About

Larry Dubill is a music educator, band director, performing percussionist, composer, golf coach, husband and father.   Larry has been teaching in public schools for over 30 years and has directed bands/ensembles at Hamburg High School in Hamburg, NY since 1998.  He directs the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble. and Percussion Ensemble.  In addition, he directed the Symphonic Band for 23 years. Larry has coached golf for over 17 years at Hamburg and has also coached ice hockey in the Buffalo, NY area.

The Hamburg High School Bands have won top awards (Superior ratings, New York State School Music Association Gold with Distinction Designations) throughout the years. They performed at the New York State’s School Music Association’s annual conference. The Hamburg High School bands performed at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC, been featured at a concert at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center in New York City, numerous parades at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and participated in clinics with the US Naval Academy Band. The High School Jazz Ensemble has toured Japan four times and has hosted the Kanazawa Jazz-21 Jazz Orchestra three times in subsequent years.

Larry served as director of the SUNY Fredonia Concert Band in 2024 where he mentored and taught Fredonia college music majors.

Larry is an active performer in the Buffalo, NY area.  He has performed with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Erie County Wind Ensemble, Clarence Summer Orchestra, Orchard Park Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, Peoria Symphony (Principal Timpanist), Champaign/Urbana Symphony (Principal Timpanist), Sinfonia da Camera, IL (Principal Timpani/Percussionist), and Akron Symphony Orchestra.

EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND HONORS

  • Awarded the Japan Foundation Uchida Fellowship in 1992-93 that helped support research and studies in Tokyo, Japan at the Toho Gakuen School of Music with marimba virtuoso Keiko Abe.
  • Board of Directors: Erie County Music Educators Associations. 2016-present
  • Chairperson for Erie County Music Educators Association All-County Band. 2012-2016
  • Conductor for the Hamburg Village Concert Band (professional band). 2006-present
  • Percussion Advisor for Erie County Music Educators Association. 2002- present
  • Guest Conductor at Honor Band festivals in New York State, numerous festivals from 2006-present.
  • Clinician for Percussion, Band and International Activities Clinics at: New York State Band Directors Workshops, SUNY College at Buffalo School of Music, and the University of Akron School of Music.
  • Adjudicator for numerous All-State Music auditions for the New York State School Music Association, and at many All-County music audition festivals across New York State.
  • Inducted into the Kenmore East High School Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2023

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Doctoral Studies in Music, University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana, IL
  • International Music Research, Toho Gakuen School of Music, Tokyo, Japan
  • Master of Music, The University of Akron, Akron, OH
  • Bachelor of Music, Music Education, State University of New York, College at Fredonia, Fredonia, NY

Additional International collaborations and other info:

Lived, studied, and conducted research in Tokyo, Japan. 1992-93

  • Studied marimba with virtuoso marimba player Keiko Abe at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.
  • Interviewed and performed for 10 prominent Japanese composers. This research has been shared with numerous colleagues and students throughout the years at clinics, instructional situations, and lectures.
  • Conducted research of both contemporary Japanese music and traditional Japanese performing arts. Learned about Japanese culture and developed Japanese language ability.

Organized and led four tours to Japan (2005, 2010, 2016, 2023) for the Hamburg High School Jazz Ensemble.

  • This included obtaining grants to help fund these projects, instructing Japanese language and cultural lessons for all students, preparation of logistics and financial operations for the tours, collaboration with leaders from the City of Kanazawa, Japan, and musical coordination of all events.

Organized and led three tours to Buffalo, NY for the Kanazawa Jazz-21 Jazz Orchestra, Kanazawa, Japan.

  • This included obtaining grants to help fund these projects, organizing civic concerts for groups from both countries, organizing tour activities including performing for and meeting with the Mayor of Buffalo, organizing host stays for students, and promoting international and cultural exchange activities.

Conducted Community, Civic, Professional, and Educational Activities

  • Guest Clinician at the Keiko Abe Marimba Academy held at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Fredonia, 2012.
  • Directed Hamburg High School Jazz Ensemble performance at the Bunka-no-Hi Festival, Buffalo, NY, 2009.
  • Active member of the Buffalo/Kanazawa Sister-City Committee
  • Performed significant and contemporary works for Wind Ensemble that feature Japanese influenced music at numerous concerts including “Impressions of Japan” at the New York State School Music Association’s Winter Conference in 2007.
  • Studied marimba with virtuoso marimba player Keiko Abe at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.
  • Interviewed and performed for 10 prominent Japanese composers. This research has been shared with numerous colleagues and students throughout the years at clinics, instructional situations, and lectures.
  • Conducted research of both contemporary Japanese music and traditional Japanese performing arts. Learned about Japanese culture and developed Japanese language ability.