Vu Nguyen

Professor Vu Nguyen conducts the Pacific Wind Bands and teaches courses in conducting and music education.

Nguyen is an active guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, working with military and university ensembles as well as honor bands at state, regional and local levels across the country. Ensembles under his direction have performed at the Midwest Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Conference and state music educator conferences. Among his recent projects is the Pacific Wind Bands’ commercial recording “From a Deep Blue Sky,” featuring music by composers Viet Cuong, Kevin Day, Alex Shapiro and Brian Bùi. Nguyen is a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician.

In addition to his academic career, Nguyen is a retired officer of the Air National Guard, where he served as commander/conductor of the ANG Band of the West Coast. In that position, he was responsible for all activities of the 40-member squadron, including ceremonies, parades, concerts and other public performances throughout an eight-state region: California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Nguyen began his career as a music educator in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. He holds degrees in conducting from the University of Washington and the University of Oregon, and a Bachelor of Music in music education from University of the Pacific. Before returning to Pacific, he held similar positions at the University of Connecticut, University of Indianapolis and Washington University in St. Louis.