Director of “All-American” Marching Band Director of Purdue Wind Ensemble Director of String Orchestra
Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after completing 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed Director of University Bands and currently serves as the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands and Orchestras. He is the director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Artistic Director for the Kokomo, Indiana Park Band.
Professor Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Tuba Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educators Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster’s Association, held in Indianapolis. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble has also performed concerts in Chicago’s Symphony Center and in New York’s Carnegie Hall on two occasions.
Under his direction the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band has traveled literally around the world. With recent performances in Beijing China, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and La Feria de las Flores in Medellin, Colombia, the “All-American” Marching Band continues to serve as an ambassador for Purdue, the state of Indiana and the nation.
Professor Gephart has served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally having conducted All-State Bands in Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Arkansas and Kentucky. He has served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and at numerous conferences and in-service workshops. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award, the Purdue University New Professional Award, and the 2018 James Calvert Outstanding Music Educator Award. In 2016, he was named an Honorary Old Master by Purdue University. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including “Anthem” by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands. Most recently he has served on the faculty of the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon and serves on the ABC Board of Directors.
Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu. In 2018, he was named Collegiate Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008. He served on the ABA Board of Directors from 2012-present and was elected Vice President in March, 2018. He and his wife Jana have four children and two grandchildren. They reside in Lafayette, Indiana.
Dr. Marion T. “Mo” Trout is an active clinician, adjudicator, trumpet soloist, and guest conductor for jazz bands, concert bands and orchestras throughout the United States. He has conducted numerous All-District, Region and Area jazz bands as well as All-State Jazz Bands in Oklahoma and Indiana. As a Professor of Music and director of the jazz program at Purdue University since 1997, Dr. Trout directs the Purdue Jazz Band, the American Music Repertory Ensemble, the Jazz Lab Band, and the Concert Jazz Band. He also teaches a Jazz Theory Workshop and Jazz History. Under his direction the Purdue Jazz Band has collaborated with numerous jazz artists including Bill Watrous, Bob Mintzer, the New York Voices, Tom Harrell, Allen Vizzutti, Eddie Daniels and Eric Marienthal to name only a few. Dr. Trout’s Purdue bands have toured throughout the US and Europe and performed at such prestigious venues as the University of North Texas Jazz Festival, the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and the Elmhurst Collegiate Jazz Festival garnering numerous band and soloist awards. In three European tours the band has performed at the Montreux, Alpine and North Sea International Jazz Festivals and hosted a study abroad tour to Italy in 2008 and another to Eastern Europe in 2011. Dr. Trout received his Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University and both his Master of Music Education degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Trumpet Performance) from the University of North Texas.
Director of Percussion Assistant Director of “All-American” Marching Band
Dr. Pamela J. Nave, Associate Professor of Bands, serves as Purdue Bands & Orchestras Percussion Specialist. Formerly on the bands faculty at Ball State University, she completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at The Ohio State University. At OSU, she won the graduate concerto competition as a marimba soloist, adding it to a list of undergraduate honors at Ball State that includes being a two-time recipient of the James L. Lane Percussion Award and winner of BSU’s Concerto Competition. Between degrees, Nave, a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, operated a private percussion studio in Noblesville and performed as a freelance percussionist throughout Indiana.
Director of Symphonic and Varsity Bands Director of Boiler Brass Associate Director of “All-American” Marching Band
Matthew R. Conaway was appointed to the Purdue faculty in August 2012 as an Assistant Professor, and was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure in July 2018. He serves as an associate director of the famed “All-American” Marching Band, directs the “Boiler Brass” Men’s Basketball Pep Band, and conducts the Purdue Symphonic Band and Varsity Band. He also serves as the department’s technology coordinator, and coordinates the Volunteer Management Team. He is responsible for coordinating marching band travel, and has organized trips around the Big Ten, as well as a significant performance experience in Medellín, Colombia in 2015. He has mentored many student organizations, previously serving as sponsor for the Beta Sigma chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, the Gamma Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Band & Orchestra Technology Office, and the Purdue Musical LGBTQ+ Society. Conaway also serves the university as a member of the Purdue University Senate, and serves on both the Student Affairs Committee and the Advisory Committee on Equity.
