The Missouri State University department of music added to its bands program with the hires of Dr. Bradley Snow and Dr. John Zastoupil as directors of the athletic and concert bands, respectively.
Athletic bands uphold tradition with Snow
Snow comes to Missouri State after a six-year stint as the director of bands at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he directed the “Marching Mizzou” 360-member marching band.
He also administered all aspects of the Missouri band program, co-conducted the university wind ensemble, taught classes as an associate teaching professor and oversaw the graduate wind band conducting program.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Brad Snow’s caliber direct our athletic bands and extend the strong marching band tradition developed by retiring director Jerry Hoover,” said Dr. Gloria Galanes, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “With Brad’s experience and knowledge of Missouri, we know he will be able to hit the ground running this summer.”
Prior to taking the director position at Missouri, Snow served as associate director of bands at Oklahoma State and assistant director of bands at Southern Mississippi. He received a bachelor’s in music education from Missouri in 1992, a master’s of music in conducting from Southern Mississippi in 2002 and a doctorate of musical arts from Southern Mississippi in 2006.
“The Missouri State Pride Band has long been one of the great college marching bands in the country,” Snow said. “It is my pledge to every member of the Missouri State community that I will honor, uphold and build upon the traditions of this outstanding organization.”
Snow will start his duties July 1.
Zastoupil set to lead concert bands
Zastoupil comes to Missouri State from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was associate director of bands and an assistant professor in music education.
He conducted concert ensembles, taught courses in a variety of music-related areas, and mentored conducting and music education students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
During his time at UTA, Zastoupil’s passion for recruitment and outreach initiatives corresponded with a 35 percent enrollment increase in the school’s band program.
“John’s experience with the university’s symphonic and wind bands and his work with the Arlington Youth Symphony will enhance our concert bands program at Missouri State,” Galanes said.
Before joining the ranks at UTA, Zastoupil was a doctoral conducting assistant at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music and an associate director of bands at Eastern Michigan University. He received a bachelor’s of music education from Baylor in 2005, a master’s of music in conducting from Michigan in 2007 and a doctorate of musical arts from Northwestern in 2012.
“Leading a nationally recognized concert band program at MSU is an honor,” Zastoupil said. “I’m humbled to work with the excellent students, faculty and staff. My family and I are looking forward to this new chapter of our lives in Missouri.”
Zastoupil will start his duties Aug. 1.