Directory

Profile

Professor Kenneth Will is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Pride of Dayton Marching Band at the University of Dayton where he conducts the Concert Band, assists with the Flyer Pep Band and teaches courses in Music Education.

During his time at the University of Dayton, The Pride of Dayton has more than doubled in size and the band has been featured at the Bands of America Regionals three times, performed in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, and will perform at the 2025 London Band Week in the United Kingdom.

Professor Will’s arrangements for marching band have been performed around the world by high school and college ensembles. As a clinician, he reaches thousands of students across the country and he is an adjudicator with Music in the Parks and the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade. His  publications can be read in the Teaching Music Through Performance series through GIA Publications.  

Prior to his appointment at the University of Dayton, he served as the Director of Bands at Ashland University and Walsh University where he was responsible for the marching and concert programs. He earned his Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from Ohio University where he  served as Graduate Associate for the Marching 110, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and University Concert Band. As a public school teacher, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Lakewood High School, leading the Lancer Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Bands, teaching elementary music and Director of Bands at Watkins-Memorial High School.  

Professor Will holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, the National  Band Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well as honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

Professional activities

• College Band Directors National Association
• Ohio Music Education Association
• National Association for Music Education
• Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia 
• Kappa Kappa Psi
• Tau Beta Sigma

Research interests

• Wind Band Literature 
• Music Education
• Arranging and Orchestration

Courses taught

• MUS 390 03 Marching Band
• MUS 390 01 Concert Band
• MUS 431 Marching Band Pedagogy
• MUS 337 Brass Pedagogy 
• MUS 390 P1 Pride of Dayton London
• EDT 479 Student Teaching P-12

Selected publications

Will, Ken. "Rhapsody from the Low Countries." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 229-238. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.