Prior to his appointment to Purdue’s faculty, Conaway served for ten years as the Director of Bands for the West Lafayette Community School Corporation, during which time the program received many state and national accolades for musical excellence. He brought back the Marching “Red Devil” Band, basketball pep band, jazz band, and symphony orchestra to the music department, and raised band program enrollment by over 200 students in grades 5-12. During his tenure, West Lafayette became regarded as one of the great small-school music programs in Indiana, with two state concert finals appearances and dozens of superior festival ratings. Under Conaway’s leadership, the NAMM Foundation recognized the West Lafayette Community School Corporation as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education in America” in 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Conaway is an award-winning, internationally-known composer for concert bands, with over fifty original works currently in publication. His compositions range from very beginning through very advanced, based on his experience working with all levels of performers in grade 5-12, collegiate, and professional ensembles. He has received commissions from many schools and honor bands in the last five years. Conaway was honored to experience his Carnegie Hall debut in March 2016 with a world premiere performance by the Purdue Wind Ensemble.
He is also an accomplished arranger, and has written for athletic bands at Indiana University, Purdue University, and many high schools and colleges throughout the country. Millions of people have heard Conaway’s arrangements at multiple festivals, bowl games, basketball tournaments, and other major sporting events since 1999. His compositions and arrangements are available globally through the C.L. Barnhouse Company and the Hal Leonard Corporation.
After graduating from Woodhaven (MI) High School in 1997, Conaway attended Indiana University – Bloomington, where he studied arranging with David Woodley. He received his Bachelor of Music Education with Distinction in 2001, and earned a Masters of Music degree from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University in 2010. He is a member of NAfME, CBDNA, NBA, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, and ASCAP. He is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi, and was recently inducted into the Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Mu. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator at concert and marching band festivals and competitions throughout the United States.
Adam M. Bodony is currently serving as Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestras at Purdue University where he conducts the Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras and oversees the department’s applied music program. Before being promoted to Assistant Professor, Mr. Bodony served Purdue University as both Visiting Instructor and Visiting Lecturer. Mr. Bodony also currently serves as Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra and the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony in West Lafayette.
As an avid supporter of music education, Mr. Bodony serves as an educational consultant for Music For All, a national organization based in Indianapolis dedicated to the advocacy of music education for all people. Additionally, Mr. Bodony serves as a festival coordinator for Music For All’s Orchestra American National Festival.
Mr. Bodony’s previous posts include Associate Conductor of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra’s Hot Summer Nights Music Festival (2013-2015), Artistic Director of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra (2014-2016), and Cover Conductor and Pre-Concert Lecturer for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (2014-2015). He has also worked with several professional, high school, college, and community ensembles across the country.
Mr. Bodony earned a bachelor’s degree in both religious studies and trombone performance from DePauw University in 2008. He later received a master’s degree in trombone performance from Indiana University in 2011, where his primary teachers were Jim Beckel and Carl Lenthe, respectively. Mr. Bodony also pursed conducting studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (Russia) and Indiana University. His primary conducting teachers include Arthur Fagen, Leonid Korchmar, and Kirk Trevor.
As a trombonist, Mr. Bodony has frequently performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and can be heard playing 2nd trombone on two album releases under the Telarc label, conducted by Krzysztof Urbański and Jun Märkl, respectively.
Associate Director of “All-American” Marching Band Director of Boiler Box Band and Gold & Black Sound (GABS) Director of Concert Band
Dr. Jonathan Sweet joined the Purdue Bands & Orchestras faculty as Assistant Professor of Bands in the fall of 2017. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 2019, where his dissertation focused on the genesis and analysis of John Mackey’s Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2013, and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Abilene Christian University in 2004.
At Purdue University, Dr. Sweet conducts the Concert Band, Gold and Black Sound (the Women’s Basketball Pep-Band), is the advisor for the Gamma Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, teaches the Band and Engineering Learning Community, and is an Associate Director for the “All-American” Marching Band, where he is the primary drill designer. He was named the Purdue University Learning Community “Advocate of the Year” in 2019.
