Mr. Olson is the grades 5-12 band director. Mr. O is in his 20th year as a full-time band director. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD) and his Masters in Instrumental Conducting from the American Band College of Southern Oregon University. He also taught band at Lennox (SD), Becker Public Schools, White Bear Lake Area Schools, Centennial School District and more recently seven years at his alma mater Pipestone Area Schools. He has adjudicated for instrumental contests and has judged auditions for the statewide MBDA (Minnesota Band Directors Association) honor bands. He has served as trumpet section coach for state-level MBDA honor bands and has been a staff member of the Midwest Ambassadors of Music European Tour. Mr. Olson recently finished a two-year term as a member of the MMEA (Minnesota Music Educators Association) Board of Directors. He served the Board as Region 3-4 A Representative.

 

Mr. Olson’s wife Amanda works as a Human Resources Specialist at Midcontinent Communications. They, along with their two daughters Olivia (9) and Ariana (7), live in Brandon, SD.

 

Mr. O enjoys going to the gym, taekwondo, kayaking, webdev/coding, travel and time with family and friends. He has played in numerous bands as a bassist through the years. Check out one of his former bands In The Fields from Minneapolis.

 

Mr. Olson is pleased to be teaching the wonderful band students of Hills-Beaver Creek!