Our Directors

Dr. Patrick Dunnigan

Director of Bands and Professor of Music

Patrick Dunnigan is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The Florida State University College of Music. A member of the FSU faculty since 1991, Dr. Dunnigan is the principal conductor and music director of the University Symphonic Band, the University Concert Band and the Marching Chiefs. His other teaching duties include undergraduate conducting courses and instrumental music methods. He received FSU’s prestigious University Teaching Award in 2003.

A nationally recognized guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, Dr. Dunnigan has published numerous articles on conducting, instrumental music methodology, and research in leading journals. His textbook, Marching Band Techniques, is published by The Instrumentalist Company and has become the leading college textbook of marching band methodology. His transcriptions and arrangements for concert band are performed regularly by leading university, community, and professional wind bands including the Dallas Wind Symphony. He has presented clinic sessions for the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the College Band Directors National Association.

A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, Dr. Dunnigan received the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degree from the University of Texas at Austin, the Master of Music in Conducting degree from Northwestern University, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky. He was a member of the faculty at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo from 1987 to 1991, and prior to collegiate teaching he was Director of Bands at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky, where his symphonic, jazz, and marching bands received numerous national and regional awards for excellence. He is an active member of the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Florida Music Educators Association, National Band Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity. He is also an honorary member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma, and received the Friend of the Arts award from Sigma Alpha Iota.

 

Dr. David Plack

Director of Athletic Bands

David Plack, Director of Athletic Bands, was appointed to the wind band conducting and music education areas at Florida State University in 2004. Dr. Plack serves as a Co-Director for the Florida State University Marching Chiefs. His additional responsibilities in the area of athletic bands include the direction and supervision of Seminole Sound, FSU’s athletic band program, which includes the men’s basketball pep band, the women’s basketball and volleyball pep bands, and numerous group performances in support of FSU athletics and Florida State University. Among other responsibilities in the areas of wind band conducting and music education, Dr. Plack assists with the supervision of music education intern teachers and conducts the University Concert Band.

Dr. Plack holds the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Master of Music Education degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degree from the Florida State University College of Music. As an undergraduate student at Florida State University, he was a proud four-year member of the Marching Chiefs under the direction of Bentley Shellahamer, Robert Sheldon, and Patrick Dunnigan. Prior to collegiate teaching, he taught seven years at Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida.

He holds active memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Florida Bandmasters Association. Dr. Plack is also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, and holds honorary memberships in both Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.

He is an active drill designer and arranger having provided numerous creative projects for the Marching Chiefs and other athletic band activities. Dr. Plack is also an active guest clinician, conductor, and adjudicator in the state of Florida.

 

Prof. Richard Clary

Professor of Music

Richard Clary, Professor of Music, is the Director of Wind Ensemble studies at FSU and the Principal Conductor and Music Director of the internationally renown Florida State University Wind Orchestra. His primary duties include conducting both the Wind Orchestra and the Florida State Chamber Winds, and the teaching of graduate-level conducting and wind literature courses.

Previously, Prof. Clary served as Director of Bands at the University of Kentucky. During his tenure in Lexington, the University of Kentucky Wind Ensemble under his direction earned a national reputation for excellence through several highly-acclaimed performances for prestigious musical events, including the 1997 and 2003 National Conferences of the College Band Directors National Association.

Prof. Clary holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Education from Arizona State University, and is a Candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Washington in Seattle. An active clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, Prof. Clary has served in these capacities throughout the United States and Canada. He holds active memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Music Educators Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Phi Beta Mu, and is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.