Concordia University - directorbio

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY

Scott Agster is an active teacher, composer, arranger, and freelance musician in the Minneapolis / St. Paul metropolitan area. He is currently a full time member of several bands in diverse commercial genres including: Jazz Quintet (Snowblind), Traditional Jazz, Blues and Roots (Davina and the Vagabonds), Salsa (Salsa Del Soul), New Orleans brass band (Jack Brass Band), Hip-Hop (G8), Blues (Tom Hunter and the Blues Frenzy), and Big Band (Bella Gala Big Band). He has had the opportunity to perform and work with many acclaimed artists and groups such as Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Dave Douglas, Phil Woods, Nicholas Payton, Sheila E., Pinetop Perkins, Aaron Neville, Kenny Loggins, Stefan Karlsson, Slide Hampton, Paul McKee, Phil Hey, The One O'Clock Lab Band, JazzMN Big Band, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Scott has also performed internationally at venues including the 2009 Sierre Blues Festival, 2009 Thunderbay Blues Festival, 2009 International Blues Challenge, 2008-2009 Great American Brass Band Festival, 2007 Durham Brass Festival, 2006 North Sea Jazz Festival, the 2005 Iwawa Jazz Festival and Sopot/Gdansk Festival in Poland, the King's Palace in Thailand (2004), the 2004 Vancouver Jazz Festival, and the 2003 International Trombone Festival in Helsinki, Finland.

Scott Agster also currently teaches at:

Macphail Center for Music
(Low Brass Private Lesson Instructor and Partnerships Coordinator)
Additional duties: Summer Jazz Workshop

Mount Olivet School of Music
(Low Brass Private Lesson Instructor and Elementary Band Director)

Scott Agster's previous college teaching experience includes:
Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Jazz Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota
Brass Methods Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota
Jazz Teaching Fellowship at the University of North Texas.

Scott Agster also maintains an active career in composing and arranging music. In 2006 and 2007 he was commissioned for arranging and orchestration on several Compass Inc. compilation CDs for the Target Corporation. He also composes and arranges music for Salsa del Soul, Snowblind, G8, and Tom Hunter. His compositions and arrangements may be heard on "The Pachanga Bones" (Pachanga Bones 2004), "The Skunkfoot Seven" (Skunkfoot Seven 2005), "Arctic Fury" (Snowblind 2006), "Run With It!" (G8 2006), and "Taking Shape" (Snowblind 2007).

Mr. Agster is currently finishing his DMA in Trombone Performance at the University of Minnesota in the studio of Professor Tom Ashworth. His current status as a doctoral candidate is ABD. He received a Master of Music in Trombone Performance with a related field in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2005 under the tutelage of Professor Tony Baker. In 2001 he completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

Scott Agster was born in 1979 in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Agster frequently visits his home town which is nestled right along the bay. This is where he learned to enjoy fine Cuban cuisine and camping and fishing in a variety of outdoor environments. Mr. Agster is also an avid reader and enjoys drawing and painting.