Galen S Karriker

Title: Associate Professor
Department: Music
Phone: 330/972-6180
Email: gsk1@uakron.edu

Biography

Galen S. Karriker is Assistant Director of Bands and Associate 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 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 has been a featured performing ensemble at 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, several summer music camps including the Great Lakes Music Camp at Butler University and Valparaiso University, and the Summer Music Clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has also been an orchestra clinician for numerous public school orchestras in Ohio and Michigan, and was the guest conductor for the Akron Public School Honor Orchestra in the spring of 2004.

Mr. Karriker holds professional memberships in the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association (President 2003-2005), Music Educators National Conference, Ohio Music Education Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has also received honorary membership from Kappa Kapp Psi (92'), and Tau Beta Sigma (00'). Professor Karriker earned a bachelor of music education degree from Louisiana State University in 1992 and a master of music degree in instrumental 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 active as a folk musician performing on the five-string banjo and serving as arranger and performer for two folk concerts presented by voice faculty at The University of Akron. He is an active arranger and writes the majority of music performed by The University of Akron Marching Band and Blue and Gold Brass.