Candidate Edward Protzman

Portland State University
Director of Bands

Statement of Candidacy

I am honored to submit my intent to run for the position of President Elect of the CBDNA Northwest Division. I am committed to fostering collaboration, inclusion, and artistic growth among our member institutions while advancing the mission of CBDNA throughout our region. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and help strengthen our collective community of college band directors, students, and ensembles. 

Vision for the Future of Northwestern Division of CBDNA

My vision for the Northwestern District of CBDNA is to cultivate a collaborative and supportive community where university and college band programs actively engage with one another through artistic exchange, information sharing, and mutual support. By embracing an approach that values programs of all levels and sizes, we can strengthen the Northwest Division while advancing the mission and goals of the College Band Directors National Association. I would like to explore additional ways of communication and sharing between programs that increases the feeling of community we all experience. I also would like to increase outreach to colleges, universities, and directors who are not currently active in CBDNA.  Working together I believe we can build a dynamic network that supports the educational and artistic experiences of students and directors. Together we can best handle the challenges of enrollment, financial support, equity, and promoting the artistic future of wind bands.

My involvement with CBDNA thus far is the presentation that I was part of at the National Convention in 2025 “Optimizing Transfer Pathways: Helping Music Majors Thrive in the Transfer from Two- to Four-Year Colleges.”