Thomas P. Rohrer, Ph.D.

Cultural/Performing Arts

A 1978 graduate of RHS, Thomas was active in the band program, one of the most comprehensive and recognized programs in the region at that time. This preparation, under the direction of Douglas Bennett, Edwin Marini and Joseph Schiavone, led him to college study in Music Education at the University of Cincinnati as well as his Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting completed in 1986. Thomas taught in the Hamilton and Finneytown City Schools’ band programs and also directed the UC Bearcat Marching Band. Rohrer earned his PhD in Music Education from Florida State in 1993, completing his dissertation at Northern Arizona University. Before marrying and moving to Utah in 1998, Rohrer was Director of Athletic Bands at Bowling Green State University. As Director of Bands and Director of Music at Utah State University, Rohrer conducted the Wind Orchestra and the Aggie Marching Band. Having established an international reputation as conductor and clinician, he was Music Director and Conductor of the Salt Lake (Utah) Symphonic Winds, and consistently received high praise from colleagues and composers for meticulous preparation and insightful interpretation. An active composer, Rohrer twice earned honors as a winner of the Dallas Wind Symphony’s composition competition and has completed over twenty original works for wind ensemble, orchestra and chamber ensembles. Rohrer is published in the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, UPDATE: Application of Research in Music Education Journal of Band Research, Instrumentalist and several state professional journals. He is the recipient of the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation Young Scholar Award (2007-08) and the Utah State University Music Department and Fine Arts Teacher of the year (2004). Rohrer’s professional affiliations include College Band Directors National Association—for which he was Western Division President, Music Educations National Conference, National Band Association, Conductors Guild and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. In addition he has served on the Community Council for Hillcrest Elementary School in Logan and has coached basketball, baseball and soccer for the Logan Parks and Recreation Department. Rohrer married Sharon Clark in 1998. His children, Pershelle (named for his father, Pershing) and Vincent, were born in 2000 and 2004 respectively.

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