Director of the Marching Illini
Director of Fighting Illini Athletic Bands
Associate Director of Bands
Barry L. Houser is the Director of the Marching Illini & Fighting Illini Athletic Bands, Associate Director of Bands and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His duties include conducting the Illinois Wind Orchestra, the 360-member Marching Illini-The Nation’s Premier College Marching Band, the Illinois Basketball Bands, Volleyball Band, and teaching courses in instrumental wind band conducting and marching band procedures.
Professor Houser’s teaching experience encompasses both extensive public school and university experiences. Prior to his current position at Illinois, his bands have performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NBC Today Show, the ISSMA State Marching Finals, and the IMEA State Convention. Other performances include the Indianapolis 500 Parade, the Target Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Outback Bowl Parade and Half-Time Show, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Washington DC National Memorial Parade, Chicago Bears Game, and performances with Maynard Ferguson and the Dallas Brass. Professor Houser serves as President and Director of the Smith-Walbridge Clinics, Chair for the North Central Division and Board of Directors for the National Band Association, and as one of the Directors of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band!
Professor Houser received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida, and a Master of Music in Wind Conducting degree from the University of Illinois, where he was a student of James Keene.
Email: [email protected]