Prior to his appointment to Purdue’s faculty, Dr. Sweet served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kentucky where he taught undergraduate conducting students, marching band techniques, and private lessons in the Euphonium studio. He also conducted the Concert Band, guest conducted the Wind Symphony and Symphony Bands, assisted with the Wildcat Marching Band, and directed the Wildcat Pep Band for Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Gymnastics, and Men’s Basketball.
Dr. Sweet spent 11 years as a public-school band director in Texas, where his groups frequently achieved superior ratings, best in class awards, best in festival awards, outstanding visual awards, and outstanding general effect awards.
In demand as a conductor, lecturer, clinician, designer, and adjudicator, Dr. Sweet has worked with groups in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
Dr. Sweet holds professional affiliations with the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He is happily married to his wife, Lori, since 2004.
Purdue Bands & Orchestras is excited to welcome Jarrard Harris as the Clinical Assistant Professor of Bands. Harris will teach alongside Dr. Mo Trout in the Purdue Jazz department, in addition to a Jazz History class in the Purdue University College of Liberal Arts.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, saxophonist and educator Jarrard Harris attended the DuPont Manual/Youth Performing Arts School High School and attended the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music to pursue a degree in jazz studies. At CCM he studied with Rick VanMatre, Pat Harbison, and Marc Fields. Upon Graduation from CCM Harris moved to Chicago in 1998 to attend DePaul University where under the tutelage of Bob Lark, Tim Coffman, and Marc Colby he earned his master’s degree in jazz studies. Harris currently lives in Chicago, where he served on the jazz faculties of Northwestern University, Columbia College Chicago and the City Colleges of Chicago. He also serves as the director of jazz studies with the Chicago Public Schools Advanced Arts Education Program at Gallery 37.
He maintains an active private teaching studio in addition to serving as a director, clinician, guest artist and adjudicator at college and high school festivals, and state band festivals. He has performed in the United States and abroad at numerous jazz festivals and performed with jazz artists Jon Faddis Big Band, Barry Harris, Joe Magnarelli, Nicholas Payton, Joe Lovano, Claudia Acuna, Jimmy Heath, Brian Lynch, Antonio Hart, Bobby Watson, Benny Green, Eric Reed, Stefon Harris, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Sean Jones, Sharel Cassity, Eric Alexander, and Johnny Griffin to name a few. He has performed at the Goodman and Court Theater in the musicals “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Five Guys Named Moe”. Jarrard was a founding board member of the Jazz Education Network and serves as a current board member for the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Jarrard plays Vandoren saxophone Reeds and mouthpieces and is currently a Vandoren Performing Artist.
Mr. Fletcher’s 31 year public teaching career includes directorships at Monroe-Central Jr./Sr. High School (1985-1992), Winchester Community High School (1992-1998), Highland High School (1998-2010), Anderson High School (2010-2011), and a second stint at Winchester Community High School (2011-2016). His high school concert bands have performed at the IMEA State Convention on three occasions with ensembles from three different schools, twice at the ISSMA State Concert Band Finals with the Highland Wind Ensemble, and numerous times at ISSMA Organizational and IMEA Concert Band Festivals.
Fletcher’s successes as a high school marching band director include several appearances at the ISSMA Marching Band State Finals. His true niche and passion, however, has been with the historic Indiana State Fair Band Day contest. He is the only director to win the Indiana State Fair Band Day at four different schools and holds a record thirteen wins for the most State Fair championships won as a director. His marching bands have performed in numerous major parades including the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C., and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Douglas Fletcher was named the 2008 IMEA Outstanding High School Music Educator and in 2010 was the recipient of the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award. In August of 2016, Fletcher was presented the prestigious Indiana “Sagamore of the Wabash” award in recognition of his highly successful high school teaching career.
Fletcher holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from Ball State University. He played trombone in the Anderson Symphony Orchestra for twenty years and played for ten years in the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Doug has served as an organist at various churches in Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, and West Lafayette. He also arranges music for several marching bands and frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator. Doug also coordinated the IMEA Honor Band for several years and has served on the IMEA Board of Directors. He is currently the President of Phi Beta Mu, Gamma Chapter.
