Paul Baumgarten
summer conductor

Paul Baumgarten has conducted our Summer Pops Season for most of the last twenty two seasons. He was born and raised in the Western Wisconsin community of Tomah and graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. After teaching in the Eastern Wisconsin communities of Suring and New London, he moved to Willmar where he has taught Junior High Band for thirty two years.

While in Willmar Mr. Baumgarten worked with the Junior High Bands, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo and the Junior and Senior High School Marching Bands. From 1979 through 1981 Paul also served as the Minnesota State FFA Band Director. Paul has served as a judge and clinician for the Minnesota State High School League for thirty years and has occasionally worked with bands at Junior High Band Festivals throughout Southwestern Minnesota. In 2002 Paul was presented with the Outstanding Music Educator award by the Minnesota Music Educators Association. In June of 2005, after serving as a public school band director for 37 years, Paul retired from teaching .

Paul has maintained a busy playing schedule, performing regularly on Tuba, Euphonium and Trombone with community and liturgical ensembles and has participated as a soloist with various high school and community bands and in 2003 was selected as the featured soloist with the HeritageFest Tuba Choir for New Ulm's Heritage Festival.

Paul and his wife Jo live in Willmar, have been married for 33 years and have two adult children, Amy and Ross.