Galen S. Karriker
gsk1@uakron.edu

Galen S. Karriker is Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at The University of Akron. He conducts the Concert Band and serves as the Director of Athletic Bands, coordinating the activities of “Ohio’s Pride,” The University of Akron Marching Band, and the Blue and Gold Brass basketball bands. Mr. Karriker also teaches courses in basic instrumental conducting and marching band techniques.

Under his direction, The University of Akron Concert Band has performed as a “clinic ensemble” at the Ohio Music Education Association State Convention and for the Ohio Band Directors Conference. The marching band performs each year for thousands of Akron Zips fans, and the band receives accolades each year for their performances at marching band festivals and National Football League games throughout the state and region.

In addition to his teaching schedule, Mr. Karriker is active as a guest clinician presenting clinic sessions at the 2002 and 2003 Ohio Music Education Association Professional Conference. A frequent guest conductor, Mr. Karriker has been invited to conduct numerous honor bands, public school bands, and several summer music camps including the Great Lakes Music Camp at Butler University and Valparaiso University.

Mr. Karriker earned a bachelor of music education degree from Louisiana State University in 1992 and a master of music degree in conducting from Michigan State University in 1994. At Michigan State University, Mr. Karriker was a student of Kenneth G. Bloomquist, John Whitwell, and John T. Madden. Prior to joining the music faculty at The University of Akron in 1999, Mr. Karriker was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he served as the Assistant to the Director of Bands.

As a performer, Mr. Karriker maintains an active schedule of percussion performances and clinic sessions. He is also known to perform on the five-string banjo, and has prepared arrangements for two folk concerts presented by voice faculty at The University of Akron. He is an active arranger and writes much of the music performed by The University of Akron Marching Band and the Blue and Gold Brass.

Mr. Karriker holds professional memberships in the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association (President 2003-2004), Music Educators National Conference, Ohio Music Education Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has also received honorary membership from Kappa Kappa Psi (92’), and Tau Beta Sigma (00’).