Two Women Musicians Earn Milestone Appointments at Major Universities

Elizabeth Kerns McCann was named director of the marching and athletic bands at the University of Minnesota. She is the first woman director of a marching band in the Big 10 Conference. She will also hold the title of assistant director of bands at the university.

McCann joined the staff at the University of Minnesota in 2013 as assistant director of the marching band. McCann holds a bachelor’s degree in flute performance and music education from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in music conducting from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

At the University of Missouri School of Music, Erin Cooper has been appointed director of the Marching Mizzou. The marching band is the largest student organization on the university’s campus. Dr. Cooper is the first woman band director at the University of Missouri and currently is the only woman marching band director in the 14-member Southeastern Conference.

Dr. Cooper comes to the University of Missouri from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, where she was the director of the Spirit of Southeastern Marching Band. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She holds a master’s degree in conducting performance from the University of Delaware, and a doctor of musical arts degree in wind conducting from the University of Alabama.