Bruce Pearson is a world-renowned music educator, author, composer, and clinician. He is the author of the _Standard of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method_, which has been regarded as the most important contribution to the band music field in the last three decades since for his first contribution, _Best In Class_.  His newer method, the _Tradition of Excellence_, is co-authored with Ryan Nowlin. It is a performance-centered curriculum that seamlessly blends time-tested and innovative pedagogy with cutting-edge technology. Dr. Pearson’s _Excellence in Chamber Music_ books are correlated with _Tradition of Excellence Comprehensive Band Method_. He has published numerous repertoire pieces also correlated to _Tradition of Excellence_ and _Standard of Excellence_ method books. He also co-authored the _Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method_) and the _Standard of Excellence Advanced Jazz Ensemble Method_ with Dean Sorenson. In addition to his method books and repertoire, Dr. Pearson is well-known as a composer of many widely performed compositions for concert band and jazz ensemble. He has led clinics in all fifty of the United States and has been guest conductor and clinician, by invitation, of countries throughout the Pacific Rim, Asia, Europe, and the Canadian provinces. Dr. Pearson has taught at the elementary, junior high, high school, and college levels for over forty years. Twice nominated for the prestigious Excellence in Education Award, he was recognized as “most outstanding in the field of music” for the state of Minnesota. In December, 1998, Dr. Pearson, “in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education,” was awarded the prestigious Midwest International Clinic Band and Orchestra Conference Medal of Honor. In 2001, he was awarded St. Cloud State University’s Distinguished Service To Music Award “in appreciation for lifelong contribution to music and music education”. In 2007, Dr. Pearson received St. Cloud State University’s “Distinguished Alumni Award.” That same year he was recognized as the first Patron for the Maryborough Conference in Queensland, Australia. The American School Band Directors Association conferred on Dr. Pearson the 2014 Edwin Franko Goldman Award “as a symbol of high esteem and respect, and as a measure of appreciation and gratitude for outstanding personal contributions to the school band movement.” Additionally, Dr. Pearson has been recognized as a University of Northern Colorado “2017 Honored Alumni”. Dr. Pearson has also served as the Interim Worship Pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Currently, Dr. Pearson is the Music Director of both the Alleluia Orchestra and the Twin Cities Praise Symphony, an interdenominational studio orchestra committed to playing Christian music, sharing Jesus Christ, encouraging believers, and ministering to people through music. Dr. Pearson continues to serve as a guest lecturer, clinician, and conductor in addition to his work as a composer, arranger, and author. He and his wife Dee have been married for over fifty years, have three children and nine grandchildren.