Biography
Dr. Bryan Raya is a professional musician, conductor, and educator. His most recent position was as the Director of Bands at Northeastern State University (NSU). His responsibilities included overseeing the NSU band program including concert and athletic bands as well as teaching applied lessons in low brass. Dr. Raya also served as the chapter sponsor/advisor to the Alpha Rho Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band service fraternity. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Raya was the Associate Director of Bands and director of the Western Thunder Marching Band at the University of Wyoming (UW). In addition to leading the athletic bands at UW, his duties also included conducting the Symphonic Band and teaching courses in music education including brass methods, aural theory, and marching band techniques. Dr. Raya also served as a Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University (ASU) while earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind band conducting with his doctoral thesis, A Survey of the Current Financial Trends in American Adult Community Bands.
Before earning his Doctorate in conducting from ASU in 2017 and Master's from Fresno State in 2014, he was a bandmaster/conductor in the United States Army. He has performed as a trombonist and conductor throughout his musical career with various military and civilian ensembles throughout the world. Since graduating in 2004 with his Bachelor's degree in trombone performance from Fresno State, he has played for numerous dignitaries and government officials, including the President and Vice President of the United States of America as well as other elected and appointed officials from around the world. His military band assignments include Alabama, Texas, Hawaii, and South Korea. While he was with the 25th Infantry Division Band stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, he was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2006 to September 2007. Dr. Raya’s highest military position and last assignment was as the Executive Officer with the 323d Army Band "Fort Sam's Own" at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
A decorated military veteran, Dr. Raya has numerous achievements and honors. These include being named the 2006 U.S. Army, Pacific Soldier of the Year, the Distinguished Honor Graduate for the Army's Advanced Leader Course in 2010, and being selected as a warrant officer/bandmaster for the U.S. Army in 2011. Dr. Raya was named a 2021 recipient of the President's Ambassador Network (PAN) award at NSU, and he was selected to present at the 2022 Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) conference. Other academic recognitions include: the Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award in 2018 and the Mortar Board Honor Society "Top Prof" Award in 2017.
Before he joined the Army, Dr. Raya performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps including their 1999 championship season, and has worked with numerous high school and college marching band programs. Dr. Raya is inspired by his previous mentors, Dr. James Klein and Dr. Lawrence Sutherland, in both trombone and conducting as well a Dr. Gary P. Gilroy. He is a member of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Association of Concert Bands, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, and also a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band service fraternity.
In 2022, Dr. Raya started his own business, DBR Bookkeeping. His goal is to help small businesses and entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing high quality bookkeeping services aimed at increasing business efficiency and quality. He has continued to learn and grow by studying and earning certificates in bookkeeping and project management as well as becoming Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. While he is capable of servicing all types of small businesses, Dr. Raya has a special goal to help passionate artists, designers, and creators manage their finances.
Before earning his Doctorate in conducting from ASU in 2017 and Master's from Fresno State in 2014, he was a bandmaster/conductor in the United States Army. He has performed as a trombonist and conductor throughout his musical career with various military and civilian ensembles throughout the world. Since graduating in 2004 with his Bachelor's degree in trombone performance from Fresno State, he has played for numerous dignitaries and government officials, including the President and Vice President of the United States of America as well as other elected and appointed officials from around the world. His military band assignments include Alabama, Texas, Hawaii, and South Korea. While he was with the 25th Infantry Division Band stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, he was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2006 to September 2007. Dr. Raya’s highest military position and last assignment was as the Executive Officer with the 323d Army Band "Fort Sam's Own" at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
A decorated military veteran, Dr. Raya has numerous achievements and honors. These include being named the 2006 U.S. Army, Pacific Soldier of the Year, the Distinguished Honor Graduate for the Army's Advanced Leader Course in 2010, and being selected as a warrant officer/bandmaster for the U.S. Army in 2011. Dr. Raya was named a 2021 recipient of the President's Ambassador Network (PAN) award at NSU, and he was selected to present at the 2022 Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) conference. Other academic recognitions include: the Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award in 2018 and the Mortar Board Honor Society "Top Prof" Award in 2017.
Before he joined the Army, Dr. Raya performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps including their 1999 championship season, and has worked with numerous high school and college marching band programs. Dr. Raya is inspired by his previous mentors, Dr. James Klein and Dr. Lawrence Sutherland, in both trombone and conducting as well a Dr. Gary P. Gilroy. He is a member of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Association of Concert Bands, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, and also a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band service fraternity.
In 2022, Dr. Raya started his own business, DBR Bookkeeping. His goal is to help small businesses and entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing high quality bookkeeping services aimed at increasing business efficiency and quality. He has continued to learn and grow by studying and earning certificates in bookkeeping and project management as well as becoming Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. While he is capable of servicing all types of small businesses, Dr. Raya has a special goal to help passionate artists, designers, and creators manage their finances.
News about Bryan and the Fresno State Alumni Band in 2011. Click here to see link of Halftime performance
