John Cody Birdwell
Director of Bands

Degrees in Music Education and Conducting from West Texas State University

DMA in Instrumental Conducting from the University of North Texas.

At UK Since: 2004

Phone: 859-257-2263
Email: cody.birdwell@uky.edu

Before coming to UK, John Cody Birdwell was Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where his duties included conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, directing the master's and doctoral programs in band conducting, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting and literature, and supervising the administration of the Texas Tech band program in the School of Music. Prior to his appointment at Texas Tech in 1998, Dr. Birdwell served as Director of Bands at Utah State University from 1994-1998, Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Illinois from 1989 - 1994, and Director of Bands at Northern Michigan University from 1987-1989. Dr. Birdwell's experiences also include several years as a band director in the public schools of Denton, Texas.

Dr. Birdwell's ensembles have toured extensively throughout the United States and Great Britain, and the Texas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed recently at the 2001 National Convention of the College Band Directors National Association and the 2001 Texas Music Educators Association Convention. Birdwell's ensembles have also performed at the Southwest Division and Western Division Conferences Conventions of CBDNA, the Texas Bandmaster's Association Conference, and for the Utah Music Educators Association. The recently released compact disc, "Texas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble - LIVE!" has been received with high praises from composers and conductors throughout the United States and Europe.

Birdwell is a graduate of West Texas State University where he received degrees in Music Education and Conducting, and he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of North Texas. While at North Texas, Birdwell was inducted into "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities", and was a recipient of the Pi Kappa Lambda Class Honor Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student in the College of Music. Dr. Birdwell currently serves as Chairman of the Selective Music List Committee for the National Band Association. He holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Utah Music Educators Association, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Illinois Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, and the Music Educators National Conference. He remains active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. Band and Conducting.