Susan Karels Named 2026 Outstanding Bandmaster

Susan Karels, now in her 34th year as the 6-12 band director for the Milbank School District, was named the 2026 Outstanding Bandmaster by the South Dakota chapter of Phi Beta Mu. She was recognized as this year’s honoree during the annual South Dakota Bandmaster’s Conference held in Brookings on February 13.   

Karels grew up in Claremont and attended Langford High School. She earned her BME degree in instrumental and vocal education from Northern State University in 1992. In 2000, she also earned an MA degree from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. 

Karels is a member of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association, South Dakota Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and Sigma Alpha Iota.  She currently serves as the South Dakota Bandmasters Association President as well as the Region 3 Music President. She is also an active adjudicator at local and regional events, a church musician, private piano instructor, and treasurer of the Grant County 4-H Leaders Association.

Phi Beta Mu is an international bandmaster’s society formed in 1939. Today, it has chapters in 30 US states, Brazil, Canada, and Poland. South Dakota’s Sigma Chapter held its first meeting on January 29, 1961, at South Dakota State University in Brookings. It now has 103 members.