Clinicians and Guests James Curnow, Composer Timothy Rhea, Conductor

OBDC Main Page Features Clinicians and Guests Schedule Registration Hall of Fame University Bands

James Curnow

James Curnow was born in Port Huron, Michigan and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan. He lives in Nicholasville, Kentucky where he is president, composer, and educational consultant for Curnow Music Press, Inc. of Nicholasville, Kentucky, publishers of significant music for concert band and brass band. He also serves as Composer-in-residence Emeritus on the faculty of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, and is editor of all music publications for The Salvation Army in Atlanta, Georgia.

 His formal training was received at Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan) and at Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan), where he was a euphonium student of Leonard Falcone, and a conducting student of Dr. Harry Begian. His studies in composition and arranging were with F. Maxwell Wood, James Gibb and Irwin Fischer.

 James Curnow has taught in all areas of instrumental music, both in the public schools (five years), and on the college and university level (thirty years). He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

 As a conductor, composer and clinician, Curnow has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe where his music has received wide acclaim. Curnow has been commissioned to write over three hundred works for concert band, brass band, orchestra, choir and various vocal and instrumental ensembles. His published works now number well over five hundred.

 Curnow was most recently honored with a listing in the Grove Dictionary of American Musicians.

Timothy Rhea

Dr. Timothy B. Rhea is the Director of Bands at Texas A&M University.  He serves as administrative head of the university band program (800 students), serves as conductor of the University Wind Symphony, and is the director of the nationally famous “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.”  Dr. Rhea holds degrees in music education and conducting from the University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University, and the University of Houston.

During his tenure at Texas A&M University, Dr. Rhea has conducted the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony for conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic, and the American Bandmasters Association.   Additional concerts have included Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center, and four European tours with performances in Ireland, England, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  The TAMU Wind Symphony has released several internationally released recordings, all with Mark Records.  

Dr. Rhea maintains an internationally active schedule as conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.  He has been extended invitations to membership in both the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu.  Dr. Rhea currently serves on the Boards of Directors of The American Bandmasters Association & The John Philip Sousa Foundation, and was formerly on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association.  He additionally holds memberships in several related professional organizations.