BU alumni award winner back in classroom

Earl Oxford School music teacher Erin Dodds is back in her band room helping hundreds of young students find their rhythm after receiving a major alumni award from Brandon University last month.

Now in her 12th year at the school, Dodds leads a bustling music program that serves nearly half of Brandon’s middle school band students.

As the east side band director, she teaches about 170 Grade 7 students and 115 Grade 8 students across multiple schools, leading concert bands and wind ensembles that have grown larger than ever since the pandemic.

“The band program is bigger than it has been since COVID, which is incredible,” Dodds told the Sun. “We’ve got such a great group of students this year — motivated, talented and full of energy.”

Dodds said she has been reminded of why she chose teaching every time she steps into the classroom.

“I’ve learned patience and flexibility,” she said. “Students can do so much more than we sometimes expect — they surprise me constantly with their creativity and determination.”

Beyond rehearsals and concerts, Dodds strives to create opportunities for young musicians to learn and perform. She co-ordinates the Westman Honour Bands, a weekend event that gathers students from across the region to rehearse and perform under the direction of guest conductors. She is also a longtime volunteer with the Manitoba Band Association, contributing to provincial committees and initiatives that strengthen music education across Manitoba.

“It takes a lot of work outside of regular school hours,” she said. “I work tirelessly. There are evenings, weekends and countless rehearsals, but seeing students grow makes it all worthwhile.”

Dodds’ dedication to music education was recognized last month at BU’s Homecoming celebration, where she received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. The award honours graduates under 35 who have made exceptional contributions to their fields and communities.

Dodds, who is originally from Saskatchewan, studied music at BU before starting her teaching career in Brandon. She said the recognition came as a complete surprise when she was contacted in June.

“I was very honoured and thankful to be recognized,” she said. “It feels good to know that the work we’re doing is making a difference and that others notice the effort that goes into it.”

Although she hasn’t made a big announcement about the award in her classroom, her colleagues and mentors have reached out with congratulations. “People at the school have said it was well deserved,” she said. “They see how many hours we put in, and that kind of recognition really means a lot.”

Despite the recognition, Dodds remains focused on her students and the community she has helped build in Brandon. “I love the team I work with here,” she said. “We’ve built something really special, and it’s not something you can easily recreate anywhere else.”

She has also begun receiving new invitations to work with honour bands and music festivals in other parts of the province, but she has no plans to leave Brandon. “I’ll take short-term opportunities, but Brandon is home,” she said.

Dodds said the award has also reminded her of the importance of balance. “One of the challenges in music education is finding time for yourself,” she said. “I’m learning to take care of myself so I can keep doing this for the long term.”

For Dodds, the award is less a personal achievement and more a reflection of the strong community of music educators and students she’s surrounded by.

“It’s a reminder that what we do every day matters,” she said. “Seeing students grow in confidence and creativity — that’s the real reward.”

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