Luckhardt, Jerry
Jerry Luckhardt is associate director of bands at the University of Minnesota School of Music, where he conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches undergraduate conducting. Luckhardt has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician with ensembles throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He has earned acclaim from composers such as Michael Colgrass, Shelley Hanson, Libby Larsen, Alex Shapiro, and Frank Ticheli for performances of their works. Luckhardt is also a strong advocate for music education, with memberships in groups such as the College Band Directors National Association, Minnesota Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Minnesota Band Directors Association.
McCann, Betsy
Betsy McCann is the assistant director of bands and director of athletic bands at the University of Minnesota, where she directs the Marching Band and University Band, teaches conducting, and administers the Athletic Band program. McCann earned degrees from the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University and is an active guest conductor and clinician.
Rodriguez, Emmanuel
Emmanuel Rodriguez is the interim assistant director of marching and athletic bands at the University of Minnesota, where he works primarily with the “Pride of Minnesota” Marching Band, the “Gopher Groove” Pep Band, and University Band. Rodriguez previously served on the music faculties at Indiana State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Rodriguez earned degrees from Louisiana State University, the University of Central Florida, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Threinen, Emily
Emily Threinen is director of bands and associate professor at the University of Minnesota. She conducts the Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind band conducting program, and provides administrative leadership for the bands. Threinen consistently works with composers, arrangers, and performing artists of varied disciplines. She is active across the nation and abroad (recently in Brazil, Spain, Australia, and Canada) as a guest conductor, clinician, and conference presenter. An advocate for music education, Threinen is a Yamaha Master Educator and is active in ABA, WASBE, CBDNA, NBA, and NAfME.
Tyler, Rose Craig
Rose Craig Tyler is a wind band conducting doctoral candidate. Rose holds a masters degree in wind band conducting from the University of Minnesota and dual bachelor degrees from the University of Illinois in Instrumental Music Education and Piano Pedagogy. From 2017-2022, Rose served as band director at Matthews Middle School in Wauconda, Illinois. Rose currently serves as conductor of the UMN Maroon Campus Band. Outside the university, Rose is a professional collaborative pianist, serves as associate conductor of LadyBand Minneapolis, and is the Visiting Director of Symphony Band at Carleton College.
Yusri, Muhamad
Muhamad Yusri Bin Mohamed Ali is a doctoral candidate in Conducting with a wind band emphasis. He serves as a teaching assistant in the School of Music and Band program. Prior to coming to the U.S., Yusri completed his Master of Education (Music) at the Nanyang Technological University and also the Specialist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (Music) from Kingston University and Bandmaster Certificate from the Royal Military School of Music in the United Kingdom. Yusri served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Band for 18 years, rising from a Musician to becoming the Director of Music of the SAF Central Band. He was also conductor of the Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony. Yusri is a Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow for 2025 and recently was appointed as the Principal Conductor of the Twin Cities Gamer Symphony Orchestra.
Burke, Malcolm
Malcolm Burke is a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, pursuing a degree in conducting with a wind band emphasis. In addition to his studies, Burke serves as a teaching assistant for the University's School of Music and Band program. Prior to Minnesota, Burke completed a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting in 2023 at the University of Central Florida. Before his graduate studies, Burke served as Director of High School Orchestras for five years at Mason City High School in Mason City, Iowa. In that position, the orchestra participated in the consortium commission of Shelley Hanson’s The Beauty That Remains and received an invitation in 2019 to the University of Northern Iowa’s Orchestra Invitational. Burke was selected as a 2024 Reynolds Conducting Fellow and has served as the guest conductor for the Neoteric Chamber Winds and the UMBAS Summer Band.
Javan, Nahal
Nahal Javan is a masters candidate at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, pursuing a degree in conducting with a wind band emphasis. Prior to her graduate studies, Javan served as the band director at Northfield High School, in Northfield, Minnesota from 2021-2025, leading their Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the Jazz I ensembles. During her time at Northfield HS, the Concert Band performed at the 2024 Minnesota Music Educator’s Association Mid-Winter Clinic, featuring mostly new works for wind band including the premiere of Eleanor Harpstead’s piece Desperate Measures. Javan received her bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from St. Olaf College in 2020.
