After a long search, Baker University is set to welcome its first-ever Director of Athletic Bands Aug. 2024 for the new athletic band program. With a brand new position within Baker Athletics, Logan Dingus will lead students to new game day experiences through music.
After teaching elementary and middle school band at USD 345 in Topeka, Kan. for a few years, Dingus switched gears to instruct marching ensembles at the collegiate level.
As a graduate student at Liberty University, he worked on the staff for the athletic band where he spent time writing drills and arranging music. With an extensive background in music across all levels of education, Dingus says he is excited to offer something different to the Baker community.
“I’ve been everywhere. I haven’t stuck in one place very long, but a lot of what I am certified in and good at is at the high school and college level,” Dingus said. “It is where I spend a lot of my time.”
Dingus expressed a love and passion for band that began when he was 14 years old. This passion led him to a position as drum major, where he got to lead his high school marching band. He says this allowed him to utilize his leadership skills to guide other students.
“I was drum major, or a conductor, for three years in high school. And then I marched all four years of college on tuba as well,” Dingus said. “Student leadership has always come naturally to me, so it just made sense.”
Dingus hopes the new athletic band will add more to the whole game day experience for the Baker community. He said a major goal with this band is to allow students, especially incoming freshmen, to discover music in a different way than they may expect from a band.
“It’s a great tool to bring kids in that might be on the fence about music,” Dingus said. “I know when I went to college I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to be a music major or not, but going to that next level and seeing how it’s done really inspired me.”
Dingus is currently focused on recruiting students for the athletic band and will begin working with them Aug. 2024.
“I am excited to offer something different to the community,” Dingus said. “It will be a place where students don’t have to compete but can continue an activity they love.”
