Dr. Jonathan Sweet

Dr. Jon Sweet is the new Director of Athletic Bands at Washington State University. Before WSU, he served as Assistant Professor of Bands at Purdue University where he conducted the Concert Band, the Women’s Basketball Pep-Band, and was an Associate Director for the “All-American” Marching Band, where he was the drill designer. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 2019, where his dissertation focused on the genesis and analysis of John Mackey’s Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band and also holds degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and Abilene Christian University. Since 2004, Dr. Sweet has been designing award-winning marching band shows and has been influential in program consulting, concept planning, and visual design. To date, he has designed over 300 shows. Dr. Sweet spent 11 years as a public-school band director in Texas, where his groups achieved superior ratings, best in class awards, best in festival awards, outstanding visual awards, and outstanding general effect awards. In demand as both a marching and concert band clinician, Dr. Sweet has worked with many fine groups and incorporates his love of energetic performances and positive experiences in the education of students and leaders. Dr. Sweet has adjudicated for UIL, Kentucky Music Educators, USBands, American Classics Festivals, ISSMA, IBA, the University of Illinois, and other invitational competitions.