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 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.

Professor 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.

Matt Temple has served as the Director of Bands at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, since 2007. Under his direction, the New Trier Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed at the Midwest Clinic, Music for All National Concert Band Festival, Illinois Music Education Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Festival, and Chicagoland Invitational Festival. They have also performed in the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Chicago Symphony Center, and throughout Italy. Over spring break of this year, Mr. Temple led an international tour throughout Austria, including performances at MUTH concert hall, home of the Vienna Boys Choir, and Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, where Joseph Haydn served as court composer for nearly 30 years. In 2014, the New Trier band program was recognized by the National Band Association as an inaugural national winner of the Blue-Ribbon Award for “Programs of Excellence.”

A strong advocate for student-centered instruction, Mr. Temple is Past President of the Illinois committee for Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP). Mr. Temple currently serves as President-Elect of the National Band Association, having served five previous terms on the NBA Board of Directors. Mr. Temple has hosted the NBA Conducting Workshop three times at New Trier High School for music education students from universities throughout Illinois. The New Trier Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed previously at the NBA Band Director Workshop, and Mr. Temple has presented two sessions at the same workshop. As a contributing editor for The Instrumentalist magazine, he has authored many articles over the past decade for multiple publications. Mr. Temple has presented sessions on music selection, score analysis, student-centered instruction, and innovative band curriculum at multiple universities, state music conferences, and twice at the Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Temple earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master’s in conducting from Eastern Illinois University, and an additional master’s in educational leadership from Aurora University. Prior to his appointment at New Trier, he served as the Fine Arts Chair at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, from 2000-2007, and as the music director at Flora High School from 1994-1998. Mr. Temple was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2017 and is also an elected member of the American School Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu. Other professional memberships include the Illinois Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and National Band Association. Mr. Temple frequently serves as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States.He resides in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with his supportive wife, Maureen, who teaches special education, and their college-aged twins.