Dr. Russell Pesola, Concordia emeritus professor of music, led
the Concordia College Band to  national prominence during his
29 year career at the college. He has an extensive background as
guest clinician, conductor and in working with summer music camps and clinics for high school students and music educators. He began his career at Concordia in 1975 after 12 years in the public school systems of Wabasso and Northfield MN. Pesola, born in Littlefork, MN, is a graduate of St. Olaf College and he received his MA and DMA degrees in trumpet performance from the University of Minnesota.

He continues his active performance on trumpet with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Prairie Wind Brass and the Ameriikan Poijat Finnish Brass Septet which has toured extensively throughout Finland and the U.S. In addition to performance, he continues to arrange and perform numerous pieces for band and various ensembles.

Pesola is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, and is also a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Minnesota Music Educators Association, the Music Educators National Conference and founding member and president of the Minnesota Band Directors Association.