Office: PA 225
Phone: (812) 237-2790
Email: Kathryn.Spangler@indstate.edu

Dr. Kathryn Spangler currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands at Indiana State University. In this role she leads the Marching Sycamores, the Basketball Band, and teaches music education courses. Dr. Spangler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Master of Music in Saxophone Performance and Music Education from Butler University. Additionally, she earned her Doctor of Arts in Music Education and Educational Psychology from Ball State University. Dr. Spangler has spent 25 years teaching music in Indiana and has performed professionally across the country with the Indianapolis Saxophone Quartet.

During her nineteen years as a middle and high school band director, she spent nearly half of those teaching in the inner city. Under her direction she was able to grow the highly successful Shortridge Magnet High School band program. She is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor and served as the Visual Caption Head for the Indianapolis Ignition and the Music Design Caption Head for Asteria Winds, sponsored by The Blue Stars. Previously Dr. Spangler served as the Director of Bands and Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Marian University from 2017-2022.

Dr. Spangler’s research is focused on social and emotional development (SEL) in urban school band programs and developing a culture of SEL in diverse classrooms. She is currently working on developing a practical guide to creating a culture of SEL in the classroom to be published in the spring of 2023 and has previously published articles and presented workshops on developing independent musicians, the history of the school band, and overcoming challenges in urban school band programs. Dr. Spangler is a member of the Excalibur Brass Band, Indiana Wind Symphony, Indianapolis Saxophone Quartet, Pi Kappa Lambda, Indiana Bandmasters Association, CBDNA, IMEA, and NAfME. Dr. Spangler performs regularly as a freelance musician and recently performed on stage with Darius Rucker.

D.A. Ball State University; M.M and B.M Butler University.