Jason Rygg has been a music educator since the fall of 1997 and has served as band director in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota School District since 2000.  He is currently the Director of Bands at George McGovern Middle School, which opened in the fall of 2014. He has taught beginning orchestra, as well as band at all levels including elementary, middle and at two high schools (Roosevelt and Washington) in the Sioux Falls School District.  He has also held teaching positions in Mitchell and Ethan, South Dakota as well as Stanley, North Dakota. 

He received his undergraduate degree in 1997 from Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota, where he held the position of Principal Horn of the Minot Symphony Orchestra for three years and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Music Education.  In 2006, Mr. Rygg received his master’s degree (in instrumental conducting) from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.  He is active as a clinician and adjudicator, serving as a judge for numerous area Solo & Ensemble events, as well as serving as a judge for several regional marching band competitions.  He is a member of South Dakota Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a professional men’s music fraternity.  Mr. Rygg was one of five finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award in the Sioux Falls School District in 2013.  

Mr. Rygg maintains a busy performance schedule as Assistant Principal Horn of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Dakota Wind Quintet (SDSO) as well as regional orchestras in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.  From 1998-2014, Mr. Rygg served as a guest artist/teacher of young horn players at the International Music Camp (IMC), located at the International Peace Garden between North Dakota and Manitoba.  Since 2012, Mr. Rygg has also served as the Guest Conductor of the Middle Schools bands for the first session of IMC, and also second session middle school bands since 2014.  Mr. Rygg guest conducted the 2013 South Dakota Middle School All-State Festival Band in Pierre, SD, and has guest conducted many other regional honor bands in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.  In February of 2015, Mr. Rygg conducted the Junior High Gold Band at the All-West Tennessee Honor Band Clinic in Memphis, TN.  In November of 2016, Mr. Rygg created and conducted the first ever Sioux Falls Middle School All City Honor Band, which has since become a yearly event. During the summers of 2017 & 2018, Mr. Rygg was a guest band and jazz band conductor at the Bemidji MusiCamp, located in Bemidji, Minnesota.  Mr. Rygg most recently conducted the Wisconsin All-State Junior Band in January 2024.