Alan Nordyke is jazz band director at Lakota West Main Campus as well as Lakota East Main and Freshman Campuses. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Nordyke had been a band teacher at Liberty Junior School from 1990 to 2012, after graduating Summa Cum Laude from The Ohio State University in 1989.
A graduate of Wilmington High School, where he received the John Philip Sousa Award, Mr. Nordyke was greatly influenced by his junior high/high school band director and private trumpet teacher, Mr. Charles Carothers. It was Mr. Carothers’s enthusiasm and positive approach to teaching that gave Mr. Nordyke the desire to want to pursue a career in music education. In addition to Mr. Carothers, Mr. Raymond Wolford and Mr. Dennis Ling were very important influences in Mr. Nordyke’s high school band career.
While a student at The Ohio State University, Mr. Nordyke furthered his musical skills under the baton of Professor Craig Kirchoff, and during his sophomore year, he performed on a two-week tour of Japan with The Ohio State University Concert Band (that ensemble is now known as The Ohio State University Wind Symphony). Professor Kirchoff’s respectful, non-threatening rehearsal style was a very important influence on Mr. Nordyke’s teaching style. During Mr. Nordyke’s senior year, he enjoyed the experience of being principal euphonium in The Ohio State University Concert Band.
During his time at The Ohio State University, Mr. Nordyke was privileged to study euphonium with Dr. Paul Droste, former director of The Ohio State University Marching Band. Dr. Droste’s expertise in teaching musicianship is something for which Mr. Nordyke will be forever grateful, and Dr. Droste’s ability to build lifelong connections with his students made a lasting impression on Mr. Nordyke. As well, Mr. Nordyke is greatly appreciative for all he learned from Dr. Judith Delzell. Dr. Delzell’s excitement about band at the middle school level was a huge factor in Mr. Nordyke choosing to teach junior high school musicians for 22 years.
Mr. Nordyke is also very thankful for his Lakota mentors, Mr. William Biven and Mr. Michael Peters, retired Lakota band directors. These two gentlemen continue to be an inspiration to Mr. Nordyke. Mr. Nordyke feels that their confidence and faith in him helped him to become the teacher that he is today, and he continues to learn from both of these outstanding educators.
Mr. Nordyke’s biography is published in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Mr. Nordyke has continued his education through courses at Walden University, Andrews University, University of Dayton, University of Miami, Drake University, College of Mount St. Joseph, and Xavier University.
Mr. Nordyke’s professional affiliations include the Ohio Music Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Lakota Education Association, Ohio Education Association, National Education Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Mr. Nordyke resides in Mason, Ohio, where he enjoys running, spending time at Kings Island, and watching Ohio State football and basketball games.