John Madden
John Thomas Madden is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Savannah Wind
Symphony. He is an American conductor, music educator, music arranger, educational
clinician, and trumpet player.
John is an Emeritus Professor of Music in the College of Music at Michigan State
University where he served on the faculty for 28 years (1989 to 2017). There, he served
as the Conductor of the MSU Symphony Band, the Associate Director of Bands, and the
Director of the famed Spartan Marching Band. Additionally, he taught advanced
instrumental conducting at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prior to coming
to MSU, Madden served from 1987-1989 as Associate Director of Bands in the Mason
Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Madden’s awards and honors include receiving the Dortha J. and John D. Withrow
Award for Excellence in Teaching, as awarded by his faculty peers, from the MSU
College of Music in 2014. In 2008, John was inducted into the prestigious American
Bandmasters Association. In 2016, he was awarded the distinction of “Yamaha Master
Educator.” John is an active collaborator and maintains a guest-conducting schedule
with school, university, community, and honor/all-state bands. He’s conducted
throughout the United States, China, and across Central Europe.
Madden was born in New Jersey and grew up in the Metropolitan Detroit region of
Michigan. He received his Master of Music Education (MME) and Master of Wind
Conducting (MM) degrees from Wichita State University (KS) in 1987, where he served
as graduate teaching assistant in the University Bands area and is a 1985 graduate of
the Michigan State University College of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music
Education (BME) degree. To learn more about John, go to his personal website.
The “Savannah Winds” is an audition only, community ensemble whose personnel is
made up of professional musicians, former and current music educators, and dedicated
community musicians. The Savannah Wind Symphony, founded in 1977, will celebrate
its 50th anniversary in the 2026/2027 season.