Dr. Russel C. Mikkelson serves as the sixth Director of University Bands at The Ohio State University, a position he has held since 1998, where he is Professor of Music (Conducting), former Area Head of Conducting and Ensembles, conducts the Wind Symphony, and oversees all aspects of the university's band program. Under his direction, the OSU Wind Symphony has performed at the Japan Band Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Convention, the CBDNA North Central Conference, the Ohio Music Educators Association Convention, and has recorded six CD’s.  In a review of the "Southern Harmony" recording Fanfare magazine proclaims "The Ohio State musicians play their collective hearts out and conductor Mikkelson shapes the music with a loving hand, wringing every last drop of emotion out of the music. If this does not give you goose-bumps, nothing will."  

A staunch advocate for the creation of new works, Mikkelson is past chair of the Big Ten Conference Commissioning Project, has served on the American Bandmasters Association Commissioning Committee, the New Works Committee for the College Band Directors National Association, and instituted a program of regular commissioning projects for the Ohio State Bands. He has received praise from composers Leslie Bassett, Krzysztof Penderecki, John Corigliano, Michael Colgrass, Joseph Schwantner, Aaron Jay Kernis, Jennifer Higdon, Gunther Schuller, Julia Wolfe, and Augusta Read Thomas, among many others, for his musical realization of their compositions. Corigliano wrote, “Russel Mikkelson is a conductor who really understands my music, and that’s rare.” 

Dr. Mikkelson is Past President of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Past President of the Big Ten Band Directors Association, a member of National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and a duly elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. An enthusiastic advocate of public-school music education, Dr. Mikkelson has conducted All-State Bands, Festivals, and Honor Bands across the United States and internationally. Additionally, Mikkelson serves as Music Director and Conductor of both the professional Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra and the Heisey Wind Ensemble, a highly skilled community band. 

He is a recipient of The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award, in addition to serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Band Research.   In 2022, Mikkelson was recognized by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with the President’s Award, given in recognition of his professional and personal achievements as a graduate of that institution. He has published articles in The Instrumentalist and The Journal of the Conductor’s Guild, and as a composer/arranger, is published through C. Alan and Daehn Publications. Previous posts include the State University of New York at Fredonia, Stevens Point Area Senior High School (Wisconsin), and Kickapoo High School (Wisconsin).