSA.
Dan Nichols, Associate Conductor of the Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band
Danny Maddox Nichols is a graduate of Miami University, cum laude, where he earned degrees in Music Education and Educational Leadership. While studying music at Miami, Mr. Nichols served as principal clarinetist of the university orchestra, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra, appearing as a soloist with each organization. He also performed with the New Music Ensemble in the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City. Mr. Nichols graduated with several honors including the A.D. Lekvold Award, the Pask Heisey Service Award, Orchestral Player Awards, and was named a University Presser Scholar by President Phillip Shriver.
Mr. Nichols attended Aiken High School in Cincinnati. During that time, he studied clarinet with Daniel Rumer, Michael Sutyak, and Carmine Campione, and was a member of the Cincinnati Youth Symphony. At the end of his senior year, Mr. Nichols was the first recipient of the “Louis E. Aiken Fine Arts Scholarship” to attend Miami University, and also received a summer scholarship to the Cincinnati Conservatory Summer Music Institute to study piano, theory, and to play clarinet in the Festival Orchestra under Rubin Sher. Mr. Nichols then attended Miami University on a music scholarship and studied clarinet with John Hardy.
Upon graduation, Mr. Nichols taught Instrumental Music, grades 5-8, and was department chair of the Fairfield Middle School. Continuing to play clarinet, he has performed with the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony, the Hamilton Municipal Band, the SOSB, and was invited to return to Miami as a guest alumni conductor with the University Wind Ensemble. Mr. Nichols also returned to campus to attend conducting workshops led by Carmen DeLeone
Mr. Nichols took a short break from musical activities to become a school administrator, serving as an Assistant Principal in the Princeton City Schools, an elementary Principal in Deer Park, and then returning to Fairfield as an Assistant Principal in the building he had taught.
Upon retirement, Mr. Nichols has directed Fairfield’s Summer Community Theatre orchestra in productions of “Brigadoon” and “Seussical the Musical.” He was also director of the Post 530 American Legion Concert Band for five years. Mr. Nichols has played clarinet with the SOSB for many years and has also appeared as soloist. In 2014, he was named Associate Conductor of the band. “It’s a pleasure to conduct the SOSB and work with such dedicated people. Enjoy the concert!"
Danny Maddox Nichols is a graduate of Miami University, cum laude, where he earned degrees in Music Education and Educational Leadership. While studying music at Miami, Mr. Nichols served as principal clarinetist of the university orchestra, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra, appearing as a soloist with each organization. He also performed with the New Music Ensemble in the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City. Mr. Nichols graduated with several honors including the A.D. Lekvold Award, the Pask Heisey Service Award, Orchestral Player Awards, and was named a University Presser Scholar by President Phillip Shriver.
Mr. Nichols attended Aiken High School in Cincinnati. During that time, he studied clarinet with Daniel Rumer, Michael Sutyak, and Carmine Campione, and was a member of the Cincinnati Youth Symphony. At the end of his senior year, Mr. Nichols was the first recipient of the “Louis E. Aiken Fine Arts Scholarship” to attend Miami University, and also received a summer scholarship to the Cincinnati Conservatory Summer Music Institute to study piano, theory, and to play clarinet in the Festival Orchestra under Rubin Sher. Mr. Nichols then attended Miami University on a music scholarship and studied clarinet with John Hardy.
Upon graduation, Mr. Nichols taught Instrumental Music, grades 5-8, and was department chair of the Fairfield Middle School. Continuing to play clarinet, he has performed with the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony, the Hamilton Municipal Band, the SOSB, and was invited to return to Miami as a guest alumni conductor with the University Wind Ensemble. Mr. Nichols also returned to campus to attend conducting workshops led by Carmen DeLeone
Mr. Nichols took a short break from musical activities to become a school administrator, serving as an Assistant Principal in the Princeton City Schools, an elementary Principal in Deer Park, and then returning to Fairfield as an Assistant Principal in the building he had taught.
Upon retirement, Mr. Nichols has directed Fairfield’s Summer Community Theatre orchestra in productions of “Brigadoon” and “Seussical the Musical.” He was also director of the Post 530 American Legion Concert Band for five years. Mr. Nichols has played clarinet with the SOSB for many years and has also appeared as soloist. In 2014, he was named Associate Conductor of the band. “It’s a pleasure to conduct the SOSB and work with such dedicated people. Enjoy the concert!"