Sara Stadem | Editor
The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) announced that West Central Director of Bands Danny Eye has been chosen to receive the 2020-21 National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) Outstanding Music Educator of the State of South Dakota.
According to the press release from the SDHSAA, nominees for the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award are solicited from the NFHS’s state contacts. Any new nominees along with previous recipients are considered for state, sectional or Citation awards. When determining the winner of the award, the NFHS Music Committee looks at a number of factors which include:
• Overall contributions
Years of service both curricular and co-curricular
Organization and continuance of an activity program
Significant and ongoing contribution to the field
Contributions to the profession both in and out of the state
Eye grew up on a family farm in Hanley Falls, Minn., and attended Yellow Medicine Easton High School in Granite Falls, Minn.
After high school, Eye went on to attending South Dakota State University (SDSU) and studied percussion under the direction of Mr. James McKinney and Mr. C. Stephen Tobin. During his time at SDSU, Eye kept himself active by participating in percussion ensemble, symphonic band and in the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band by playing snare drum in the drumline. He marched for SDSU for five years, getting to march in Washington D.C. in July of 2000 and the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, Calif. in January 2003.
In addition to being active at SDSU, during the years of 1999-2004, Eye marched snare drum for six seasons with Su Fu Du which is a drumline that is based out of Sioux Falls. After retiring from playing and holding positions as Member-at-Large, Eye went on to join the board of directors.
Eye graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and received his Master of Arts in Education from Augustana College in December 2012. He also went on to receive his Master of Music Education Degree from Northern State University in June 2014.
After graduation, Eye started to see success with his directing while being a long-term substitute teacher at Russell – Tyler – Ruthton high school in Tyler, Minn. Eye stated, “We had a lot of success with starting the RTR “Knight Fire” Drumline and presented the “Drumline Jam” clinic. The award-winning drumline marched throughout Minnesota performing their “Don’t Drum and Drive 2005” tour.
Eye was able to continue his success when he went on to teach full-time for Parkston School District. There he taught 4th grade band, high school band, pep band, marching band, jazz band, 4th-8th grade percussion and brass lessons and music appreciation. During his busy schedule, Eye still found time to develop the award-winning Stickshot Drumline.
In 2008-09, Eye was instrumental in combining two separate school districts (Sanborn Central School District in Forestburg and Woonsocket School District) to develop a marching band which went on to compete at the River City Band Festival held in Chamberlain, S.D.
Eye, nominated for the award by West Central middle school/high school vocal teacher Laurie Gratz, is now in his 12th year teaching at West Central. He currently teaches instrumental music for grades 6-12. In addition to that, Eye is the director of the marching band, concert band, high school jazz band, drumline, percussion ensemble, musical pit, gives weekly lessons to middle school students and teaches a piano course to high school students.
Due to all of his hard work, a few years back, Eye was also the recipient of another award. “I was honored as the West Central Teacher of the Year during the 2016-17 school year.”
When Eye can find free time, he enjoys golfing, riding motorcycles and spending time with his wife and children. He also enjoys staying busy by traveling as a marching percussion clinician, composer and judging festivals. Eye added, “I played two years with the Sioux Falls Stormfront Drumline on snare drum. Stormfront played at all of the home games during the 2008-09 seasons for the now 11-time National Champion Sioux Falls Strom Indoor Football Team.”
When asked what his career highlights are, Eye stated, “There are so many highlights throughout my career. My favorite part is getting to know the students from the time they enter 6th grade band to when they graduate.” He continued, “I’m lucky to be able to teach many of the same students for seven years! I get to watch them develop into young adults and see their musical accomplishments.”
Eye will be presented his award at the West Central Spring Band/Chorus concert on April 27, 2021.
“This award means so much to me and my family. My family knows how much work I put into the students and the program and it’s an honor to receive the recognition.” Eye continued, “The past recipients are legendary music directors and I’m very humbled to receive it as well.”