Dr. William K. Wakefield

Dr. William K. Wakefield, Professor of Music Emeritus and Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma, retired in 2017 after 32 years of serving the band program and conducting the OU Wind Symphony. During his tenure the Wind Symphony earned performance invitations for over 20 national, regional, and state professional conferences including the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, and Oklahoma Music Educators Association. In 1991 he established the graduate wind band conducting program from which his student graduates have attained university appointments in institutions of higher education including the University of Michigan, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Oregon, Stephen F. Austin University, Washington State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Central Michigan University, University of Houston, Kennesaw State University, Wright State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Morehead State University, East Central University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the United States Air Force Bands.

Wakefield has guest conducted for all-state and collegiate honor bands, university ensembles, professional and military bands throughout the United States. His honors include the recipient of Phi Mu Alpha’s Orpheus Award for significant contributions to Music in America. He was also the recipient of the Blue Key Honor Society Teaching Excellence Award. In 1997 he received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the University of Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and in 1998 was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association. In 2001, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity awarded him the Silver Baton Award for a record of excellence and quality of service to bands, band members, and instrumental music education. The Oklahoma Bandmasters Association inducted Wakefield into the OBA Hall of Fame in the summer of 2008. Wakefield was elected and completed the 2007-2009 term as President of the College Band Directors National Association and for 12 years served on the CBDNA Board of Directors. He was President of the five-state Southwestern Division of CBDNA from 2002-2004. In 2010 he was awarded the Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor for Excellence in the Arts by the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. In 2013 he was awarded Kappa Kappa Psi’s highest national award, the Distinguished Service to Music Medal.

Wakefield’s educational background includes a DMA in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin, an MM in Trombone from the University of Houston, and a BM in Trombone from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Additional studies were obtained from summers at the Aspen Music Festival, the Juilliard School, and the University of North Texas. From 1980-85 he was Associate Director and Director of Bands at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. His secondary school experience includes positions at Dickinson and Nimitz high schools in the Houston, Texas, area.