Ensembles
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is the premier woodwind, brass, and percussion ensemble at James Madison University. With an active performance schedule, the Wind Symphony is committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. In addition to on-campus concerts, the Wind Symphony recently performed for the 2015 National Conference of the College Band Directors Association (CBDNA) in Nashville, TN, and the VMEA In-Service Conferences in 2015 and 2011. Prior to that the Wind Symphony has performed at CBDNA regional conventions in New Orleans, Charlotte, Williamsburg, and Greensboro, plus numerous performances for the VMEA State Conference.
Symphonic Band
The JMU Symphonic Band is a select group of brass, woodwind, and percussion students who are dedicated to the performance of both traditional and contemporary band literature. The ensemble performs music of all periods and is open to any university student by audition.
Concert Band
The Concert Band is open to all students at JMU. Each semester, this ensemble presents several concerts featuring literature of different genres. There is no audition required for membership, although chair placements will be done at the beginning of each semester. The Concert Band meets during both the fall and spring semesters.
Brass Band
The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association 1st Section Champion (2004, 2005) and was the 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2019 NABBA Championship Section Runner-up. The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off-campus. The band is regularly ranked in the top 150 brass bands worldwide according to World of Brass/British Bandsman rankings.
Marching Royal Dukes
From humble beginnings in 1972, the first year of JMU football, the Marching Royal Dukes has become one of the best known and largest college marching bands in the country. The band has established a strong tradition as ambassadors of the university and community both in the region and abroad. They took their first European tour in 1997 in Monaco. Since then, the MRDs have performed in Greece, Italy, England, and Ireland. In addition to performing abroad, the MRDs are a four-time participant in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2001, 2008, 2013, 2018) and have performed in the 2016 and 2017 FCS National Championship Game.
Pep Band
As one of the most visible athletic bands at JMU, the Basketball Pep Band has twice been selected by Eastern Basketball Magazine as the Best Pep Band in the East. With a membership selected from among the active members of the Marching Royal Dukes, this exciting group performs at all home men’s and women’s basketball games, travels to the CAA as well as post-season tournaments, and has been a crowd favorite at these events.
Faculty
Stephen P. Bolstad
Director of Bands
Stephen P. Bolstad has served as the Director of Bands and Professor of Wind Conducting at James Madison University since Fall 2007. In addition to overseeing the University’s comprehensive band program, his specific duties include conducting the JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, teaching courses in wind literature/conducting, and leading the Masters and Doctoral program in Wind Conducting.
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From 1994-2007, Dr. Bolstad was the Director of Bands at The University of Montana. Under his direction, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the College Band Directors National Association’s Northwest/Western Divisional Conference in 1996 and 2006, and the MENC Northwest Conference in 2001 (Spokane, WA) and 2005 (Bellevue, WA). In 2004 Dr. Bolstad was named the University of Montana School of Fine Arts Distinguished Faculty Awardee. Prior to Montana, Dr. Bolstad held similar positions in Alabama at both The University of Montevallo and Livingston University, and he was the Director of Bands at St. Marys Area High School in St. Marys, Pennsylvania.
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Steve Bolstad holds the Doctor of Music Arts degree in Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin, the Master of Music degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
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Office: 540.568.6035
Email: bolstasp@jmu.edu
Amy Birdsong
Assistant Director of Athletic Bands
Amy Birdsong serves as the Assistant Director of Bands, the Assistant Director of the Marching Royal Dukes, and the Director of the JMU Pep Band. Prof. Birdsong is a JMU alumna receiving her Bachelor of Music Education and minor in Jazz Studies in 2001. She began her professional career in Henrico County at Varina High School. She left Varina to open Hanover High School (HHS) in Midlothian, VA and has built a comprehensive and accomplished band program during her time there. Her concert ensembles consistently received Superior ratings at State Assessment, and combined with successful seasons in marching band, earned multiple Virginia Honor Band designations. In 2016 she was named “Teacher of the Year” for Hanover High School.
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In addition to her responsibilities at HHS, Prof. Birdsong was also the Director of the Richmond Symphony Youth Concert Orchestra for six years and was a founding and performing member of the Commonwealth Winds in Central VA. Prof. Birdsong is an active member of V.B.O.D.A. and V.M.E.A., and helps chair the annual VMEA All-VA Jazz Ensemble Event. She is a member of the Alpha Chi chapter of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity as well as the American School Band Directors Association. In addition, she is an active clinician and adjudicator for both concert and marching venues and was recently named a Conn-Selmer VIP Educator.
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Office: Music Building, Room 211
Phone: 540.568.2384
Email: birdsoae@jmu.edu
Scott Rikkers
Director of the Marching Royal Dukes
Scott Rikkers is the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the Marching Royal Dukes at James Madison University. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University and Master of Music Education from James Madison University. At JMU Mr. Rikkers is the Director of the Marching Royal Dukes, coordinator of the basketball pep bands, directs the JMU Concert Band, teaches Music Education courses, and supervises student teachers. Prior to his appointment at JMU, Mr. Rikkers was the Assistant Director of Bands at The University of Montana where he coordinated the athletic band program, conducted the University Concert Band, and assisted with the Music Education curriculum. He held a graduate assistantship with the James Madison University band program prior to which he taught k-12 music in Michigan, holding positions in General Music and Middle/High School Band.
Mr. Rikkers is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Delta Kappa, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. In addition, he holds affiliation with the Virginia Music Education Association, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, North American Brass Band Association, Collegiate Band Directors National Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He has been an active clinician for both marching and concert events in Maryland, Michigan, Montana, South Carolina, and Virginia. In 2010 he traveled to Venezuela with a group from JMU to study the Venezuelan Youth Symphony program, El Systema. There he was a guest conductor with the Merida State Wind Ensemble.
Office: Music Building, Band Office Room 210
Phone: 540.568.6033
Email: rikkersd@jmu.edu