
Dr. Christopher Unger
Director of Instrumental Studies
Conductor of Augustana Band, Brass Choir
605.274.5234
Dr. Christopher Unger was named the 5th conductor of the Augustana Band and began his tenure at the university in September 2015. Previously, Unger was the interim director of bands at the University of British Columbia. Prior to his appointment at U.B.C., Unger served as the assistant conductor of both the Eastman Wind Orchestra and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. At Eastman, Unger was honored with the Frederick Fennell Fellowship for Advanced Conducting Study, the Evan Whallon Conducting Award and the prestigious Walter Hagen Conducting Prize. His role at Eastman provided him with the opportunity to act as a producer on the Eastman Wind Ensemble’s 2013 release on Avie Records titled Stravinsky-Octet/L’Histoire du Soldat. In addition to conducting the wind ensembles, Unger worked with the Brass Guild, the Trumpet Ensemble and the Graduate Chamber Orchestra. He also was chosen to conduct a featured performance of Imis, by Massimo Luaricella, the 2011/2012 OSSIA International Composition Competition winner, with the Ossia New Music Ensemble.
Prior to his graduate studies, Unger was the instrumental music teacher at G.P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay, British Columbia. Under his baton, the instrumental ensembles at Vanier participated in regional and national festivals and received national recognition for their performances at Musicfest Canada. Recently, Unger won the American Prize in Conducting in the Wind Ensemble Division (2013).
Unger’s principal conducting teachers were Dr. Mark Scatterday and Dr. Colleen Richardson. He has attended a number of influential conducting symposiums where he worked with master wind conductors such as Donald Hunsberger, Frank Battisti, Charles Peltz, Michael Haithcock, Allan McMurray, Craig Kirchhoff, Michael Votta, Gary Hill and Rodney Winther. He maintains professional affiliations with the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and the Conductor’s Guild.
Unger received his D.M.A in conducting from the Eastman School of Music in 2013. Additionally, he holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Brian Hanegan
Jazz Studies
Saxophone
605.274.5458
Dr. Brian Hanegan is the Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. He directs the Northlanders Jazz Ensemble, AU Jazz Combo, and AU Rock Combo, teaches studio saxophone, jazz improvisation, saxophone quartet, and the history of jazz, blues, and rock. In addition, he supervises the annual Jazz on the Upper Great Plains Festival.
He began his professional career as the saxophonist in a summer revue show at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Minneapolis, MN (2006-08). From there, Hanegan toured internationally with Carnival Cruise Lines as a multiple-woodwind artist in a seven piece show orchestra. With Carnival, Hanegan performed nightly alongside musicians from all over the world and served as musical director of the Carnival Elation in 2012. Since then, Hanegan has performed with The Temptations, Jeff Coffin, Bob Mintzer, Scotty Barnhart, Byron Stripling, Mike Tomaro, John Raymond, Allen Vizzutti, Mike Tomaro, Adam Meckler, Arthur “LA” Buckner, Frankie Avalon, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has opened for Cheap Trick, Sister Hazel, The Wallflowers, Heart, The Beach Boys, John Pardi, and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Hanegan released his debut album “Constellation” in April of 2021. He is actively performing across the Midwest in a variety of ensembles including the Sioux Falls #1 local best band Goodroad, the Brian Hanegan Quintet, and several other jazz projects. Hanegan is an Aaron Drake Mouthpieces Performing Artist and holds degrees from Northern State University, University of South Dakota, and North Dakota State University.
“I just listened to the single from Constellation and believe “Peace” has a brilliant melody set to an exceptional feel with an interesting form. The ensemble sounds great and your saxophone playing is fantastic. Overall, the song is very professional in sound and the music is cohesive and very enjoyable.”
—Jeff Williams Kari-On Productions LLC.

Dr. Andrew Hayward
Director of Viking Marching Band
Assistant Director of Bands
andrew.hayward@augie.edu
Dr. Andrew Hayward is director of the Viking Marching Band and assistant director of bands at Augustana University. Prior to joining Augustana, Dr. Hayward was Director of Bands in West Palm Beach, Florida where he debuted a marching band, competitive indoor group, and a music curriculum.
Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Hayward received his D.M.A. in clarinet performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the guidance of Jessica Phillips of the Metropolitan Opera and Dr. Maureen Hurd. He keeps an active private studio, teaching students of all ages and abilities. Dr. Hayward’s conducting style was primarily guided by Dr. William Berz and Dr. John Pastin. He also has had the opportunity to attend conducting symposiums and work with a number of tremendous wind conductors including H. Robert Reynolds, Dr. Glenn D Price, Michael Haithcock, and Dr. Travis Cross.
Dr. Hayward has been active in the marching arts as a performer, educator, designer, and adjudicator for over twenty-two years and has won awards at local, state, and regional competitions. He has worked with marching groups in DCI, DCA, WGI, BOA, USBands, and most recently worked with STRYKE World Percussion and the Park Vista Performers. As a visual designer, Dr. Hayward has seventeen years of experience and has written for groups across the United States, Philippines, and China. His passion for design led him to form his own marching arts design company where he serves as C.E.O. and head designer.
Dr. Hayward is a proud member of the College Band Directors National Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and National Association for Music Education. When not running around rehearsal, Dr. Hayward enjoys distance running, going on hikes, and trying new cuisine wherever his adventures take him.

