Dr. Jeff Lemke

Jeffrey J. Lemke is the Coordinator of Instrumental Music Education, Professor of Music with an emphasis on Instrumental Music Education and Popular Music Studies, as well as serving as the Faculty Athletics Representative at McNeese State University. Dr. Lemke teaches courses in instrumental methods and literature, advanced instrumental techniques, historical and philosophical foundations of music education, as well as a series of courses focusing on the History of Rock & Roll and American Popular Music for the non-music major. He is the creative director and host of the popular weekly radio program, The School of Rock, which can be heard on McNeese Radio, KBYS 88.3, and streaming at kbys.fm. Dr. Lemke maintains an active schedule as guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and consultant for concert, marching and jazz bands throughout the United States.

Previously he has served as the National Coordinator for State Chairs for the College Band Directors National Association, University and Research Division Chair for the Louisiana Music Educators Association, as well as President of the Louisiana Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. In addition to having been appointed as International Student Membership Chairperson for the International Association of Jazz Educators, he is the former Chair of the International Membership Committee and Past President of the Missouri State Unit. He is co-author of the book, French Music for Low Brass Instruments: An Annotated Bibliography published by Indiana University Press, which has received critical acclaim as “probably the most valuable and complete piece of scholarship ever produced about low brass instruments.” Currently he is working on a new textbook with the working title of The Long and Winding Road: The Musical History of the Beatles. Dr. Lemke is a recipient of the prestigious national Orpheus Award presented by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Music Fraternity for “significant and lasting contributions to music in America.”

Prior to his appointment at McNeese State University, Dr. Lemke was Associate Director of Bands at the University of Missouri and guided highly successful instrumental music programs at both the high school and junior high school levels in the public schools of Wisconsin and Arizona. Dr. Lemke completed his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and earned his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Arizona with a concentration in music education and trombone performance.