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Bob Buckner
Bob Buckner

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Bob Buckner became a part of Bands of America/Music for All in 1979 when his Sylva-Webster High School Marching Band from Sylva, NC became “Grand National Champions”. The next year he became a clinician for Marching Bands of America “Weekend with an Expert” and Summer Symposium and has continued his involvement for 40 years. Bob has served BOA as both a Board of Advisors and Adjudication member. He directed the Bands of America Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade and Bandfest in 2013 and 2017. He was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bob’s teaching career continued as Director of Bands at East Tennessee State University in 1987 and in 1991 he assumed the role of Athletic Band Director at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC and he remained there until his retirement in 2011. During his tenure at WCU the “Pride of the Mountains” was presented with the highest honor that a university marching band can receive: The Sudler Trophy in 2009. And in 2011 the “Pride of the Mountains” represented WCU and the state of North Carolina at the Tournament of Roses Parade and Bandfest in Pasadena, CA. Bob also received the Paul A Reid Distinguished Service Award for WCU faculty in 2003 and, in 2004, he was chosen by the Music Educators National Conference as a Lowell Mason Fellow. He was also honored by the state of North Carolina in 2011 when Governor Perdue presented him with the state’s highest honor to one of it’s citizens: the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” That same year his local newspaper, “The Mountaineer” named Bob as one of it’s “Hometown Heroes.” In 2013, Bob was inducted into the NC Bandmasters “Hall of Fame” and in 2014, he was selected by the College of Fine and Performing Arts at WCU in the first class of Distinguished Alumni “in recognition for significant contributions to their profession.”

In addition to Bob’s teaching career he has been involved with the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps (writing field shows for 20 years), “Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, “Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.” And in 2009 he received the Award for Excellence in Marching Music Education from Drum Corps International and MENC. He also served as a special consultant to the Walt Disney Company, where he started their popular “Future Corps” which performed in Epcot Center for 20 years and he served on the Board of Advisors for “Magic Music Days.” In 2015, Bob designed and taught a drill program used by “Pershing’s Own,” The United States Army Band, as part of the Army’s “Spirit of America” program.

Bob continues to serve as a consultant with Pygraphics, Inc. He was selected by MENC as the first director (2007 and 2008) for the United States Army All-American Marching Band and continues as their drill designer. His professional affiliations include the NC Bandmaster’s Association and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Bob continues to serve the band world and music programs through his business, United Music Enterprises, a music consulting and marching show design firm. Bob and his wife Donna reside in Waynesville, NC. They are the proud parents and grandparents of their adult children and their six grandchildren.