Dustin Barr

Dustin Barr is Director of Wind Studies and Associate Professor of Music at California State University, Fullerton where he actively manages all aspects of the university's comprehensive band program, conducts the Wind Symphony and University Band, oversees the graduate wind conducting program, and teaches courses in conducting and music education. Prior experiences include appointments as Assistant Director of Bands at Michigan State University, Director of Bands at Mt. San Antonio College and Assistant Director of Bands at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, California.

Barr’s research includes working extensively with theatre director Jerald Schwiebert on the melding of performance theory with a variety of movement theories and disciplines to establish innovative pedagogical approaches to teaching conducting. Their co-authored text, Expressive Conducting: Movement and Performance Theory for Conductors, was published by Routledge in 2018. This work has made Barr a highly regarded pedagogue in the field conducting. He has given numerous masterclasses throughout the USA and for Academia Diesis in Spain. Furthermore, his research on Scandinavian music for chamber wind ensembles has produced published performance editions of Asger Lund Christiansen's Octet, op. 43 and Svend Schultz's Divertimento for Wind Octet. Barr is a recipient of numerous accolades for his conducting and scholarly work. Most recently, the CSUF Wind Symphony received a prestigious invitation to perform at the 2019 National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association. Barr has been a guest conductor of prominent ensembles like the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own," he was a Rackham Merit Fellow at the University of Michigan, and he was recognized as one of the nation’s preeminent young conductors as part of the 2010 National Band Association’s Young Conductor Mentor Project. Barr obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Michigan. He received his Master of Music degree and Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Fullerton. His principal conducting mentors include Michael Haithcock and Mitchell Fennell.