Dr. Bryan Powell is an Associate Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, and a Coordinator for the Recording Arts and Production degree at Montclair State University. Bryan teaches classes in popular music, modern band, and music technology, and directs the Montclair State popular music ensemble. Bryan is the Chief Program Officer for Music Will and former Director of Programs for Amp Up NYC, a partnership between Berklee College of Music and Little Kids Rock.

A former NYC public school music teacher, Bryan is the founding co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Education, co-author of Popular Music Pedagogies: A Practical Guide for Music Teachers (Routledge), series co-editor for Contemporary Music Making and Learning (Intellect Books), and editor of The Modern Band Handbook (OUP). Bryan was the co-director of the 2022 NAfME All-National Honor Ensemble for Modern Band, and co-director for the 2023 NAfME All-Eastern Division Honor Ensemble for Modern Band. He serves as the Executive Director of the Association for Popular Music Education and is the past-Chair for the NAfME Popular Music Education Special Research Interest Group.

image of Hilton Long Beach hotel with copy 2026 Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Long Beach, California. Call for proposals due February 23, 2026. Logos for Society for Music Teacher Education and Society for Research in Music Education
From Budget to Brilliance: Building Strong Music Programs. 2026 NAfME Music Program Leaders Forum. January 29-30, 2026. Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona. Image of Delta Hotels Marriott. Logos for NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders and Arizona Annual State Music Education Conference theme Teaching with Passion, Leading with Purpose
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