Announcement Regarding a Change in Leadership in the Gold Star Marching Band
Greetings to all current, past, and future Gold Star Marching Band members, family, and friends.
We have some important news to share with you all.
This past Fall season, our longtime director of 14 years Dr. Sigurd Johnson announced to the band that he would be stepping down from the director's chair after the conclusion of the season.
The past 14 years under the direction of Sigurd Johnson have been a period of huge growth for the Gold Star Marching Band. In that time, the band expanded from a 100 member band, to a now almost 200 member band. Countless members have come and gone as Sigurd led and pushed the band to its current success. These members have gone to Ireland, Conference Tournaments, NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments, US Bank Stadium, College Gameday, the Minnesota State Fair, NDSU Homecoming, hundreds of early morning alarm clock gigs, and to Frisco, Texas for the NCAA Football Championship! The GSMB hosted special guests such as Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, The Boston Brass, the NDSU Dance Team, the NDSU Cheer Team, the 188th North Dakota National Guard Band, and many Faculty from the Challey School of Music under Sigurd's baton. There are countless students Sigurd has fought for, consoled, hugged, made smile, given purpose to, and educated in his time with the GSMB. Sigurd has been an amazing friend, colleague, mentor, and driving force for this community, and his impact will forever be felt. While the band has leaned on Sigurd for leadership, he has always had his companion Rooth, Daughter Siri, and Sons Per and Kai at his side as an unending supply of support for him. We owe much of our gratitude to his family.
Luckily, while this may be Sigurd's last season as Director of the GSMB, this is not saying goodbye. He will now head towards his next goal: revitalizing the String Orchestra here at NDSU. In turn, Dr. Johnson handed the baton off to the Assistant Director of the band, Connor Challey. Mr. Challey has been the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands for four seasons, and will now be taking over as Director of Athletic Bands starting in the Fall 2022 season.
