Gene Bechen, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Music
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Bands
Dr. Gene Bechen is in his fifth year as Associate Professor of Music
and Director of Bands at St. Ambrose University.
In addition to serving as department chair, he serves as coordinator of instrumental activities, teaches
courses in instrumental music education, conducts the SAU Symphonic Band, and serves as faculty advisor for CMENC.
His 22 years of teaching include instrumental music at the
elementary, junior high, high school, and university levels in Iowa,
Nevada, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Dr. Bechen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education degree from Wayne State College and a Master of Arts Degree and a Doctor of Music Education degree (Ph.D.) from The University of Iowa.
Prior to his arrival at St. Ambrose University, Dr. Bechen served as Director of Bands and coordinator of instrumental activities at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. From 2000-2003, he taught at Indiana State University where he conducted the ISU Concert Band, instructed courses in instrumental music education and graduate studies, coordinated student teaching supervision, and served as faculty advisor to CMENC and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Bechen was elected into Pi Kappa Lambda, National Music Honorary Society by the Delta Mu Chapter at ISU in 2002. In 2001, Dr. Bechen served as a visiting lecturer at University of Transkei (UNITRA) in Umtata, Eastern Cape, South Africa, where he taught conducting and served as a curriculum consultant. Dr. Bechen was awarded with the Wayne State College Outstanding Alumni Award for the School of Arts and Humanities in October, 2003.
Dr. Bechen’s research interests include music educator stress and burnout, student teaching, and competition in music. He is a contributing author to music education textbooks, Directing the Choral Music Program (Oxford University Press) and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band (Vols. V, VI, VII, GIA), Teaching Music Through Performance in Elementary Band (Vol. II, GIA). He is a member of MENC, CBDNA, NBA, NCBA, IBA, IMEA, TI:ME, IAJE and is active as a conductor, clinician, program consultant, and adjudicator throughout the Midwest.