Faculty and Staff
Faculty
Dr. Robert W. Rumbelow
Director of Bands | Conductor, Illinois Wind Symphony
Dr. Robert W. Rumbelow is the fifth Director of Bands to serve the University and is the Brownfield Professor of Music at the University of Illinois, joining the faculty in 2010. He conducts the Illinois Wind Symphony (the premier concert wind band at the University of Illinois), works with graduate student conductors, and oversees all functions of the world's largest University Bands program. As a conductor he has appeared throughout the world leading wind bands, orchestras, and chamber ensembles. As a composer and arranger, Dr. Rumbelow's music is performed internationally, and is published by Kjos, Warner Brothers, Alfred, Ludwig/Masters, and C. Alan Publications.
Mr. Barry Houser
Assistant Director of Bands | Conductor of Athletic Bands and Harding Symphonic Band
Professor Houser became Visiting Assistant Director of Bands and Conductor of Athletic Bands in 2011. Prof. Houser has most recently served as Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands at Eastern Illinois University. His success at Eastern Illinois is a matter of record and has been the source of positive national attention. He has successfully taught public school (elementary through high school) and is a respected school band clinician throughout the country. Prof. Houser is active nationally as a guest conductor and clinician, and is one of the directors of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band. Many students know Prof. Houser as the Director and Head Clinician for Smith-Walbridge Clinics, one of the largest marching band / leadership camps of its type in the country.
Dr. Linda Moorhouse
Assistant Director of Bands | Conductor, Wind Orchestra
Dr. Linda R. Moorhouse joined the UI faculty in the fall of 2010 as Visiting Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands. She conducts the University of Illinois Wind Orchestra and teaches courses in instrumental conducting in addition to other duties as assigned. Prior to her UI appointment she served on the faculty at Louisiana State University for 22 years where she was the recipient of prestigious awards for both teaching and service. Dr. Moorhouse's service to the band profession is a matter of record and includes being an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and serving as Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the National Band Association. Dr. Moorhouse also has several notable publication credits and serves as editor of the National Band Association Journal.
Dr. Abel Ramirez
Assistant Director of Bands | Conductor, Hindsley Symphonic Band
Dr. Abel Ramirez joined UI Bands in 2008 as an Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands. He is a highly sought after clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Ramirez is also the organizer of the Illinois SuperState event that hosts the finest high school and junior high school bands throughout the state each year. He has served on the advisory boards for American Classical Music and Music America. Most recently, he was appointed to the board of advisors for the Institute for Latin American Music Study at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
Professional Staff
Lana Custer
Bands Business Services
Lana Custer serves the band program as accountant, product inventory, and business services expert. She joined the UI Band staff in 2011 and has helped create significant organization systems to benefit the professional workflow of the organization. Ms. Custer reports directly to the Director of Bands, and serves the program in all business related matters. Her position requires a high degree of organization and coordination with all band faculty, staff, and students.
Rebekka Kaupat
Office Coordinator | Assistant to the Director of Bands
Ms. Kaupat serves as the official assistant to the Director of Bands and Office Coordinator for the University of Illinois Bands. In addition, her position naturally extends to alumni relations and development for the band program. Ms. Kaupat is the first point of contact for students, alumni, and guests and is responsible for public relations as well as all special events and projects.
Lucinda Lawrence
Bands Librarian | Logistics Associate
Ms. Lawrence serves the University of Illinois Bands as bands librarian and logistics associate. Her position centers around serving all performing groups and conductors with their music needs including acquisition, research, creation of part folders for student performers, creating edited parts, assembling scores, preparing materials for band related classes, and maintaining one of the world's largest performance collections of band repertoire. In addition, Ms. Lawrence keeps and organizes performance history and other records for the division. As University Bands Logistics Associate, she manages certain responsibilities centered around performances as requested.
Daniel Michelsen
Bands Manager | Logistics Associate
Mr. Michelsen joined UI Bands in 2011 as Bands Manager bringing many years of business, music education, and instrument repair experience to our program. His primary responsibilities are centered in logistical/administrative assistance with athletic bands and properties management. Managing and maintaining instruments, uniforms, equipment, storage, and the overall facility is a tremendous responsibility with over 850 students and a full band faculty to serve. Oversight of keys, lockers, special access, and facility set-ups are also part of this position. In selected terms, Mr. Michelsen will also teach a course in instrument maintenance geared toward music education majors.
