Houser, Barry L. | University of Illinois Archives

Barry L. Houser  (1977- )  began as Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois in 2011. He also became Director of the Marching Illini in 2015. Houser was born in Indiana in 1977. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's of Music from the University of Florida. After graduation, Houser also served as Assistant Director of Bands at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida.  From 2001 to 2007, he acted as the Director of Bands and Performing Arts at Northwood High School, in Napanee, Indiana. From there, Houser pursued a Master's of Music in (Wind Band) Conducting from the University of Illinois (2007-2009). While pursuing his Master's degree, Houser studied with University of Illinois Bands Director James F. Keene; and as a Graduate Assistant, he was frequently involved in conducting various segments of the UIUC bands.  From 2008 to 2011, Houser was the Associate Director of Bands at Eastern Illinois University. Houser's bands have performed for the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) State Marching Finals, as well as the IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) State Convention.

Nationally, Houser has served on the board of directors of the National Band Association and the College Band Directors National Association Athletic Band, and acted as President and Director of the Smith Walbridge Clinics, the largest marching band leadership band in the United States. He has been a guest conductor and clinician for a variety of marching and concert bands, and has contributed to a number of music textbooks, including "The System" and multiple editions of the "Teaching Music through Performance in Band" series. In addition to his pedagogical pursuits, Houser has conducted ensembles at the NBC Today Show, Indianapolis 500 Parade, Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Washington DC National Memorial Parade, and a Chicago Bears game. In 2015, he led the Marching Illini in the 89^th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.