Andrew Danielson

My time at M State began during my senior year of high school in Fergus Falls, when I participated in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program and started earning college credits. By the time I graduated, I had a vague idea that I wanted to become a band director. M State’s music program gave me the opportunity to “test it out” and see whether a career in music education was the right fit for me.

I enrolled in fall 2019 and was one of only a few music students. The faculty was very welcoming, making it a great transition from high school. Small class sizes allowed for individualized instruction and meaningful feedback. I began my music theory courses, participated in concert and jazz band, and took saxophone and piano lessons. After completing two years at M State, I transferred to Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), where I found I was ahead of some of my classmates.

I graduated from MSUM in May 2023 and was hired as the grades 5-12 band director in Hallock, a small town in Kittson County in northern Minnesota. There are just 240 students in Hallock, and I am one of only two band professionals in the county.

I am very grateful for the experiences and connections at M State that helped me grow to love—and succeed in—my job.