One of at least 2 band director finalists drops out of running

Logan Hickman
Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:56:09 +0000
Area, Campus, Local, National, News, Barry Houser, Corey Spurlin, jon waters, marching band, osu, University of Illinois

The OSU Marching Band plays at a football game against Buffalo.
Credit: Ritika Shah / Lantern TV news director

One of at least two Ohio State Marching Band director finalists has dropped out of the running.

Barry Houser, director of the University of Illinois Marching Illini and Athletic Bands, has withdrawn his name from consideration, University of Illinois spokeswoman Robin Kaler told The Lantern in a Tuesday email.

Houser told The News-Gazette in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., on Monday that he withdrew his name 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.

OSU spokesman Chris Davey said in a Tuesday email that he couldn’t confirm if Spurlin is set to be the new director.

“We must continue to refrain from discussing the search while it remains open,” Davey said. “We look forward to when we will be able to make the announcement of a new band director very soon.”

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 looking for Waters’ replacement.