Dan Sailer
Percussion Instructor
Daniel.Sailer@augie.edu
Dan Sailer is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is currently an instructor at Groove Inc. and ensemble director of Groove Pursuit. Sailer is the percussion arranger for Lincoln High School Patriot Marching Band and an adjunct professor of percussion at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, and Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where he also conducts the Women’s Choir and Percussion Ensemble. Sailer is the principal percussionist of the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra and has also played with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
Sailer graduated from Concordia University St. Paul (CSP) in 2014 with a double major in K-12 vocal and instrumental education and a minor in Lutheran confessionalism. At CSP, Sailer was involved in the Christus Chorus directed by Dr. David Mennicke, Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble directed by Aaron Isakson and composition lessons with Abbie Betinis.
Sailer was a snareline member of the world champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2007-2010 in Rockford, Illinois, and the Santa Clara Vanguard from 2011-2012. He has received snare drum accolades at DCI and PAS competitions. Sailer has been a percussion staff member for Irondale High School, River City Rhythm, Minnesota Brass, Boston Crusaders and Phantom Regiment. He is currently the battery coordinator at the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in Casper, Wyoming.
Sailer spent the 2014-2015 academic year teaching in New Amsterdam, Guyana, South America at the Guyana Lutheran Music Academy. He was one of three pioneering teachers who helped start GLMA, a community music program that teaches students of all ages and backgrounds how to create music. The GLMA motto is “enriching lives through music education for all.”
Sailer graduated with his master's in percussion performance from the University of North Texas. His professors included Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, Ed Smith and Eugene Corporon. Performance credits include the 2019 TMEA Showcase Concert with the Canadian Brass, recording with the North Texas Wind Symphony and Ryan Anthony and master classes with Frederic Macarez, Andy Narell and Wei-Chen Lin.

Michael Andersen
Tuba Instructor
605.274.5451
Michael Andersen, a native of Miller, South Dakota, is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Music Education, and a master's in tuba performance from the University of South Dakota. He taught band for nine years in Clark, South Dakota; 5th and 6th grade band, high school jazz band and general music classes for 11 years in Canton, South Dakota; and currently teaches middle school band and jazz bands at Worthington Middle School in Worthington, Minnesota. Anderson has played tuba with the South Dakota Symphony since 1993. He is also principal tuba and bass guitarist with the Sioux City Symphony. He is adjunct instructor of tuba at Augustana and maintains a private tuba and bass guitar studio. As a freelance electric bassist, Anderson has played with many area jazz/rock bands, including the South Dakota Jazz Orchestra and the R&B band Life Before Color. He is a member of International Tuba and Euphonium Conference (ITEC), National Association for Music Education (MAfME), Minnesota Educators Association (MEA), Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) and Phi Beta Mu.

Andrea Carlson
Horn Instructor
605.274.5451
Andrea Carlson graduated from Augustana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing and works part-time as a registered nurse with Sanford Acute Care. Carlson is Augustana's horn instructor. She plays fourth horn with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra as well as being principal horn with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. She is also the coach of the Augustana Brass Quintet. Carlson enjoys teaching private horn lessons to middle school through college-age horn students at her home studio. She has studied horn with Herb Winslow of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Michael Thompson of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Sarah Cyrus and Nathan Pawelek. Outside of her dedication to music and nursing, she is a licensed Kindermusik instructor as well as the mellophone technician for the Lincoln High School marching band. Carlson and her husband, Kevin, have three young children: Mikayla, Zac and Kyan.

