Christoph Dundas – A Music Teacher for So Many Good Reasons

April 18, 2025

Becoming a music teacher is a significant investment of oneself. Interestingly, Christoph Dundas, High School Band Director at Austin Public Schools, ended up joining the teaching ranks almost by accident, and even shied away from the profession for a pretty good reason. Winner of the 2025 Austin Education Association Teacher of the Year award and one of twelve finalists for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award, Dundas is receiving attention for his role as a public school music teacher for so many good reasons.

Christoph Dundas, High School Band Director at Austin Public Schools and finalist for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award

If you want to know the story of how Christoph serendipitously fell into a career as a music educator, you’ll have to ask him – it’s a good story and I won’t steal his thunder. On the other side of that coin, Christoph always loved making music, but he wondered if joining the teaching ranks as a music teacher might interfere with his musical joy and passion. Not too far removed from the possibility of becoming an educator, Christoph at first contemplated a potential career as a math or English teacher. Somehow, his continued participation in music led him on a path to become a music educator. Christoph credits many influential music teachers in his formative educational years, including secondary school, college, and student teaching mentors, who provided guidance and inspiration as he travelled on this journey.

As you might expect, Christoph has achieved many musical goals along the way. He has conducted honor bands, served as a leader in statewide music education organizations, and balanced all of this with the typical hectic schedule of a high school band director – 3 concert bands, 2 jazz bands, pep band, marching band, etc… In February 2019, The Austin High School Wind Ensemble, under his direction, received an invitation to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic. Their strong performance at the convention was made even more noteworthy by the fact that the month preceding their performance was particularly snowy. There were only a handful of days during that month where they had “normal” rehearsals.

When asked about his teaching philosophy, Christoph shares simply “students first, music second.” Establishing positive relationships with students, and using music as the entry point, matters most to Christoph. “I think a lot about where I can do the most good,” said Dundas. Christoph continues to note that a “relationship-first teacher” helps make his band students want to play better. That shift in mindset toward teaching students first, encourages him and his students to “work hard and be dedicated.”

No matter the final outcome of the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year selection committee in early May, Christoph Dundas represents well the Arts and Music teachers across the state. Kudos Christoph! You are a music teacher for so many good reasons.

Article by Michael Buck, PhD, Music Specialist, Perpich Center for Arts Education

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The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program, now in its 61st year, is the oldest and most prestigious recognition program in Minnesota to honor excellence in education. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education, and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or non-public schools.

The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota’s thousands of excellent educators. An independent selection panel of 21 leaders in the areas of education, business, government, and nonprofits selected the finalists from a group of 31 semifinalists. There were 142 candidates for this program year. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet is set for May 4 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Organized and underwritten by Education Minnesota, the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program also receives support from Education Minnesota ESI, Educators Lifetime Solutions, EFS Advisors, Expedition Credit Union, Harvard Club of Minnesota Foundation, and SMART Technologies.