There’s an energy that exudes from band and orchestra director Daniel Knox, one that students describe as joyful, precise, and contagious.
Junior Kaia Barron points first to his enthusiasm. “His excitement is contagious,” she shared. “He makes me excited to try new things.” Whether he is introducing a new piece of music or welcoming something unexpected, like a student joining the pep band with a kazoo, Daniel’s energy gives students permission to step in, take risks, and discover something new about themselves.
That invitation extends into how students connect with the music itself. Junior Kyle Crotchfelt describes a classroom where meaning matters just as much as performance. “Understanding the backstory of the music we play allows us to feel more connected and passionate,” he said. Daniel encourages students to find their own connection to what they are playing, turning music into something personal while making sure each student feels included and confident in their role.
For junior Kai Newton, that support is paired with a sense of humor that makes the classroom feel approachable. “His joyful demeanor makes it really easy to ask a question without feeling stupid,” he shared. Through reflection after concerts and individual check-ins, Daniel creates a space where students can grow, not just as musicians, but as people learning to express themselves.
That balance of curiosity, connection, and self-expression is at the heart of Daniel’s Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship, Finding Renewal Through the Road. Inspired by a desire to reconnect with his grandfather, Daniel will restore a 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix and travel west, retracing journeys his grandfather once took while exploring the natural landscapes that shaped both of their lives.
“I think I’m going to focus more on the journey than the destination,” Daniel shared.
At its core, his fellowship is about connection and renewal, something Daniel sees as essential to his work with students. “This is an opportunity to go inward a little bit more…to find renewal so that you can have more energy for students,” he said.
That kind of reflection is part of what defines the faculty at University. As Daniel put it, “We have very special, thoughtful teachers who give a lot of themselves.”
At University, that thoughtfulness becomes part of the student experience. It shows up in classrooms where curiosity is encouraged, where students feel safe to try, to question, and to grow, and where learning can be about discovering who you are in the process.
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