John Locke

Since 1982, Dr. John R. Locke has served on the UNCG School of Music Faculty as Director of Bands, Professor of Music and Conductor of the University Wind Ensemble. 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, ABA, 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 and is the former Editor of The North Carolina Music Educator. In 1989, Dr. Locke was selected for membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. 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. He is Past-President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, an affiliate of MENC. 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. Dr. Locke was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award in the School of Music in April 2003. In 2004, he was elected President-Elect of the American Bandmasters Association. Dr. Locke maintains an active schedule of guest conducting and adjudicating bands throughout the United States and Canada. Dr. Locke is the founding director of the UNCG Summer Music Camp, the largest and most popular music camp in America enrolling 1,730 students annually. Since 1977, he has administered summer music camps for more than 43,000 students.