Dr. Jason Ladd

Dr. Jason S. Ladd has taught at Nicholls State University since 2015 where he directs the Nicholls Wind Ensemble as well as teaches low brass lessons and music education courses. Previously, he taught for six years at Marquette University where he led the orchestra, symphonic band, and co-directed the pep band. He has also taught courses at Florida State University, served as an adjunct professor of tuba and euphonium at Syracuse University, and was a public school teacher at various levels in the state of New York. As a tuba player he has performed with the Binghamton Philharmonic, Eastman Philharmonia and Wind Ensemble, Florida State University Philharmonia and Wind Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, Monroe Symphony, Symphoria, the Wisconsin College and University Faculty Brass Ensemble, and the Utica Symphony as well as with the national touring company for the musical Chicago. His tuba teachers include Cherry Beauregard, Paul Ebbers, David Fedderly, Toby Hanks, and Don Harry as well as his father Kevin Ladd. Dr. Ladd has also taken euphonium lessons with Mark Kellogg, played in masterclasses for Roger Bobo and Velvet Brown, and performed in brass ensembles led by Vincent Cichowicz, John Marcellus, and Roger Voisin. His compositions have been read by the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Cassatt Quartet, and the Eppes Quartet as well as been performed by the Eastman School of Music’s Tuba Mirum and the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble. His Marzan Forest was premiered at the 40th Anniversary of the Potsdam Brass Quintet. His composition teachers include Nicolas Scherzinger, Andrew Waggoner, and Mark Wingate. He also took additional lessons with Ellen Taafe Zwilich and studied orchestration with Augusta Read Thomas. Dr. Ladd has guest conducted the University of Louisville Symphonic Band and the 2015 Wisconsin College All-Star Band as well high school honor bands.

The Nicholls Wind Ensemble, under his leadership, has premiered works by Kimberly Archer, Ben Robichaux as well as been involved in commissioning works from His orchestra at Marquette Orchestra performed a wide array of repertoire including Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the Great Mass in C Minor K. 427 by Mozart as well as works by Eric Ewazen and Philip Glass. While working on his graduate degrees he conducted such groups as the Florida State Wind Orchestra, Florida State Chamber Winds, Florida State Symphonic Band, and the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble. Among Dr. Ladd’s conducting teachers include Richard Clary, James Tapia, and David Effron. He has also attended the Northeast Wind Conducting Symposium at Ithaca College and the Art of Band Conducting and Rehearsal Workshop at the University of Texas where his conducting teachers included Stephen Peterson, H. Robert Reynolds, Michael Haithcock, Craig Kirchhoff, Richard Floyd, Larry Livingston, and Jerry Junkin. Dr. Ladd has served on the advisory board for NAfME’s Music Educator’s Journal and the strategic planning committee of the College Orchestra Directors Association.