Ryan Yahl, D.M.

Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Director of “The Pride” Marching Band

Dr. Ryan M. Yahl is the Assistant Director of Bands at A&M-Commerce.  He serves as the Assistant Director of The Pride Marching Band and conductor of the Concert Band.  In addition, Dr. Yahl teaches undergraduate conducting, an orientation course for freshman music majors, and music technology. He recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting, at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Bands. He also concurrently served as part-time Assistant Professor of Music at DePauw University. 

From 2009-2015, Dr. Yahl served as the Director of Bands for the New Bremen Local School District, where he oversaw the instrumental music program in grades 5-12.  Under his direction, the New Bremen Bands performed at both the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Marching Band Finals and the State Large Group Adjudicated Event.  Prior to New Bremen, Dr. Yahl taught for one year in the Anthony Wayne Local School District, and two years at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Catholic School, in Toledo, Ohio.

Dr. Yahl attended Bowling Green State University where he earned his bachelors (2006) and masters (2009) degrees in music education. While at BGSU, Mr. Yahl was a member of the Falcon Marching Band, Wind Symphony, the University Percussion Ensemble, and was principal timpanist in the Philharmonia. Dr. Yahl studied percussion with Michael Sander and Roger Schupp, and conducting with Emily Freeman Brown, Carol Hayward, Kenneth Thompson, and Bruce Moss. As an undergraduate student, Mr. Yahl was awarded the Dr. Richard and Annette Ecker Award in Music Education, and the Mark and Helen Kelly University Band Award.

Dr. Yahl currently holds memberships in the National Band Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Pi Kappa Lambda, the American School Band Directors Association, and life membership in Kappa Kappa Psi.  Dr. Yahl is a past president of the BGSU Band Alumni Society, a past president of OMEA District III, and has served as the Region 3 Representative for ASBDA.  Dr. Yahl has also served as a staff member with the Ohio Ambassadors of Music, participating in their 2011, 2013, and 2015 summer tours of seven European countries.

Educational Background

• D.M., Wind Conducting, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, 2018
• M.M., Music Education, Bowling Green State University, 2009
• B.M., Music Education, Bowling Green State University, 2006

Honors and Awards

• The American Prize: Conducting, Band/Wind Ensemble, Collegiate Division, 2017
• The American Prize: Conducting, Band/Wind Ensemble, High School Division, 2015
• Mark & Hellen Kelley University Band Award, Bowling Green State University, 2005
• Dr. Richard & Anette Ecker Award in Music Education, Bowling Green State University, 2005

Research Interests

• Wind Conducting
• Percussion
• Musical Education
• Music History & Literature

Featured Courses

• MUS 310 – Musical Technology
• MUS 313 – Fundamental of Instrumental Conducting
• MUS 419 – Instrumental Org I

International Conducting

• Repertoire: Kentucky 1800 by Claire Grundman, Ohio Ambassadors of Music All-Ohio Honor Band, London, England; Paris, France; Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; Rothenberg, Germany; 2015
• Repertoire: Percussion Espagnole by Robert Prince, Ohio Ambassadors of Music All-Ohio Honor Band, London, England; Paris, France; Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; Rothenberg, Germany, 2013
• Repertoire: Funiculi, Funicula by Luigi Denza, Ohio Ambassadors of Music All-Ohio Honor Band, London, England; Paris, France; Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; Rothenberg, Germany, 2011

Arrangements

• You Can’t Stop the Beat, 2016
• Stage to Screen Opener, 2016
• Stage to Screen Closer, 2016
• Morning Mood/Here Comes the Sun, 2011
• Nine to Five, 2011
• Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, 2011
• Rhythm of the Night, 2011

Professional Organizations

• National Band Association
• World Association of Symphonic Bands & Ensembles
• Pi Kappa Lambda
• American School Band Directors
• Kappa Kappa Psi