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Story by Andrew Rasmussen

Dan Carlsonā€™s path to leading a top high school band in the region is rooted in family, experiences and a passion for music. 

Carlson, a 1999 music education graduate, started at South ą£ą£Ö±²„Šć State University as a graphic design major. After a semester, he switched to computer science. Still not feeling like heā€™d found the right fit, he made a phone call on ā€œa cold December nightā€ to his father. 

ā€œI said, 'Dad, I have to tell you something,ā€™ā€ Carlson recounted. ā€œ'I don't want you to talk me out of it. I've already made up my mind. Iā€™m switching my major to music education. I just feel like everything is leading toward that. I feel like that's where I'm the strongest suited.ā€™ā€ 

His dad was the band director in Pipestone, Minnesota, where Carlson grew up. 

As Carlson was finishing up his degree, two positions opened at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls: band director and assistant band director. Soon, the father-son duo was leading one of the most prestigious high school bands in the region. Carlson and his father directed the Lincoln band together for 14 years. 

Carlsonā€™s dad retired in 2013, and Carlson now fills the head role. 

ā€œI feel like we filled in each other's gaps and really played off of each other,ā€ he said. ā€œI don't think in the 14 years we ever had an argument about anything.ā€ 

The pair took the band to two Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day parades, two Tournament Rose Parades and regional competitions. 

Pride in State 

SDSU being close to home and having a personal touch brought Carlson to Brookings. 

The late Darwin Walker, former director of The Pride of the ą£ą£Ö±²„Šćs Marching Band, drove to Pipestone to meet with Carlson and pitch SDSU. 

ā€œHe took me out for lunch and told me how much he wanted me there, and nobody else did that,ā€ Carlson said. 

Carlson was active in a variety of musical opportunities. He served as a drum major in The Pride for four years, played in the jazz ensembles and sang in the choir. 

ā€œI was about as involved as I possibly could have been in all the music things at SDSU,ā€ he said. He played euphonium and learned trombone while at SDSU.

Carlson looks back at his time in The Pride and remembers playing for some ā€œgreat football games,ā€ a couple Winnipeg Blue Bombers games and a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau field. 

He also had the unique opportunity to perform at President Bill Clintonā€™s inaugural parade. 

The opportunity to play for Clinton came after The Pride performed at a campaign rally in Sioux Falls. After the rally, Clinton thanked the band for its performance. 

As the president was leaving, members of The Pride chanted ā€œinaugural parade.ā€ About two weeks later, the invitation arrived. 

Premier academics 

Carlson speaks highly of the faculty at State and said he still maintains relationships with those leading the program today. 

ā€œThey just knew their business so well,ā€ he said. ā€œThey were masters at their craft, and I just really feel like the education that I got was second to none. I couldn't have gotten a better education anywhere in the country, I don't think, than what I got at SDSU.ā€ 

Carlson brings SDSU faculty to Sioux Falls to work with the Lincoln band and frequently finds himself in Brookings for events such as the State Music Educators Conference. 

His college roommate and fellow drum major, Kevin Kessler '98, now the director of athletic bands at SDSU, said Carlsonā€™s success speaks not only to his education and music ability, but also to the kind of educator he is. 

ā€œHe makes us all very proud,ā€ Kessler said. ā€œI think it speaks very highly of the faculty that we had here and the experiences that we were given. But I think it also speaks to how good of an educator and how good of a human Dan is.ā€ 

Kessler said Carlson has mastered leading a band, working with students, parents and administrators, and all the other duties associated with being a band director.

Passing it on 

Carlson said he tries to bring a high level of charisma and energy to every rehearsal, something he learned from his dad. 

ā€œI always wanted to make sure that whatever I wanted to get out of them, I was giving them so that they would reflect that back to me,ā€ he said. ā€œI think that the real testament is when I see kids leave here, if they're not burned out, then I've done my job.ā€ 

The Lincoln High School bandā€™s reputation and the pressure that comes with it are not lost on Carlson. He motivates students by instilling a core value of his: itā€™s fun to be good. 

Every four years, the band goes on a big trip to showcase its skills. This past November, the Lincoln band performed at the Macyā€™s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

Performing in the Macyā€™s parade requires an 18-month lead time on the application, a surprise selection show and fundraising to send a large group of high school students across the country. 

Because of Carlsonā€™s efforts, the Lincoln band marched through the streets of New York City in the pouring rain. Carlson hoped adrenaline helped the students march through the parade in their soaked uniforms. 

He also wanted to make sure the students learned from the trip, as most students had never been to New York, and many had never left South ą£ą£Ö±²„Šć. He took them to the 9/11 Museum and the ā€œBack to the Futureā€ musical. 

ā€œIt was just incredible experience,ā€ Carlson said.