Emily Threinen

Dr. Emily Threinen is a Professor of Music and serves as Director of Bands at the School of Music of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; she began this position in 2016. In this role, Threinen conducts and directs the acclaimed University Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind band conducting program, and provides administrative leadership for the comprehensive University Band Program. In 2026, Threinen received the Paul W. Frenzel Chair appointment in the University College of Liberal Arts, a position she will hold from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2029. 

Prior to her appointment at Minnesota, Threinen served as Associate Professor, Director of Bands, and Artistic Director of Winds and Brass at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Assistant Professor, 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, where she received the Outstanding Teacher Award. 

Threinen consistently works with composers, arrangers, and performing artists of varied disciplines. Composer residencies, recordings, and performances of new compositions are integral to her creative work. The most recent premiere performance that Threinen oversaw is of Jocelyn Hagen’s large-scale work, Creation for Treble Voices, Wind Symphony, and Mixed Media at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis (2026). Threinen is active across the nation and abroad (including work in South Korea, Singapore, Costa Rica, Australia, Spain, Brazil, and Canada), as a conductor, pedagogue, clinician, and conference session presenter. 

Threinen’s scholarly contributions include articles, interviews, and book chapters; recent publications include contributions in Frank Battisti’s book “Beyond the Baton” and Daniel Harbaugh’s book “Rehearsing the Band, Volume 4.” Threinen has authored articles 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 has also been featured on podcasts and radio broadcasts, including YourClassical MPR.

Threinen is a strong advocate for music education and is proud to serve as a Yamaha Master Educator. She is an active member of these organizations: American Bandmasters Association (ABA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Big Ten Band Directors Association, National Band Association (NBA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles (WASBE), and Pi Kappa Lambda and Kappa Kappa Psi as an honorary member. 

Threinen is a native of Minnesota and is a proud alumna of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; Class of 1999: Bachelor of Music Degrees in Clarinet Performance and K-12 Music Education. She lives with her family on the outskirts of Minneapolis.

Headshot: Darrell Owens Photography 2026