Bassoonist and conductor Derek Bannasch joined the faculty of the Montana State University School of Music in 2021, where he teaches applied bassoon and conducts the University Band. Additionally, he is co-founder and conductor of the Gallatin Valley Concert Band. He performs on bassoon and contrabassoon regularly in Montana’s thriving orchestra scene and is a frequent guest conductor and clinician in Montana public schools. A proud U.S. Army veteran, in 2019 while serving as bassoon instructor at the U.S. Army School of Music, he was awarded the Master Instructor Badge, the Army’s highest award for excellence in teaching. He holds bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in bassoon and music education from Central Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.