Associate professor Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn has been chosen as director of Wichita State’s school of music, effective in June. He will succeed Russ Widener, who is retiring after 37 years at WSU.

Sternfeld-Dunn grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, was educated on both coasts and wound up in the middle of the country. He joined WSU’s faculty in 2011 and has taught composition, electronic music, and music theory.

He came to WSU after completing his doctorate in composition with a minor in music theory from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. He holds a masters in composition from Washington State University and a bachelors from California State University East Bay.

Sternfeld-Dunn also serves on Faculty Senate as a fine arts senator representing the school of music.

His music combines a “frenetic rhythmic language, lean textures and lyrical sensitivity,” his website says.

His compositions are performed in the United States and Europe by groups like Composers Inc., The Kiev Philharmonic, The Conundrum Ensemble, the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra and the Interlochen Chamber Players.

In addition to composing, Sternfeld-Dunn is a conductor and string bassist. He has conducted orchestras, wind ensembles, and theatre productions. As a bassist he has held positions in several San Francisco Bay Area Orchestras, as well as numerous jazz bands.

Sternfeld-Dunn also serves on the WSU Faculty Senate.

A Google search on Sternfeld-Dunn was telling — in addition to WSU links, top results included links to his music on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, websites to buy sheet music of his work.