Daniel A. Belongia
Board Member
Daniel A. Belongia is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Arkansas Tech University. As such, he conducts the Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, co-conducts the Symphonic and Concert Bands, and teaches conducting and music education while acting as administrator and support for all ATU bands, band faculty, and summer band camps for nearly 1000 students each summer. He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Dr. Belongia has presented concerts and clinics at diverse events such as the regional and national conventions of the College Band Directors National Association, state and regional music educator conventions, the Bands of America Grand National Championships, and Carnegie Hall. Ensembles under his direction have released five recordings on the Naxos and Tonsehen labels, and the Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble earned the 2022 “American Prize” in College/University wind ensemble performance.
Dr. Belongia served as a middle and high school band director in Florida and Texas, and holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from Michigan State University. He earned bachelor and master's degrees in music education and performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. His research has been published in the Journal of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, the journal of The International Society for the Investigation and Promotion of Wind Music, the National Band Association Journal, the Instrumentalist Magazine, Keynotes Magazine, and multiple volumes of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band and Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band reference series.
Professional affiliations include the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, The Conductor's Guild, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and he is proud to serve as an Educational Clinician for the Conn Selmer Corporation. He is a member of the advisory board of Music For All/Bands of America “Advocacy in Action”, an elected member of the board of the “New Works Project”, and an elected member of the board of the Arkansas College Band Directors Association.
He is most grateful to be husband of Jill Belongia, a certified yoga therapist and owner of JB Wellness studio, and father of Jennifer, Allison and Jack Belongia.