Brian Froedge

Brian Froedge is currently the Assistant Director of Bands, the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and a Visiting Lecturer in Music at the University of Kentucky. Brian is also pursuing a DMA in wind conducting at the University of Kentucky. He recently retired as the director of bands at North Hardin High School. Mr. Froedge taught twenty-two years at North Hardin High School. Previously, he was the band director at Radcliff Middle School for six years, and the assistant director at North Hardin High School. Mr. Froedge holds a BA in Music from Transylvania University and a MA in Music Education from Western Kentucky University. In 1999, Phi Beta Mu honored him as the Outstanding Young Band Director in Kentucky. In 2006, Mr. Froedge was selected from a nation-wide group of applicants as one of two winners of the National Band Associations' International Conducting Symposium, which took him to Italy to tour and conduct for a week. In 2007 and in 2014, Mr. Froedge was selected as the 4th District High School Music Teacher of the Year. Also in 2007, Mr. Froedge was named by KMEA as the Kentucky High School Music Teacher of the Year. In 2010, Mr. Froedge was selected as the Kentucky representative for School Band and Orchestra's "Fifty Directors That Make a Difference." In 2020, Phi Beta Mu selected Mr. Froedge as Outstanding Bandmaster for the state of Kentucky. He previously served as the KMEA State Band Chair from 2016-2018, and Mr. Froedge served as the conductor of the Heartland Winds Community Band from 2011-2016. Mr. Froedge has served as a presenter at the KMEA In-Service Conference and has been a guest conductor, guest clinician, and adjudicator throughout the region.

Under Mr. Froedge’s direction, his bands received numerous honors. His marching bands have twice been named a Bands of America Regional Champion, and have consistently been a Grand National Semi-Finalist, Regional class champion, and Kentucky State Marching Band Finalist. In 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2019 the marching band placed 2nd in the nation in class 2A at Grand National Championships. Mr. Froedge’s concert bands have performed at the KMEA Professional In-Service Conference numerous times and at other invitational events. In 2007, 2011, and 2019 the North Hardin Wind Symphony performed at the Music for All National Concert Festival. In 2015, the North Hardin Band performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. In 2015 and in 2021 Mr. Froedge’s band performed at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Froedge is currently Chairman of the Kentucky Band Organization.