Name: Bryan Ransom

Department: Music and Dance/Athletics

Position: Director of SDSU's Athletic Bands

1. What inspired you to do this kind of work? I had an amazing high school band director in Merced, CA. by the name of Michael Selleck. Also, I come from a very musical family. Everyone played an instrument, and there was always music in the house.

2. How long have you worked at SDSU? I accepted my first staff position in 1993, but have been at the university since 1988, when I came for my undergrad studies in music education.

3. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “The will to succeed is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to succeed.” Not sure who coined it, but it was on the wall in my high school band room. I try to impart this philosophy in all my bands.

4. What is your favorite thing about your job? Working with amazingly talented and energetic college students, and seeing their efforts come to fruition on the football field on game day.

5. What about your field or position do you think would surprise people the most? The amount of  coordination, pre-planning, and rehearsal time that goes into putting a marching band pregame and halftime show together.

6. What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you? I used to be a disc jockey. A high school friend and I opened a couple of under-21 dance clubs in my home town of Merced in the mid-80’s. I still have about 30 large storage boxes of vinyl at my house, much to my wife’s chagrin.

7. If you could only rescue one thing from your burning office, what would it be? My external (back up) hard drive!

Bonus Question
What music do you play most often in your office or car? Wow. You name it. ABBA to Zappa, Bach to Wagner. Not a huge country music fan. People who ride with me go crazy with the wild mixes of music that come out of my iPod.

To read about the Marching Aztecs fall concert, click here.

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