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Chris Kaatz (Nacogdoches, TX) Dr. Chris Kaatz is the Assistant Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he serves as the Associate Director of the Lumberjack Marching Band and Director of the Roarin’ Buzzsaws Pep Band. In addition to his responsibilities with the fine athletic bands at SFA, he conducts the Symphonic Band, teaches courses in undergraduate conducting, instrumental methods, and marching band techniques, and mentors music education majors as a student teaching supervisor.
From 2011 to 2014 he served as the Director of Bands at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, Illinois. During his tenure at Mater Dei he served as the sole administrator for the music program, conducted the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Knights, basketball Pep Band, Jazz Combo, and Noon Chorus, and taught courses in both beginning chorus and music appreciation. An advocate for the transformative power of the marching arts, he has taught at the SFA Band Camps since 2019 and has served as an instructor at both the Bands of America Summer Camp and Smith Walbridge Drum Major Clinics. He enjoys regular outreach as a clinician for band programs across the state of Texas and via presentations at conferences throughout the country. He is co-author of the Cue Rehearsal Techniques app, which provides instrumental educators practical pedagogical strategies from master teachers in an intuitive format.
He holds degrees from Michigan State University (BM), University of Missouri-Kansas City (MM), and Northwestern University (DMA). His primary teachers are Steven Davis and Mallory Thompson. Outside of his professional ventures, he enjoys quality time with his wife, Lydia, and their son, Lincoln, adventures with a wonderful community of friends in Nacogdoches, playing saxophone in his church’s praise band, and treasures his regular travels to visit family in Michigan and Maryland.