Barry L. Houser

Last updated
Barry L. Houser
Barry L. Houser.jpg
Houser in Memorial Stadium in August 2015
Born
Barry Lee Houser

(1977-06-21) June 21, 1977 (age 46)
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
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)

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]

Contents

Houser is the Director and Head Clinician for the Smith Walbridge Clinics. [2]

Education and personal life

Houser grew up in North Liberty, Indiana, and attended John Glenn High School in Walkerton, Indiana. [3] [4] Houser attended the University of Florida, majoring in music education, and performed as a trumpet player and eventually drum major of the Gator Marching Band. [5]

After teaching in public high schools, in 2007, Houser attended the 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 June 22, 2007, Houser married Abigail Dobies. [4]

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. [6] [7]

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. [8] [9]

The band has performed at Chicago Bears home football games, an It's On Us rally held by Vice President Joe Biden, [10] the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. [11] The band performed at the end of the parade. [12] [13]

During Houser's time at the university, the band has held a fundraiser called the "Sousaphone 5K." [14] [15] 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 $5,000. [16] Another band fundraiser included the piccolo section's participation in a dance marathon. [17]

2015 Ohio State recruitment

In April 2015, the News-Gazette reported that Ohio State University was recruiting Houser to serve as the director of their marching band. [18] After interviewing and being named a finalist, Houser withdrew his candidacy. [19] [20]

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. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sousaphone</span> Brass musical instrument

The sousaphone is a brass instrument in the tuba family. Created around 1893 by J. W. Pepper at the direction of American bandleader John Philip Sousa, it was designed to be easier to play than the concert tuba while standing or marching, as well as to carry the sound of the instrument above the heads of the band. Like the tuba, sound is produced by moving air past the lips, causing them to vibrate or "buzz" into a large cupped mouthpiece. Unlike the tuba, the instrument is bent in a circle to fit around the body of the musician; it ends in a large, flaring bell that is pointed forward, projecting the sound ahead of the player. Because of the ease of carrying and the direction of sound, it is widely employed in marching bands, as well as various other musical genres. Sousaphones were originally made of brass. Beginning in the mid-20th century, some sousaphones have also been made of lighter materials such as fiberglass & plastic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Illiniwek</span> Former mascot of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marching Illini</span> Marching band of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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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. ↑ "Barry Houser". www.swclinics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  3. ↑ "The Big 10 with Jeff D'Alessio, Oct. 12, 2014". www.news-gazette.com. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  4. 1 2 "Abigail Dobies and Barry Houser". Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 2016-06-15.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "Panther Marching Band & Basketball Band". EIUPanthers.com. 2008. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  7. ↑ Kmitch, Justin (23 November 2010). "Naperville C. drum major to lead Macy's parade". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights) . Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Marching Illini's new director coming back to UI". www.news-gazette.com. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  9. ↑ "Fighting Illini Football: Barry Houser named new Director of the Marching Illini - IllinoisLoyalty.com". www.illinoisloyalty.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  10. ↑ "Hangin' with Biden: 'Cool is an understatement'". www.news-gazette.com. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (24 November 2015). "Next stop for Illinois marching band: Macy's parade". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  13. ↑ "A super conductor: UI's Barry Houser". www.news-gazette.com. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  14. ↑ "A 5K's not a marathon -- until you run it with a sousaphone". www.news-gazette.com. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  15. ↑ "Marching Illini Sousaphonists Run 5K, Carrying Their Instruments, For a Cause". Runner's World. 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  16. ↑ "Sousaphone 5K". imathlete. Archived from the original on 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  17. ↑ "Marching Illini Piccolos". CMN Hospitals. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Marching Illini director seeking same position at Ohio State". www.news-gazette.com. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  19. ↑ Farkas, Karen (21 April 2015). "Two finalists for Ohio State University marching band director withdraw". The Plain Dealer . Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  20. ↑ "Report: One of two marching band director finalists drops out of running". thelantern.com. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  21. ↑ 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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