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Interim Assistant Director of Bands Kirsten Hoogstraten Rivera (she/her) joined the College of Music faculty in 2025. Her responsibilities include conducting the CU Boulder Concert Band, directing the Buffs Basketball Band and assisting in the direction of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band along with co-teaching the marching band techniques course in the college’s music education curriculum.

Prior to her appointment at CU Boulder, Hoogstraten was a graduate teaching assistant at Texas Tech University with the Texas Tech Bands where she guest conducted the TTU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. She, along with her colleagues, conducted the TTU University Band and assisted with the college’s undergraduate conducting classes. Hoogstraten was also heavily involved with the athletic bands at TTU, writing drill for and conducting the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and directing the Court Jesters Basketball Band. Previously, Hoogstraten taught band for three years in St. Marys, Kansas, one year in Northbrookfield, Massachusetts and two years with Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida.

Hoogstraten has presented sessions at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference (2023 and 2024) and performed at the National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy (2025). She actively arranges for chamber winds, tuba/euphonium ensemble and athletic bands. Hoogstraten graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from Texas Tech University. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts in instrumental conducting from the University of Central Florida. Her primary conducting teachers were Sarah McKoin, Scott Lubaroff and John Lynch. Her doctoral project was a transcription of Caroline Shaw’s “Plan & Elevation” for chamber winds and percussion.

BandsGolden Buffalo Marching Band