Christopher Hill
Clarinet Instructor
605.274.5418
themouthpieceguy@msn.com
Christopher Hill teaches applied clarinet and is the principal clarinetist of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO). He has performed throughout the United States and Europe with ensembles such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony, New Sousa Band, Carousel National Tour, Evita World Tour, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Binghamton Symphony and the Rome Festival Orchestra. He performed the world premiere of Nathan Pawelek’s Concertino in 2001. He and SDSO pianist John Walker performed at the international clarinet festival, ClarinetFest 2005, in Tokyo, Japan.
Hill is also the conductor of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band. He has been an active clinician nationally. A noted mouthpiece craftsman, he is a designer of the Chadash-Hill mouthpiece, which is used in many of the world’s finest orchestras and music schools. He is a Rico Grand Concert artist. He holds bachelor and master of music degrees from Temple University, where he was a student of Anthony Gigliotti.

Angie Larson
Clarinet Instructor
605.274.5418
angiemlar@yahoo.com
Angela Larson teaches applied clarinet. She returned to the Sioux Falls area in 2004 and has maintained a successful private clarinet studio since then. She has taught clarinet at the University of Sioux Falls since 2005 and at Augustana since 2006. She is an active musician in community ensembles, including the Dakota Wind Ensemble and the Sioux Falls Municipal Band. She is also employed at South Dakota Achieve as a support professional. She holds a B.A. in instrumental music education from Augustana and a Master of Music in clarinet performance degree from Kent State University in Ohio.

Patricia Masek
Flute Instructor
605.334.1020
masek@augie.edu
Patricia Masek is Assistant Professor of flute and has been at Augustana for 54 years. She has been a member of the South Dakota Symphony flute section for 55 years, 24 of which as the principal flute. She serves as the symphony performance librarian and has been active in this position for 60 years. Other performing experiences include 37 years as principal flute with the Sioux Falls Municipal Band, solo appearances with the South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls Municipal Band, Augustana Band and Chamber Orchestra. She retired from 30 years as an instrument repair technician and maintains a private studio of approximately 20 to 25 students. She received a Bachelor of Science in music education from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Kentucky.

Scott Olson
Trumpet Instructor
scott.olson@mtmc.edu
Scott Olson is currently an instructor of music at Mount Marty College, where he directs the concert band. Retired from 30 years with the South Dakota Symphony, 24 as principal trumpet, Olson is currently second trumpet with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. Olson is a regular performer at the cathedrals of Saint Paul and Saint Joseph. He is in demand as an adjudicator for various jazz festivals and instrumental competitions. Olson taught adjunct trumpet at Augustana University from 2012 -2015. In addition to freelancing in a five-state area, Scott and his wife Kim operate the family farm near Mission Hill, South Dakota, where they raise Angus cross beef cattle, corn and soybeans.

Jeff Paul
Oboe Instructor
jeffpaulmusic@gmail.com
Jeff Paul, principal oboist with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, grew up in southern California where he gained experience and expertise in various forms of performing arts. He was an aspiring concert pianist by the age of ten, and was awarded opportunities to perform piano concerti with the Conejo Youth Symphony and the Pepperdine University Orchestra. Paul attended the Eastman School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music with a performer’s certificate in 1999, and the University of Southern California, earning a Master of Music in 2003 in oboe performance. His primary teachers include Richard Killmer, David Weiss and Allan Vogel. He has performed as a soloist with the New West Symphony, Heidelberg Castle Festival Orchestra, Conejo Concerto Orchestra and the South Dakota Symphony, and has substituted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and San Diego Symphony.
One of Paul’s primary interests has been traditional folk music of various cultures. He enjoys working closely with The New Pine Ridge Singers, and improvisng alongside Lebanese oud player Simon Shaheen. In composition, Paul has received awards from the Young Composer’s Guild of the Music Teachers Association of California, resulting in several premiers of his chamber and orchestral music. He has also received commissions from various organizations, including the South Dakota Symphony and the Young Artists Ensemble theater group in California, and composes regularly for the Dakota Wind Quintet.
Paul has recorded for various projects, including a Warner Bros. film scoring session, a hip-hop orchestra, aspiring jazz/rock/fusion bands and a smattering of independent short films.

John Tomkins
Bassoon Instructor
605.274.5445
john_tomkins@yahoo.com
John Tomkins is a bassoon instructor. He serves as principal bassoon of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Dakota Wind Quintet. He has attended many summer music festivals, including the Conductors Retreat at Medomak, Kent/Blossom Summer Music, the Festival-Institute at Round Top, the National Orchestral Institute and the Tanglewood Music Center. Ensembles he has performed with include the Sioux Falls Municipal Band, the Cleveland Pops and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist with the Sioux Falls Municipal Band, South Dakota Chamber Orchestra and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. He was the soloist for the world premiere of Jeffrey Paul’s Bassoon Concerto with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, from Ohio State University, and his Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His primary teachers were Christopher Weait, Ronald Phillips and John Clouser.