photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence City Band conductor Paul Popiel leads the band in a concert Wednesday night, June 1, 2016, with a theme of “March Kings” performed in South Park.

KU’s longtime director of bands has now become the university’s next dean of the School of Music.

Paul Popiel, who has served as interim dean of the school since January, has been named the school’s new dean, KU Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer recently announced.

“I’ve had the opportunity to observe how he works with and supports the faculty, students and staff over the past few years, and I’m confident he will continue to build upon the school’s successes to reach new levels,” Bichelmeyer said in a release.

Popiel served as the director of bands at KU from 2010 to 2022. He continues to serve as a conductor in the school.

“It’s a thrilling time for KU and the School of Music with record enrollments and rapidly growing participation of KU students in music ensembles and music courses from across the university,” Popiel said in a release. “I am a passionate advocate for making music available to all.”

Popiel continues to conduct the Crossroads Wind Symphony and also is the conductor for the Lawrence City Band, which annually performs a summer concert series. He also recently completed a conducting residency in Japan with the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra.

Under Popiel’s leadership, KU’s wind ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in 2013, for President Barack Obama in 2015, and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2018. Popiel is an expert in the realm of wind music, and served as the editor in chief of the Wind Music Research Quarterly.

Popiel earned a doctorate in wind conducting from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Notre Dame and bachelor’s degrees in instrumental music education and trumpet performance from Truman State University.

“We have remarkable students and alumni doing incredible things all over the world and a terrific faculty and staff going above and beyond to support them,” Popiel said in a release. “Our best times are surely ahead of us, and I look forward to working with our faculty and staff to reach ever greater heights.”

photo by: University of Kansas

Paul Popiel