Graduate Assistants
Michael Chester
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Michael Chester is currently a candidate for the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting and serves as a graduate assistant with the University of Illinois Bands. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Middle Tennessee State University. For seven years Mr. Chester served the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools teaching at both the middle school and high school levels. In addition he was assistant conductor of the Curb Youth Symphony from 1999 until 2011 and an adjunct faculty member at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. His teaching duties with the University of Illinois Band Program will include conducting University and Campus Bands, working with athletic bands, and assisting with undergraduate conducting courses.
Christopher Dye
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Christopher Dye is currently a candidate for the EdD in Music Education and serves as a graduate assistant with the University of Illinois Band and Music Education Division. He earned his Masters of Music Education in Instrumental Conducting from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University and his BM in Music Education from Texas Lutheran University. He has previously served as a band director in the Texas public schools and is an active percussion teacher and performer. His duties will include teaching Marching Illini, conducting Campus Band, and other duties as assigned.
J. Ashley Jarrell
Graduate Teaching Assistant
J. Ashley Jarrell is currently a candidate for the DMA in Wind Conducting and serves as a graduate assistant with the University of Illinois Bands holding the "Begian Assistantship." He earned a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from Middle Tennessee State University and his BM in Music Education from East Tennessee State University. Prior to beginning his studies at the University of Illinois, he served as Director of Bands at Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School in Nashville, TN. He is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. His teaching duties include conducting Campus and University Bands, working with athletic bands, and assisting with undergraduate conducting courses.
Dale Pointon
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Dale Pointon is a candidate for the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting and will be serving as a graduate teaching assistant with University of Illinois Bands. He has completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma of Education majoring in Music at Edith Cowan University (Australia). He has previously worked as a school band director and instrumental teacher with Instrumental Music School Services in Western Australia. He has also been an active community ensemble director and has served as the Vice President of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association. His teaching duties will include conducting University and Campus Bands, working with athletic bands, and assisting with undergraduate conducting courses.
Akira Robles
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Akira Robles is currently a DMA student in Percussion Performance, under the tutelage of Professors William Moersch and Ricardo Flores. He earned both his Bachelor's in Music Education and Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has been an active educator and performer in the Champaign area, representing the University at a PASIC performance in 2009 and performing concertos with the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra. Akira has also been active in the Drum Corps International community since 2003, performing with the Pioneer and Phantom Regiment and teaching such groups as the Glassmen, Phantom Regiment and Santa Clara Vanguard. His duties include teaching and writing for the Marching Illini Drumline as well as other responsibilities throughout the UI Band Program centered around percussion.
Marita Henes
Graduate Assistant
Before coming to the University of Illinois, Marita Henes earned a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. Marita's primary teacher was David Saltzman (tuba). While at the University of Illinois, Marita will be pursuing a Master of Music degree in euphonium performance with Professor Mark Moore. Her duties in bands are focused on the band performance library collection, instrument properties, and other duties as assigned.
Emeritus Faculty
Albert Austin Harding
Albert Austin Harding served as the first Director of Bands from 1907 until 1948. Dr. Harding is historically regarding as one of the primary architects of the American Band movement.
Dr. Mark Hindsley
Dr. Mark Hindsley served as Assistant Director of Bands from 1934 until 1942 and became the second Director of Bands upon the retirement of Albert Austin Harding in 1948, serving in that capacity until 1970. Mark Hindsley oversaw the planning, construction, and dedication of the historic A.A. Harding Band Building and began the farsighted University Bands Recording Project, which continues today.
Dr. Harry Begian
Dr. Harry Begian served as the University's third Director of Bands from 1970 until 1984. In addition to continuing the UI Bands Recordings Project, Dr. Begian established the University Bands Conducting Internship Program which became the launching point for many of our nations top band directors.
Gary E. Smith
Gary Smith served as director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands from 1976 until 1998. He also taught marching band procedures and band arranging. He continues to run Smith-Walbridge Clinics, one of the most prestigious marching band related camps in the country.
James F. Keene
Professor of Music James F. Keene served as the fourth Director of Bands from 1985 until 2008. Particularly known for commissioning new works, his legacy is in both performance and repertoire development domains. He continues an active international conducting and adjudication schedule.