The Band Director's Lounge

#34: Scott Guidry, Bemidji State University & USAF Band Director (Ret.)

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“You can’t teach excellence without having achieved excellence.”
– Scott Guidry, USAF Director (ret.) and Associate Prof. at Bemidji State University

Hello and welcome back to The Band Director’s Lounge! 

This week I am chatting with Scott Guidry, Associate Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of Bands at Bemidji State University. Scott also served and directed ensembles for 20 years in the U. S. Air Force. Today Scott and I talk about his long-time career in the USAF, the need to be genuine and authentic when in front of a large ensemble, and the importance of seeing yourself as a leader in addition to music educator.

His full biography can be found below:

Scott Guidry is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of High Brass at Bemidji State University. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Master of Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. His primary conducting teachers include Dr. Joseph Hebert and Professor Anthony Maiello.

Professor Guidry conducts the BSU Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Symphonic Band. He teaches Trumpet and Horn, Instrumental Conducting and Arranging, and supervises instrumental student teachers. He hosts an annual high school honor band, jazz festival, and conducts the BSU spring opera. He teaches trumpet yearly at the International Music Camp, where he is a member of the artists-in-residence International Brass Quintet.

A native of Carencro, Louisiana, Professor Guidry joined the U. S. Air Force in 1993. During his 20-year tenure in the Air Force, he performed with a broad range of talented guest artists, to include Kim Nazarian of New York Voices, Canadian Brass alumni Ronald Romm and Fred Mills, Keiko Matsui, Helen Reddy, Crystal Gayle, Wilford Brimley and The Platters. Professor Guidry has presented master classes, clinics and performances with high school ensembles throughout the United States.

His military career highlights include performances throughout the United States and over 30 nations in Europe and Western Asia. In 2010, he deployed to South West Asia and was Officer in Charge of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band, enhancing morale of U. S. and Allied Forces and supporting embassies throughout the theater. As leader of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band, Professor Guidry led a jazz band tour of Western Siberia, celebrating 10 years of the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg (Ya-ket-tear-in-burg), and led a ceremonial band in Sofia, Bulgaria commemorating 100 years of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Bulgaria.

Professor Guidry and his wife, BSU Oboe Instructor Heather Guidry, live in Bemidji. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. 

Episode Overview

  • Background (02:50)
  • Teaching at former high school (08:01)
  • Going Into The Blue with the USAF (11:17)
  • Other career highlights with USAF (26:24)
  • Advice for would-be military ensemble auditioners (32:31)
  • Bemidji State University (38:11)
  • Big picture messages for music education students (42:35)
  • Some thoughts on conducting and score study (49:01)
  • Pride of BSU (62:33)
  • Leadership as a music educator (69:21)
  • Books that have impacted teaching and musicianship (76:40)
  • Advice for young directors (78:30)
  • What makes a great band program? (80:30)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

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