Atherton Award Recipient
Phil Snyder, 2004 & 2006

Phil Snyder
Trumpet, Drum Major, & Drill Designer

Phil Snyder teaches band and music courses for the Waconia School District in Waconia, MN.  He directs and co-directors curricular middle school bands, high school jazz band, middle school jazz bands, middle school pep band, and The Waconia High School Marching Band.  Phil has served the Waconia school district since 2012 and has directed ensembles at every level of the program.  Waconia bands serve over 850 band students grades 5th - 12th.  Before his tenure in Waconia, Phil served as a band director for the Anoka Hennepin school district.  In 2022 he was named the MBDA young band director of the year. 

Phil maintains a full professional schedule as a guest clinician, adjudicator, trumpet player and marching band drill designer.  He has written over 200 drills for bands all across the country spanning the past 2 decades. He got his start writing drills with the Blugold Marching Band in 2003. 

Phil is an active adjudicator with WSMA, Minnesota State High School League, Tri-State judging, USBands, Illinois, Iowa, and Western Bands Association.  He has 20 years of drum corps experience as a performer, staff member, program coordinator, and drill designer.    

During his time with the BMB, Phil was a marching member, soloist, and drum major (2006).  Phil wrote drill for the Blugold Marching Band from 2003 - 2007 and is honored to be a recipient of the Brandon Atherton award. 

Phil currently lives in Eden Prairie Minnesota with his wife Andria and their lovely daughter Maretta.  Outside of music he enjoys distance running, skiing, camping and going on adventures with his family.

“The BMB holds a very special place in my college experience.  It provided long lasting friendships, unmatched opportunities for leadership, and an all around fun atmosphere to be around!"