MEET DARRIN OEHLERKING

Dr. Darrin Oehlerking currently serves as Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan, and is Professor of Music in the USask School for the Arts. He previously served as Director of Bands and Jazz at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota, and as Music Coordinator for the Louis Riel School Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dr. Oehlerking earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting at The University of Iowa, where he studied with Dr. Myron Welch. He also studied with Dr. Dale J. Lonis at the University of Manitoba, where he earned a Master of Music Performance degree with an emphasis in Conducting. His undergraduate work was also at Manitoba, where he earned separate Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Education.

Prior to his appointment at USask, Dr. Oehlerking taught a wide variety of students and musicians at the primary, secondary and post-secondary levels. His ensembles have enjoyed success on local, national and international stages, consistently garnering outstanding performance awards and showcase invitations from a variety of organizations.

Dr. Oehlerking has previously served as the President of the Canadian Band Association, as well as the President of the Saskatchewan Band Association. He conducted the 2022 National Youth Band of Canada, and has been a guest conductor, adjudicator, conference presenter and clinician across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

He has two arrangements for wind band commercially available from Eighth Note Publications – R.C.M.P Regimental March and Souvenir de Quebec (both originally composed by Charles O’Neill). He is also the editor and compiler of Winds of the North: A Survey of the Canadian Wind Band Tradition and Repertoire, a resource available through GIA Publications dedicated to highlighting Canadian wind band repertoire.