From drum majors to band directors, friends took parallel paths in building nationally recognized bands

This paid piece is sponsored by South Dakota State University. 

Photos line the bookshelves in Kevin Kessler’s office, filling the space with memories central to his journey to becoming the director of the Pride of the Dakotas.

There are photos with his wife and photos from his time in the marching band itself.

There’s also a photo of Kessler next to Dan Carlson, a fellow drum major in the Pride who now leads the Lincoln High School band in Sioux Falls, from when they attended SDSU in the late 1990s.

The friends’ lives have many parallels — they both grew up in southwestern Minnesota, attended SDSU, became music teachers after graduating and now lead two of the most successful marching bands in the country.

National rankings in October recognized the LHS Marching Band as 27th in the nation for high school marching bands, making LHS the first and only South Dakota school to make the national rankings.

And SDSU’s Pride of the Dakotas is marching in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, completing the “trifecta” of band accomplishments — having also marched in two presidential inaugural parades and two Rose Bowl parades.

Out of more than 100 bands to apply to perform in the Thanksgiving Day parade, SDSU is one of nine bands — and only three university bands — to make the cut.

It’s one of the biggest honors a marching band can receive, Carlson said, who has marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice with the LHS marching band.

“The Pride of the Dakotas has a long history of performing on these big international and national stages, going back as far as 1904 when they played at the World’s Fair in St. Louis,” Kessler said. “Those invitations don’t come without a lot of hard work and a lot of visual and musical skill on the part of the students in the band.”

The success of both bands is not only because of the hard work of the students performing but also because of the behind-the-scenes dedication and partnership between Carlson and Kessler. While they might have very different jobs, they have similarities and a history they share that strengthens both institutions.

“Dan has very much been a brother to me, and it’s nice that we’re in the same profession,” Kessler said. “When we get together and talk, we have this understanding and shared experience where we can sometimes commiserate and other times we can share successes with each other.”

Carlson and Kessler spent three years together as drum majors of the Pride of the Dakotas, spending hours working and learning from each other. The two learned how to conduct a large band, which became instrumental for both Kessler to eventually assume the role of director and for Carlson to lead South Dakota’s largest high school band.

And while Carlson was inspired to enter into musical education by his father’s example, Bob Carlson also served as Kessler’s mentor during student teaching.

Carlson and Kessler’s connection only grew after graduating. While Carlson accepted a position at LHS with his father, Kessler taught at Brandon Valley High School. They also have worked together every summer putting on a camp for area high school drum majors to work on conducting and leadership skills.

The two even earned their master’s degrees together from Southern Oregon University, where they would spend summers living together and learning how to become better teachers. Several years later, when Kessler considered returning to school for his doctorate, Carlson was one of many friends and colleagues who became a sounding board for that decision.

Now, Kessler leads his alma mater’s musical pride at each athletic event and is an assistant professor in music. He leads 344 members in this year’s Pride of the Dakotas, with many students coming from Lincoln High School where they were taught by Carlson.

“We’re a phone call away to talk about some of the challenges we face through our jobs, we both know how demanding these jobs are, and we can lean on each other while things are tough,” Carlson said. “We also have a chance to share each other’s successes, and it’s fun to watch Kevin be so successful and follow his career.”

The two bands also are connected through Dr. Aaron Ragsdale, professor of percussion, working with the LHS percussion each summer, allowing SDSU students to serve as technicians for the LHS band during the season and by participating in a clinic at the beginning of each school year in Sioux Falls where the SDSU team works with the LHS band and other Sioux Falls bands.

“I think teaching is a challenging profession, and everybody needs that person who can relate and understand what they’re going through and what their challenges are to have that perspective. I think that’s worked both ways for us,” Kessler said.

“Dan is one of the hardest-working people I know, and that’s not a cliche. He’s incredibly dedicated to his craft, so I love to see all the successes he and the Lincoln band have had because he’s deserving of every last one of them.”