Raydell Bradley

Raydell C. Bradley served for ten years as a member of the faculty of Pacific Lutheran University where he conducted both the University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, as well as conducting the Washington Wind Symphony.

Before accepting his position at PLU, Dr. Bradley was Director of Bands at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where his Symphonic Concert Band was invited to perform for the Kansas Music Educators Workshop. Prior to that appointment, Dr. Bradley served as Assistant Director of Bands at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He has also served on the music faculty of the Omaha public schools.

Dr. Bradley received the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts degrees from Truman State University in 1981 and 1986. He completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Washington in June 2000, where he was the recipient of the Dorothy Danforth-Compton Foundation fellowship. Dr. Bradley's dissertation project was "A Study of the Liturgical and Programmatic Aspects of Selected Wind Ensemble Compositions of David Gillingham."

Dr. Bradley maintained a very active schedule, serving as guest clinician, conductor, and adjudicator in over 25 states and Canada. He was on the music staff of the First Christian Church of Seattle. PLU Wind Ensemble honors under Professor Bradley's direction included performances for the college Band Director's National Association Convention in Reno in 1994 and 1998, the Washington Music Educators Conference in 1996, and the Hawaii Music Educator's Conference in 1998. Dr. Bradley was President-Elect of the Northwest Division of the CBDNA. Dr. Bradley can be heard on keyboards on the "Open Doors" CD with his jazz/gospel quintet the "Sabbatical Five."

Raydell passed away in November of 2003. He was loved by all who knew him and we continue to miss him dearly.