Dr. Larry Blocher is Professor of Music and Director of the School of Music at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Blocher serves as an associate conductor with the university bands, and teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses. Dr. Blocher received his BME and MM (music education and performance) degrees from Morehead State University in Kentucky, and his Ph.D. in Music Education from The Florida State University. His teaching/administrative background includes serving as Associate Director of the School of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Music Education at Wichita State University (KS), Assistant Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education at Morehead State University (KY), Chair of Music Education at Syracuse University (NY), and Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Dayton (OH), and public school teaching as a band director in Kentucky and Florida.

Dr. Blocher is a past President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, a member of the National Band Association School Reform and Research committees, and a past member of the Editorial Committee for the Music Educator’s Journal (MEJ). In 2005 he received both the Outstanding Bandmaster and the Outstanding Contributor to Bands awards from the Kansas Bandmaster Association. He is a past recipient of the Mortar Board Outstanding Educator Award (2004 - Wichita State) and the University Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching Award (2002 – Wichita State).

Dr. Blocher has served as a guest clinician/conductor/adjudicator in 28 states and 9 countries. He has served as music arranger for numerous high school and university marching bands as well as for the Peach Bowl and Outback Bowl. His original music for concert band is published by Wingert-Jones. He is a co-principal author of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series (GIA).