A native of Brookings, South Dakota, Boyd Perkins received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from The University of Iowa. Additional degrees include a Master of Arts degree from The University of Iowa in wind conducting as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from South Dakota State University. A strong background in concert, marching, and jazz, Dr. Perkins has successful public school teaching experience in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Bands under Dr. Perkins’ leadership have won numerous awards in all areas. Dr. Perkins writes marching band shows for numerous high school bands and has written shows for The University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band.

Prior to his appointment at Northern, Mr. Hemke was the Director of Jazz Performance Studies and saxophone instructor at the University of Missouri-Columbia for ten years. He received his bachelor and master of music degrees from Northwestern University. He has performed as a guest artist in many international venues. Recently, he was featured with the Amazonia Jazz Ensemble at The International Festival of Music of Pará in Belem, Brazil. He premiered new music commissioned for him in Poland with the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra and was a guest artist at the Athens International Jazz Festival with the Athens Big Band.

Director of Bands at NSU since 1991, Alan LaFave conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches applied clarinet. He holds the B.M.E. in instrumental music from Northern State University and the M.M. and D.M.A. in clarinet performance from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Dr. LaFave maintains an active schedule as a soloist, adjudicator and guest conductor throughout North America. He is currently the Band Chair for the South Dakota Music Educator's Association.

Dr. Grant Manhart holds a Doctor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance and Literature with minors in Music History and Jazz Studies from Indiana University, a Master's degree in Trumpet Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor's degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Wisconsin. His extensive performing experience includes classical, jazz and popular music. Dr. Manhart is busy as a performer, clinician and adjudicator.

James Panerio teaches applied percussion, percussion methods, percussion ensemble and the marching band drum line. He has thirteen years of public school teaching experience and is presently a band director at Simmons Junior High School and assistant band director at Central High School in Aberdeen. He is a frequent adjudicator and clinician in the area.