Dr. Albert Nguyen, a 1999 Arkansas Tech graduate from Van Buren, used his bachelor’s degree in music as a launching pad to obtain two advanced degrees and land a position as Director of Bands at the University of Memphis.
Nguyen’s career began just miles away as director of bands at Morrilton High School. He served there for three years.
In 2004, he returned to the role of student as he obtained his master of music and doctorate of musical arts in wind conducting degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. When not studying and practicing, he worked as a graduate assistant directing the concert band and taught as part of the Longhorn Band teaching staff.
Additionally, Ngyuen was an assistant conductor of the wind ensemble and appeared as a guest conductor of the Longhorn Band wind symphony, symphony band and chamber winds.
In Nguyen’s current capacity as Director of Bands at the University of Memphis, he conducts the wind ensemble, directs the graduate instrumental conducting program and oversees the athletic, symphonic and university bands.
Before obtaining this position, he served as Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands for three years, also at the University of Memphis.
Nguyen has not cut ties with public school connections, as he often appears as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor.
He is active in Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, College Band Directors National Association and was a contributing author in the GIA publication “Teaching Music through Performance in Band,” volume seven.
During his time at Arkansas Tech, Nguyen was a member of the Arkansas Tech Band of Distinction under the direction of Hal Cooper and performed with the Arkansas Intercollegiate Band under the direction of Eugene Corporon.
]]>
