Barry L. Houser

Biography

Barry L. Houser is the Director of the Marching Illini, Associate Director of Bands, Conductor of the Wind Orchestra, Director of the Fighting Illini Athletic Bands, Clinical Associate Professor and the Chair of the Conducting Area in the School of Music at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His responsibilities have included conducting each of the concert ensembles in the Illinois Bands program, the Athletic Bands, and the 400 member Marching Illini. He also teaches undergraduate conducting and marching band procedures along with other courses in the School of Music. Professor Houser’s teaching experience encompasses both extensive public school and university experiences.

Prior to Illinois, Houser served as the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands and Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University. A native of Indiana, Professor Houser served as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Director at NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Indiana, where his bands developed a reputation for great musicianship which in turn earned the program state and national recognition. Prior to his position at NorthWood, Houser served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida.

Bands under Houser’s leadership have performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade multiple times, the NBC Today Show, the ISSMA State Marching Finals, and the Indiana Music Educators State Convention. Other performances include the Indianapolis 500 Parade, the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Outback Bowl Parade and Halftime Show, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Washington DC National Memorial Parade, multiple Chicago Bears Halftime shows, exhibition performances at Music for All – Bands of America events, and performances with Maynard Ferguson, the Dallas Brass, Canadian Brass, Boston Brass, Gregg Potter, Douglas Yeo and many other talented performing artists.

Professor Houser is active nationally as a guest conductor and clinician in both the marching and concert band mediums. He has served as guest conductor and clinician for numerous All-State, District, and other honor bands as well as events with the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. He currently serves as the Artistic Director for the BRT Thanksgiving Parade of Bands at Walt Disney World. He has served on the staff of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band and the National Events Mass Band, which performs annually at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a contributing author to the popular marching band textbook The System by Gary Smith as well as numerous submissions to the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series.

Houser has served as Governor of the North Central District of Kappa Kappa Psi and currently serves as chapter advisor for the Nu Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi as well as Chapter Advisor for Phi Mu Alpha. He has served as the North Central Division Chair for the National Band Association and Chair of the Athletic Band Committee for the College Band Directors National Association, He currently serves on the national board for the College Band Directors National Association as well as the Chair of the Athletic Bands for the Big Ten Band Directors Association. Professor Houser is a member of the Music for All Educational Advisory Team providing input to Music for All leadership on philosophy, vision, planning, and guidance related to the organization’s educational programming. During the summer, Professor Houser is the Director and President of the renowned Smith Walbridge Clinics, one of the largest marching band – leadership camps in the country, impacting 1000+ students each year.

Houser holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, NAfME, Golden Key National Honor Society, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi International Band Fraternity, Honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and has been honored by the Indiana General Assembly and the US House of Representatives. He is the recipient of the Indianapolis Star Academic All Star Award, the WNDU Channel 16 Excellence in Education Award, Quinlan & Fabash Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator, Illinois Leadership Center Jeffrey Moss Leadership Coach of the Year as well as other recognitions.

Professor Houser is a Yamaha Master Educator.

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