Director of Bands
Rickey H. Badua is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and teaches beginning and instrumental conducting, and oversees all aspects of the winds studies program.
Prior to his appointment at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Dr. Badua received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting degree from the University of Georgia where he studied with Dr. John P. Lynch. His dissertation titled “The Maverick: An Analytical Study of Carter Pann’s Symphony for Winds: My Brother’s Brain (2014)” investigates the wind band music of Pulitzer finalist and Grammy-nominated composer Carter Pann through an extensive study of his most prolific work for a large ensemble. Dr. Badua was also the recipient of the Director’s Excellence and Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award.
Dr. Badua’s scholarship achievements include wind band research in Saint Petersburg, Russia where he received a presidential grant from the University of Georgia to pursue research on the unpublished manuscripts of 19th century band repertoire of Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini, at the Saint Petersburg Museum of Theatrical and Musical Art. His most recent achievements include guest conducting and researching wind band programs in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Russia.
Dr. Badua is active as a presenter and guest conductor throughout the U.S. and abroad including appearances at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic, Oxford Conducting Institute, International Society for Research & Promotion of Wind Music, College Band Directors National Conference, California All-State Music Educators Conference, Georgia Music Educator’ Association Conference, and the National Association for Music Education-Northwest Division Conference; his most notable engagements include being one of the first American conductors to guest conduct the Admiralty Navy Band of St. Petersburg, Russia and being selected as finalist for The American Prize in Wind Conducting Competition in 2015.
Dr. Badua taught public school as Director of Bands and Arts Department Chair at Peninsula High School and District Music Coordinator of the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, WA. Under his leadership, Dr. Badua developed a comprehensive band program, which included a Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band, Color Guard and Winter Guard. During his tenure, he raised the standard of excellence and increased enrollment from 68 to 120 students over four years where each ensemble consistently received “Superior” ratings at all festival and contests in the region, most notably, the Wind Ensemble’s performance at the 2011 National Association for Music Education Conference-Northwest in Bellevue, WA.
Dr. Badua is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii but upon high school graduation, moved to Washington to earn his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA where he also received an honorary fellowship to complete his Master of Arts in Teaching degree and was a conducting student of Dr. Robert Taylor. He holds professional memberships with the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), Southern California Schools Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), College Music Society, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), World Association for Symphonic Bands & Ensembles (WASBE) and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).