McNeese Names New Director of Bands

Dr. Timothy Pardue has been named new director of bands at McNeese State University, according to Dr. Lonny Benoit, head of the W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts.

“Congratulations to our former director Dr. Jay Sconyers, who has accepted a position with the U.S. Air Force Bands. We appreciate his service to McNeese and Southwest Louisiana,” says Benoit. Sconyers joined McNeese in 2017 as assistant director of bands and an instructor of music before becoming director of bands in 2019.

Pardue joined McNeese as assistant director of bands in 2019 and has been responsible for conducting the symphonic and pep bands and teaching music education and theory courses. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at the University of Oklahoma and holds a Master of Music degree in wind conducting from the University of Arkansas and Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Pardue is an active arranger and clinician. He has arranged for The Pride of Oklahoma, the Razorback Marching Band and created a chamber setting for “The Indispensable Man: A Roosevelt Portrait.” Pardue conducted and premiered this work with the University of Oklahoma Wind Symphony in April 2021.

Prior to pursuing graduate studies, Pardue taught middle and high school bands in St. James and Plaquemines parishes. He holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.