Barry L. Houser

Barry Lee Houser (born June 21, 1977) is an American musician and conductor. He is the current director of the University of Illinois Marching Illini and Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Houser also conducts the Illinois Wind Orchestra, the basketball and volleyball bands, and teaches in the School of Music.[1]

Barry L. Houser
Houser in Memorial Stadium in August 2015
Born
Barry Lee Houser

(1977-06-21) June 21, 1977
EducationB.M.E University of Florida M.M. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
TitleDirector of Athletic Bands
PredecessorPete Griffin
SpouseAbigail Houser (m. June 22, 2007)

Bands under Houser's direction have performed at events at the national and local level, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NBC Today Show, the ISSMA State Marching Finals, and the IMEA State Convention. Bands under Houser’s direction also performed at Chicago Bears Games, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Indianapolis 500 Parade, the Outback Bowl Parade and Half-Time Show, the Target Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Washington DC National Memorial Parade, and with Maynard Ferguson and the Dallas Brass.[2]

Houser is the Director and Head Clinician for the Smith Walbridge Clinics, one of the largest marching band/leadership camps of its type in the United States.[3]

Early years, education, and personal life

Houser grew up in North Liberty, Indiana and attended John Glenn High School in Walkerton, Indiana.[4][5] Houser attended the University of Florida, majoring in music education and perform as a trumpet player and eventually drum major of the Gator Marching Band.[6]

After teaching in public high schools, in 2007 Houser attended University of Illinois for a master's degree in wind band conducting, where he studied under James Keene and Pete Griffin. While a student at Illinois, Houser worked as a graduate assistant where he conducted athletic bands and assisted with directing the Marching Illini, the band he would later lead.

In 2007, Houser married Abigail Dobies.[5]

Career

Eastern Illinois University (2008-2011)

Houser's first band directing job was at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands. The Eastern Illinois University Marching Panthers was the first college marching band Houser directed.[7][8]

University of Illinois Marching Illini (2011-present)

After the resignation of director Pete Griffin, the University of Illinois hired Houser as the new director of the University of Illinois Marching Illini, a marching band.[9][10]

The band has performed at Chicago Bears home football games, an It's On Us rally held by Vice President Joe Biden,[11] the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.[12] The band was selected to perform at the end of the parade bringing in Santa Claus.[13][14]

During Houser's time at the university, the band has held a fundraiser called the "Sousaphone 5K."[15][16] After the first year the race was held, Houser agreed to run the 5K the following year while wearing a sousaphone if the band raised $5000.[17] Another band fundraiser included the piccolo section's participation in a dance marathon.[18]

2015 Ohio State Recruitment

In April 2015, the News-Gazette reported that the Ohio State University was recruiting Houser to serve as the director of their marching band.[19] After interviewing and being named a finalist, Houser withdrew his candidacy.[20][21]

Other work

Houser is also the President of the Smith Walbridge Drum Major Clinics. Houser first joined the staff in 1995. Houser has been selected to conduct the Macy's Great American Marching Band six times.[22]

References

  1. "University of Illinois School of Music". www.music.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  2. "Faculty & Staff | Illinois Bands". bands.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  3. "Barry Houser". www.swclinics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  4. "The Big 10 with Jeff D'Alessio, Oct. 12, 2014". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  5. "Abigail Dobies and Barry Houser". Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  6. Lash, Ben (2015-08-02). "A talk with Barry Houser on maintaing [sic] pride, excellence with Marching Illini - The Daily Illini". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  7. "Panther Marching Band & Basketball Band". EIUPanthers.com. 2008. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  8. Kmitch, Justin (23 November 2010). "Naperville C. drum major to lead Macy's parade". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. "Marching Illini's new director coming back to UI". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  10. "Fighting Illini Football: Barry Houser named new Director of the Marching Illini - IllinoisLoyalty.com". www.illinoisloyalty.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  11. "Hangin' with Biden: 'Cool is an understatement'". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  12. "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2015: After ISIS NYC Threat, NYPD Bolsters Security, But There's Still Worry". International Business Times. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  13. Tribune, Chicago. "Next stop for Illinois marching band: Macy's parade". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  14. "A super conductor: UI's Barry Houser". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  15. "A 5K's not a marathon -- until you run it with a sousaphone". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  16. "Marching Illini Sousaphonists Run 5K, Carrying Their Instruments, For a Cause". Runner's World. 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  17. "Sousaphone 5K". imathlete. Archived from the original on 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  18. "Marching Illini Piccolos". CMN Hospitals. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  19. "Marching Illini director seeking same position at Ohio State". www.news-gazette.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  20. Farkas, Karen (21 April 2015). "Two finalists for Ohio State University marching band director withdraw". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  21. "Report: One of two marching band director finalists drops out of running". thelantern.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  22. O'Connell, Patrick (24 November 2015). "Next stop for Illinois marching band: Macy's parade". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
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