Report: One of two marching band director finalists drops out of running

Logan Hickman
Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:18:39 +0000
Area, Campus, Local, National, News, Barry Houser, Corey Spurlin, jon waters, marching band, marching band director, osu

The Ohio State University Marching Band. Credit: Lantern file photo

One of the two finalists for the Ohio State Marching Band director position has dropped out of the running, according to The News-Gazette in Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Barry Houser, director of the University of Illinois Marching Illini and Athletic Bands, has withdrawn his name from consideration, The News-Gazette reported Monday evening.

Houser told the paper that he withdrew his name earlier on Monday after Illinois administrators told him they’d be more supportive of him and the band program if he stayed.

Houser visited OSU’s campus April 6 and 7, when he met with current band members and officials.

The other finalist for the OSU position, Corey Spurlin, associate director of bands, marching band director and associate professor of music at Auburn University, was on campus two weeks ago for a similar visit.

The band’s former director, Jonathan Waters, was fired in July after an OSU investigation found the band contained a sexualized culture. A search committee comprised of current and former band members and OSU faculty has been searching for Waters’ replacement.