About
Dr. Greg Byrne is Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Louisville. Byrne is the recipient of the 2012 Kentucky Music Educators Association’s “Teacher of the Year” award. He is consistently honored as a Faculty Favorite and was featured as a University of Louisville Top Ten Faculty Favorites in 2004. Dr. Byrne is an Educational Artist for REMO Inc. and VIC FIRTH, Inc.. He has performed in Japan on several occasions, where he was a member of the Hidano/Byrne Duo, endorsed by VIC-FIRTH Inc. to present children’s concerts. The most notable was at the elementary school in Miyako which was devastated by the 2011 Tsunami. He serves as an advocate for musicians with disabilities through his educational DVD, Opportunity to Succeed. Through this role, he has presented at the International Conference for the Arts and Humanities in Hawaii, the College Band Directors National Association Southern Conference in Mississippi, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago and he presented the Keynote Address at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference. He is portrayed by actor Judge Reinhold in the movie I Am Potential, based on the book by Patrick Henry Hughes.
Byrne and his ensembles have premiered several works for percussion. He embraces opportunities to collaborate with colleagues. Night Moves for Marimba and Cello by Fred Speck was premiered at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Ireland; Ten Little Things for Percussion and Clarinet by Steve Rouse was selected to be performed at the 2016 International Clarinet Conference and Kaamos for Marimba Sextet by Marc Satterwhite will be featured on the VIC FIRTH Artists Website. He is currently developing a new form of improvisation with his colleague Dick Sisto, intended to meld the classical and jazz musicians together.