Joseph A. Labuta

Joseph A. Labuta is Professor Emeritus of Music and former Associate Chair of the Music Department and Director of Music Education at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan where he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in music education and conducting. He also served as a conductor of bands, orchestras, and choirs at the public school and university levels. Labuta earned a BME degree from Central College (MO) and an ME in Music Education from the University of Missouri. He was appointed Fellow in Music at the University of Illinois and completed his doctorate there in 1965. He has been a teacher of conducting at the university level since 1963 and has lectured, led workshops, and written extensively on conducting bands and orchestras. The 7th edition of his conducting text, BASIC CONDUCTING TECHNIQUES, first published in 1982, was released by Routledge in 2017. Wendy K. Matthews, PhD Music Education, has joined Dr. Labuta for this new, completely revised edition. His first book, TEACHING MUSICIANSHIP IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND, is a seminal work that has been widely used and acclaimed by band directors. Joe and his wife, Mary, founded the Saline (MI) New Horizons Band in 2004. He has conducted recently at NHB camps in Interlochen, Chautauqua and Olympia, WA.