Dr. David Thornton

Biography

David Thornton joined the faculty of the Michigan State University College of Music (MSU) in fall 2015 as the Assistant Director of Bands. In 2017, he was appointed Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Spartan Marching Band (SMB). In this role, Thornton serves as the conductor of the MSU Symphony Band and teaches courses in instrumental conducting and marching band methods. As the director of SMB, he acts as the principal drill writer and show designer for the 300-member Spartan Marching Band. Additionally, Thornton oversees the Spartan Brass athletic band program which performs at basketball, volleyball, and hockey events. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and has presented at numerous state music conventions including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. His career as a conductor includes preparation, performance, and/or recording works for the wind band medium, collaborating with notable composers such as Ivette Herryman-Rodriguez, Viet Cuong, Omar Thomas, Ricardo Lorenz, John Corigliano, and Steven Bryant. Under his leadership, the MSU Symphony Band received national recognition with an invitation to perform at the 2020 North Central Division CBDNA Conference at DePaul University. Dr. Thornton earned both his doctoral and master’s degrees in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University and his bachelor’s degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education from Florida State University. Prior to joining MSU, he taught as the Assistant Director of Bands at Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne and as Director of Bands at Leon High School in Tallahassee. Thornton's professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, American Bandmasters Association, Michigan Music Educators Association, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Psi.

Research Interests