Staff

Dr. Donald McKinney is the Director of Wind Ensembles and Associate Professor at Louisiana State University School of Music. His responsibilities include conducting the LSU Wind Ensemble and teaching graduate wind conducting. Previously he was the Band Conductor for Interlochen Arts Academy and during the summer, he returns as the Band Coordinator for Interlochen Arts Camp.

From 2004 to 2007, he was the Associate Conductor of Ensembles at the Duquesne University Mary Pappert School of Music where he assisted with the wind ensembles, orchestra, and opera workshop. He was also the Assistant Conductor to violinist and conductor Sidney Harth and was responsible for teaching courses in undergraduate conducting. After participating in the Second Frederick Fennell Conducting Masterclass, he was named a finalist for the 2011 Thelma A. Robinson Award by the Conductors Guild.

Dr. McKinney has published articles in three volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Band (GIA Publications). For the same project, he has performed for three recordings with the University of North Texas Wind Symphony. He has also authored a chapter about composer Jennifer Higdon for the book, Women of Influence in Contemporary Music (Scarecrow Press). As part of the 2011 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Conference in Seattle, Washington, he presented a session on the wind music of George Antheil. His recording credits include projects with the Dallas Wind Symphony, University of Michigan Symphony Band, University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Keystone Wind Ensemble, and the Duquesne University Wind Symphony.

Dr. McKinney received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University, a Master of Music in Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Michigan. His primary conducting teachers include Michael Haithcock, Dr. Jack Stamp, Dr. Robert Cameron, and additional study with H. Robert Reynolds and Frank Battisti. He maintains active memberships in College Band Directors National Association and Conductors Guild.