Candidate Erin Bodnar

University of North Florida
Director of Bands

Biographical Information with CBDNA Involvement

My first involvement with CBDNA was at the 2008 Southwestern Division Conference at UMKC. I, along with two other graduate students from UNT, were sent to help the UMKC graduate students. This first experience with CBDNA deepened my passion for my chosen career path and solidified my admiration for the professional organization I would soon become a part of. 

The following year, in 2009, I had the honor of performing with the UNT Wind Symphony at the National Conference held in Austin, TX, further cementing my connection with CBDNA. In 2011, I helped host the National Conference at the University of Washington as a doctoral student. While the majority of the organization was completed by my colleague Vu Nguyen, I was thrilled to once again be immersed in the company of such talented individuals within this esteemed organization.

More recently, I had the opportunity to serve as the Florida Chair from August 2022 to January 2024. In 2022, the UNF NuMIX ensemble, which I co-direct, was honored with an invitation to perform at the Southern Division Conference in Columbia, SC. Additionally, I have been a consistent attendee of national and divisional conferences, and have presented at two divisional conferences. 

In 2016, I had the privilege of co-chairing the Small College Intercollegiate Band for the North Central Division, an experience that underscored my commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talent within the collegiate band community. Furthermore, I contributed to the development of the Guidebook for the Small Collegiate Band Program, demonstrating my ongoing dedication to enhancing the educational landscape for collegiate musicians across the nation.

Vision for the Future of CBDNA

As I have expressed in my biographical statement, I highly respect the organization and the individuals that lead CBDNA and it is a privilege to be part of an active, supportive association. Over the years, I have seen how the leaders in our profession tackle various challenges with grit and hard work, reaching out to include all voices that need to be heard. 

As an organization, CBDNA has consistently served as a steadfast support system for its members. There is a need for more engagement with the wind band world outside of North America, as well as our choral and orchestral conducting colleagues, and collegiate music education programs in general. Connections with the previously mentioned groups already occur on an individual level, with our membership building strong relationships with ensembles and their conductors in other countries and with their choral and orchestral colleagues at their home institutions. However, CBDNA could serve as a connecting point, network, and resource by strengthening ties with associations such as WASBE, CODA and ACDA. 

Though strides have been made in diversifying our membership and programming of repertoire, our profession still faces pressing concerns of sexual harassment and ethical issues. While addressing these challenges may seem daunting, we can harness the collective strength of our membership to provide the collegiate music community strategies to eliminate these ethical concerns. Just as CBDNA has tackled previous challenges through task forces, carefully considered research, and meaningful publications, we can uphold the highest standards of integrity and foster a healthier culture in our profession and in the broader context of music education.