Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft, Professor of Music and Director of Bands
Hofstra University

Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft, author of the critically acclaimed books Teaching Music with Passion and Teaching Music with Purpose, published by Meredith Music Publications, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, holds Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude), Master of Music Education in Conducting, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He was also awarded a Connecticut General Fellowship for study at the Kodly Musical Training Institute, from which he holds a certificate. He is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music, Director of Bands, and Director of the Graduate Conducting Program. He was Founder and Music Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Honors Concert Band and the Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble and held the post of Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston. Extremely active as a guest conductor, speaker and clinician for conferences, festivals, concerts, and workshops nationally and internationally, he has guest conducted the MENC All-Eastern Band, MENC All-Northwest Band, MENC All-Eastern Directors Band, and Goldman Memorial Band. He was also named conductor of the MENC National High School Honors Band for the National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. He has served as a speaker for the Canadian Music Educators Association National Convention, MENC National Conference, National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association, Conn-Selmer Institute, and as keynote speaker for the MENC Northwest Division Conference, MENC Southern Division Conference, European Music Educators Convention, National Convention of the American String Teachers Association, and numerous state and regional music education conventions across the country.