Paul Krueger is currently the Director of Bands at Lane Community College in Eugene, OR, where he teaches Aural Skills and Jazz Combos in addition to directing the Lane Symphonic Band and the Lane Jazz Ensemble.Previously, Krueger served as the Assistant Band Director at Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD, where he taught concert bands, jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, jazz combos, marching band and pep band. Krueger's first full-time teaching position was as an Adjunct Instructor of Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon, where he was hired as a sabbatical replacement for Steve Owen. In addition to directing the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, Krueger taught Jazz Repertoire, Jazz Performance Lab, Advanced Jazz Arranging, and jazz combo. Krueger has been recognized as a skilled improviser at jazz festivals around the country, and was named the "Outstanding College Trumpeter" at the 2011 Reno Jazz Festival. In December 2011, he released his first album, The Wayward Traveler, which features eight of his original compositions performed by his quartet. Krueger's compositions and arrangements have been featured by university jazz ensembles around the country, and have been performed by artists such as Dave Pietro, Steve Wilson, and Dan Tepfer. In May 2012, Krueger's arrangement of Steve Wilson's "Wish You Were Here" received a Downbeat Magazine Student Music Award for Best Jazz Arrangement, and Krueger has been named one of ASCAP's Young Jazz Composer Award recipients for original compositions in 2012, 2013, and 2014. A native of Lincoln, NE, Krueger earned his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2009, and his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon in June 2011.