Simon Center, M153F
Education
- D.M., Doctor of Music, Northwestern University, 2006
- M.M., Master of Music, Northwestern University, 1992
- B.M.E., Bachelor of Music Education, Florida State University, 1988
Biography
Rodney Dorsey is professor of music in bands and chair of the Department of Bands at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a position he has held since fall 2018.
He is the conductor of the internationally recognized Indiana Wind Ensemble and guides all aspects of the graduate wind-conducting program.
Dorsey’s positions have included 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. He also taught public school for eight years in Florida and Georgia.
Ensembles under Dorsey’s direction have performed at state and national events including the College Band Directors National Conference North/Northwest Regional Conference and the Music for All National Festival. He is an active guest conductor, having led intercollegiate, all-state, and regional honors bands around the country. International engagements include Hungary, Canada, and Bulgaria.
An active advocate for the composition of new wind repertoire, Dorsey has been involved in a number of commissioning projects, including with composers Andrea Reinkemeyer, Steven Mackey, D. J. Sparr, Anthony Barfield, Stacy Garrop, Andrew Rindfleisch, and John Mackey.
Dorsey has presented clinic sessions at national and state conferences, including the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and the Midwest Clinic. He has also presented at numerous state music conferences around the country.
Dorsey’s professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma (honorary), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
His commitment to the music community has been demonstrated by his participation on boards of directors for the Midwest Clinic and Music for All. He is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. His lifelong commitment to teaching saw him recognized as a Yamaha Master Educator.
A native of Gainesville, Florida, Dorsey is a graduate of Florida State University and Northwestern University in Evanston. He studied conducting with James Croft, John Paynter, and Mallory Thompson, and clarinet with Fred Ormand and Frank Kowalsky.