The FSU College of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Rodney Dorsey as Director of the FSU Wind Orchestra and Graduate Wind Conducting. Dorsey graduated from Florida State in 1988 and went on to earn Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees from Northwestern University.
Dorsey comes to the College of Music from Indiana University, where he has served as a full, tenured Professor of Bands and Chair of the Department of Bands since 2018. Prior to his time at Indiana, he served as Director of Bands at the University of Oregon, Associate Director of Bands at the University of Michigan, Associate Professor of Music at DePaul University, and Director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. Prior to his higher education appointments, Dorsey taught in public school for eight years. He is currently a board member of the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.
“We are bringing to campus one of the best in the business, and we are excited about the positive impact that he will have on our program and our college,” observed College of Music dean Todd Queen in a recent email to faculty and staff announcing the hire.
When asked about his hopes for the FSU Wind Orchestra, Dorsey replied, “One of the things I hope we can achieve is a type of music-making that is collaborative. I want the music to come from inside the group out, not with me imposing my musical ideas.”
During his time as a student at Florida State, Dorsey was a proud member of the Marching Chiefs as an assistant drum major for one year and the head drum major for three years. Dorsey is looking forward to connecting with the band faculty, especially Dr. David Plack, who was in Marching Chiefs with him at the same time. As a student at FSU Dorsey also became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity of America; FSU Professor of Trumpet Chris Moore is Dorsey’s PMA Big Brother.
Dorsey is thrilled to return to Florida and “coming home” to FSU. He is excited about the direction the College of Music is heading under the leadership of dean Todd Queen, who, he believes, is “actively moving [the College] in a direction that is good for the future of music in general.”
