Dr. Erika Svanoe, conductor

Dr. Erika Svanoe (b. 1976) is a conductor and composer for wind band, known for her lyrical melodies, nods to classic literature, musical deconstruction, humor, and pastiche. Her works have been performed by distinguished ensembles such as “The President's Own” United States Marine Band, the United States Army Band “Pershing‘s Own,” the US Navy Band, the US Air Force Band, and the National Concert Band of America. Her music has been featured on Wisconsin Public Radio, in Bandworld's Top 100, and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. She has been recognized with the National Band Association/Alfred Music Young Band Composition Award, and as a finalist for the American Bandmasters Association Sousa-Ostwald Award.

As a conductor, Dr. Svanoe has been a guest faculty artist with the Manhattan School of Music Camerata Nova Wind Ensemble, interim conductor of the St. Olaf Band, and featured civilian guest conductor of the USAF Heritage of America Band. She has held collegiate appointments at Augsburg University, Bemidji State University, and the University of New Hampshire, and remains active as a guest conductor and clinician, appearing with high school, university, and All-State and festival ensembles across the United States. She is presently the conductor of the University of Wisconsin–Stout Symphonic Band.

photo by Darrell Owens

She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The Ohio State University under Russel C. Mikkelson, where she served as conductor of the OSU Collegiate Winds, assistant conductor of the OSU Wind Symphony, and taught undergraduate conducting classes. Her DMA dissertation included a critical edition of Aaron Copland's El Salón México for wind ensemble. She holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Her first album, The Music of Erika Svanoe, was recorded by Andrew Boysen, Jr. and the University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony, and released by Mark Records in 2022. Her music is published through Alfred Music, G.Schirmer/AMP, J.W. Pepper, and self-published through Swan Maiden Press. She is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). She is also the creator and publisher of Marrying Mr. Darcy, the Pride & Prejudice card game, and occasionally advocates and speaks on the topic of arts entrepreneurship, with appearances at the XOXO Festival and in a variety of gaming-related media. Originally from Whitewater, Wisconsin, she currently lives in Menomonie, WI with her husband, designer and graphic novelist Erik Evensen.