BRUCE MOSS began his career as a conductor and music educator in 1976. Over forty-eight years, the scope of his professional activity has included public school teaching and leadership, academic appointments at the post-secondary level, published written works, engagements as a clinician and adjudicator, memberships and service in professional music organizations, and a dedication to leading and developing civic and student ensembles unaffiliated with schools.
In 1994, Dr. Moss was appointed Director of Band Activities at Bowling Green State University as successor to Mark Kelly (Director of Bands: 1966 - 1994) and Roy Weger (Director of Bands: 1953 - 1966). Over 30 years at BGSU, Dr. Moss has been the conductor of all of the University’s wind bands, and has led the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band in performances at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference, and—on multiple occasions—at The Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. He has also maintained a consistent presence with the BGSU Falcon Marching Band over his three decades, appearing alongside the FMB at bowl games, and conducting the FMB in pre-game performances at Doyt Perry Stadium. He has been at the side of the FMB through seven directors.
Throughout his career, Moss has sought to enhance and enrich the musical experiences of his students by integrating distinguished guest performers, conductors, and composers into rehearsals and performances, and by coordinating guest lectures from these visiting musicians. Over his years at BGSU these have included guest conductors: Harry Begian, Larry Blocher, James Cochran, Ray Cramer, James Croft, Tom Dvorak, Frederick Fennell, Col. Arnald Gabriel, Joseph Hermann, Paula Holcomb, Mark Kelly, John R. Locke, Victor Markovich, Myron Welch, John Whitwell, Don Wilcox, and David Willson. Guest performers—in addition to numerous BGSU faculty members—have included: Eddie Daniels (clarinet), Donald Freund (piano), John Hagstrom (trumpet), Kazimierz Machala (horn), Lou Marini, Jr. (tenor sax), Benjamin Pierce (euphonium), Patrick Sheridan (tuba), Robert Van Sice (percussion), and Allen Vizzutti (trumpet). Dr. Moss has also played some role in bringing to campus composers: Samuel Adler, Jeffrey Brooks, Steven Bryant, Mark Camphouse, Evan Chambers, John Corigliano, James Curnow, Michael Daugherty, Thomas Duffy, David Gillingham, Daniel Godfrey, Warren Gouch, Karel Husa, Scott MacAllister, Shafer Mahoney, Walter Mays, Bernard Rands, Dean Roush, Gunther Schuller, Rob Smith, Joseph Spaniola, Philip Sparke, James Stephenson, James Swearingen, Frank Ticheli, Jan Van Der Roost, and Dan Welcher, several of these also serving as guest conductors during their time on campus.
Bruce Moss on stage with the Wheaton Municipal Band at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival. (December, 2023)
A career-long advocate for new wind band music, Moss has conducted premiere or advance performances of numerous commissioned wind band works including: The River That Mines the Silences of Stones (2016) by Samuel Adler, Elegy (2014) by Ryan Nowlin, Ecstatic Waters (2008) by Steven Bryant, Symphony in Three Movements (2007) by John Stevens, Symphonic Fanfare (2005) by Mark Camphouse, Morning Song (2002) by Philip Sparke, and Dream Dancer for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble by Michael Colgrass.
Dr. Moss on stage with The President's Own United States Marine Band at the 89th annual American Bandmasters Association Convention. (March, 2024)
For band directors, induction into the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) is one of the profession’s highest honors. Membership is by invitation into this small, select organization following a rigorous screening process. With under 400 current members, the ABA includes musical luminaries from around the globe. Dr. Moss’s induction came in 1995. He was inducted at the 61st annual ABA Convention where he guest conducted the University of Iowa Symphony Band, directed by Dr. Myron Welch, in Lied Concert Hall at the University of Kansas. His ABA induction experience came full circle in 2023 when he served as guest conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony Band at the 88th annual ABA Convention in the same concert hall. Recently, Dr. Moss served as guest conductor for the "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, at the ABA Convention in Washington, D.C. Dr. Moss had also previously been elected to the ABA Board of Directors.
For 25 years, Dr. Moss served as the concert band conductor and state representative for the Illinois and Ohio Ambassadors of Music European Tours. These biennial activities brought together high school instrumental and vocal students from all over the state for nearly two weeks of performing throughout England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. As the Ohio director, Dr. Moss presided over twelve trips. In sum, well over 2,000 Ohio music students took part in these events in addition to scores of music educators who helped to coordinate various aspects of the tours and also traveled as chaperones. Over 1,500 of those student participants came to the BGSU campus for several days of rehearsal and tour preparations.
Moss began his doctoral studies at Northwestern University as a student of John Paynter during a leave of absence from his high school teaching position. He later completed his PhD from The Ohio State University where he studied with Craig Krichhoff and Jere Forsythe. He holds BS and MS degrees from the University of Illinois, having studied extensively with Harry Begian.
Over 11 years, Dr. Moss served as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at York Community High School (IL). While at York, he taught classes in music appreciation, guitar, jazz ensemble, worked as the director of the marching band, and served as the principal conductor of York’s Concert Band, the highest performing of three. The York Concert Band, and the York Orchestra, were both invited to perform at the 1981 Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Convention. This was the first occasion where an orchestra and concert band from the same school were invited to perform. In 1986, Dr. Moss and his students were invited to perform Donald Erb’s Prismatic Variations in a special series of concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Moss co-conducted the piece with Leonard Slatkin.
Dr. Moss has been a new music reviewer for The Instrumentalist, and has published written works there as well as for the GIA Publication Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He has served as a reviewer for professional promotion of colleagues at ten post-secondary institutions aside from those where he has held appointments. He has served on the thesis or exam committees of nearly sixty graduate students.
