Paul Popiel

An accomplished conductor, lecturer, and performer, Popiel has achieved international recognition throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. His discography spans numerous commercial recordings on labels including Klavier, Naxos, Ecstatic, Summit, Cantaloupe, and Mark Custom. Career highlights include his 2013 Carnegie Hall debut, which garnered critical acclaim from The New York Times and New York’s Feast of Music, as well as a series of acclaimed performances and live recordings with the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra, culminating in a five-CD box set of all nine symphonies by composer James Barnes. He has been elected to the American Bandmasters Association and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Prior to his appointment at Notre Dame, Popiel served for sixteen years at the University of Kansas, where he was Professor of Music and Director of Bands for thirteen years and Dean of the School of Music for three years. His earlier academic appointments include Assistant Director of Bands at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Associate Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University.

Popiel holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University, a Master’s in Trumpet Performance from the University of Notre Dame, and bachelor’s degrees in Instrumental Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Truman State University. He also earned an Arts Diploma in 20th Century Music from the University of Bristol as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.