Dave Kies is a conductor, performer, clinician and music teacher living in La Crescent, Minnesota. He is the director of bands at West Salem High School in West Salem, Wisconsin, where he teaches concert band, wind symphony, two jazz ensembles, brass and percussion lessons, marching band, and pep band. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he studied conducting with Donald George, percussion with Ronald Keezer and jazz studies with Robert Baca. As a performer he leads the jazz quartet "Kies & Kompanie" which plays many local engagements and was the Thursday night house band at the Starlite Lounge (La Crosse, WI) for past fifteen years. He is also the drummer in Rochester, Minnesota’s Incognito. He also continues to freelance with many of the top musicians in the La Crosse area.