Music Wall of Fame

John Stroube attended Bowling Green High School where he was drum major and clarinetist under the direction of Cecil Karrick. He attended Western Kentucky University, earning his Bachelor of Music degree in 1976, with subsequent study at the University of Illinois where he earned his Master of Science in Music Education in 1977. While at Illinois he played clarinet in the Large Symphonic Band conducted by Harry Begian. In 1988, after teaching music for eleven years in Illinois, he returned to Kentucky and was awarded the position of Band Director at Murray High School where he taught for 12 years. In 1997 he led the Murray High School marching band to the Kentucky State Marching Band Championships where they received second place honors in Class A. In his distinguished career as a band director, his high school concert bands were consistently granted Division I ratings.

As an active member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, Dr. Stroube served as First District Band Chairman and as a representative on the state Marching Band Board of Control. Other professional memberships include the National Band Association, WASBE, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu, for which he served as state secretary-treasurer for three years. In 1998, his fellow music educators of the KMEA First District honored him with the prestigious High School Teacher of the Year award. 

In 2001, Dr. Stroube moved to Hattiesburg to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, studying primarily with Dr. Thomas V. Fraschillo. While there, he served as a graduate assistant for the University Bands and served in the post of Executive Administrator for the National Band Association, bearing responsibility for the daily operations of the organization’s national office. In 2004 he was awarded a DMA in Conducting and Pedagogy.

In 2004–05 Dr. Stroube was Interim Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and in 2005 he began his eminent career as Associate Director for the Kentucky Music Educators Association, being promoted to Executive Director the following year.  In this prominent role he oversees all operations and serves as an advocate for music education in government relations.

In 2009, Dr. Stroube, sustaining his musician, conductor and performer roots, organized a community band in Richmond that continues to provide concerts throughout the year. He served on the board of the Richmond Area Arts Council, and now assists with the artistic direction for Danville, Kentucky’s unique Great American Brass Band Festival.