Professor Fletcher joined the Purdue faculty in the fall of 2016 and is currently serving as Director of Operations for Purdue Bands and Orchestras. In addition to his administrative duties, he enjoys working with the “All-American” Marching Band and serves as conductor of the Collegiate Band. Doug is married to Amy Fletcher, who teaches in the Greenfield-Central Schools. The Fletchers currently reside in West Lafayette with their two black labs, Bailey and Boaz.and their two chocolate lab pups, Boomer and Bam-Bam.
Dr. David M. Blon joined the faculty of the Purdue Bands & Orchestras in fall 2021 as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Blon previously worked with the Boilermakers as an Artist-in-Residence during the 2019-2020 academic year. He currently serves as conductor of the Collegiate Band, Campus Band, assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble, co-director of the Percussion Ensemble, teaches a course in Music Appreciation and leads the PBO Engineering Learning Community each fall.
Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree, Dr. Blon was Associate Director of Bands at the University of Hawai`i where he led the “Rainbow Warrior” Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble in addition to teaching various courses in conducting and music education. He also previously served as the Director of Athletic and Concert Bands at West Virginia Wesleyan College. For three summers, Dr. Blon was the Ensemble Manager for the World Youth Wind Symphony at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Dr. Blon received his Bachelor of Music Education (Percussion) at Slippery Rock University, his Master of Music (Conducting) at Youngstown State University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts (Wind Conducting) at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory. Dr. Blon’s primary conducting teachers have been Steven D. Davis, Stephen L. Gage, Joseph Parisi, James Berry, Stephen Hawk, and Jack Stamp.
Director of Symphony Orchestra and University Orchestra
Jeffrey T. Parthun, Sr. recently retired after 40 years as a public school music conductor, most of those in Lafayette currently conducts the Purdue Symphony Orchestra and Purdue University Orchestra. Jeff holds degrees from Butler University and Northwestern University where he studied arranging/conducting with John P. Paynter, Don Owens, Don Casey, Jackson Wiley and Michael Shasberger. He was a private percussion student of Roy C. Knapp (PAS Hall of Fame), Bob Tilles, Terry Applebaum and Tony Caselli. He has served as a former president of the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) and spent 10 years on the State Board of directors.
He is a long-time supporter of the Purdue Bands and Orchestras. During his 37 years in the Lafayette community he has judged the Purdue Jazz Festival and Orchestra Scholarship competition many times, conducted the Percussion Ensemble during a faculty sabbatical, written for the All-American Marching Band, performed with several Purdue ensembles including the Purdue Summer band where has played in five different sections and has been a guest conductor.
He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and is a multiple recipient of the ASCAPLUS award. His educational music is currently published by Per-Mus Publications, pdfbandmusic.com, BRS Music, Jon Ross Music and Three-Two Music. His compositions have been reviewed in the professional journals Percussive Notes,Instrumentalist and Horn Call and his pieces are on required lists throughout the country.
He is an experienced adjudicator of marching bands, indoor percussion ensembles, concert band and orchestra organizations, jazz ensembles and show choir bands. He is a member of the Central States Judges Association (CSJA) and received training as an indoor percussion judge through the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) and participated in the 2014 WGI Percussion Judge Academy in Houston, Texas. In addition to working with the CSJA, he has adjudicated for Tri-State Marching Arts, the IPA, Midwest Percussion Cooperative, ISSMA, Drum Corps Midwest, Central Indiana Track Show Association, Small Drum Corps Association and Music in the Parks. He has judged in nine states.
He has performed and recorded with many regional jazz and concert groups including the Los Blancos Latin Jazz Band, the Bach Choral Singers and Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Lafayette Citizens Band, Kokomo Symphony and Kokomo Park Band. He is 2021 recipient of a Michiana Outstanding Music Educator Award. He can be seen (briefly!) as the band director in the Paramount motion picture “Blue Chips” with Shaquille O’Neil and Nick Nolte.
He and his wife, Kim, have four grown children and four grandchildren.
