The University of North Carolina Greensboro
John R. Locke has served on the UNCG School of Music Faculty as director of bands and founding director of Summer Music Camp since 1982. A Professor of Music, Locke is Conductor of the University Wind Ensemble and, until recently, Chaired the Instrumental Division. He holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from West Virginia University and the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Illinois. Previously, Dr. Locke held teaching positions in music at West Virginia University, Southeast Missouri State University, and the University of Illinois. Dr. Locke has conducted band performances throughout the country including the National Conventions of the MENC and CBDNA, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and Lincoln Center in New York City. In addition, he has guest conducted the U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Army Field Band, U.S. Navy Band, and the Dallas Wind Symphony, as well as numerous university bands. He has published articles on band literature in The Journal of Band Research and Winds Quarterly, is the former Editor of The North Carolina Music Educator and was a member of the Research Publications Commmittee for CBDNA. In 1989, Dr. Locke was selected for membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, one of the youngest members of the modern era. He has received the Phi Mu Alpha Orpheus Award and has been a recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence on three occasions. He is a National Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota. In 1994, Dr. Locke received the Phi Beta Mu International Fraternity Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year Award, presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. With the UNCG Wind Ensemble, Locke has recorded eleven commercially available compact discs which have received critical acclaim from Bandworld Magazine and been aired frequently on PBS radio stations across the country. He is Past-President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, an affiliate of MENC with some 2,200 members. In 1999, Dr. Locke became President of the Southern Division of the College Band Directors National Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bandmasters Association. In 2002, Dr. Locke was nominated for the O. Max Gardner Award, the highest award in the 16-campus UNC System. In 2003, Locke was elected Vice-President of the American Bandmasters Association and was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award in the School of Music in April. In 2005, Locke was elected President of the American Bandmasters Association. Dr. Locke maintains an active schedule of guest conducting and adjudicating bands throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1977, he has administered summer music camps for more than 45,000 students.