Northeast Instrumental Music Festival

Kevin Champagne has been at UAlbany since 2003.  Kevin has directed the Concert Band and the Pep Band since 2003, and the Marching Band since it began in 2013. As of 2022, he directs only the Concert Band, while assisting with the other bands.   

Kevin taught band in Lansingburgh from 1988 to 2020, working at elementary, middle school and high school levels.  

Beside his work in education, Kevin has performed on guitar in rock bands and jazz bands as well as classical settings throughout the state, including the famed CBGB, and he has sung at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Carnegie Hall.   

Kevin has composed dozens of pieces of music for school bands and has composed the scores for three short films. He continues to compose and perform in his semi-retirement. 

Scott Guidry is Assistant Professor and Director of Bands at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, LA, and a Master of Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.  His primary conducting teachers include Dr. Joseph Hebert and Prof. Anthony Maiello.

Prior to joining the BSU faculty, he served a 20-year Air Force career, and was most recently the Director of Operations for The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C.  Additionally, he was the officer in charge of the Ceremonial Brass and Airmen of Note.  Before joining the Air Force, he was Director of Bands at Carencro High School and Lafayette High School in Louisiana, earning numerous superior ratings at the district and state levels.  Additionally, he was co-conductor of the Lafayette Concert Band and named Director Emeritus in 1993.

A native of Carencro, LA, Professor Guidry joined the Air Force in 1993. During his tenure in the Air Force, he performed with a broad range of talented guest artists including Kim Nazarian of New York Voices, Canadian Brass alumni Ronald Romm and Fred Mills, Keiko Matsui, Helen Reddy, Crystal Gayle, Wilford Brimley and The Platters.  He led performances with the Air Force Strings featuring viola virtuosi Atar Arad, Marcus Thompson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Robert Verebes, and Patricia McCarty.  Professor Guidry has presented master classes, clinics and performances with high school ensembles representing the states of Louisiana, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida.

His military career highlights include performances throughout the United States, Europe and Western Asia, including Russia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Turkey, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Portugal, Czech Republic, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Afghanistan.  In 2010, he deployed to SW Asia and was leader of the US Air Forces Central Command Band, enhancing morale and supporting embassies throughout the theater.

Professor Guidry is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, Conductors Guild, National Association for Music Education, and the College Music Society.

He resides in Bemidji, Minnesota with his wife Heather, Adjunct Instructor of Oboe. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.