Brad Harris
Director – Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps
Brad’s career with the Blue Stars began in 2011, when he served as Equipment Manager and was subsequently named Director of Operations in 2012. He has been a member of the Blue Stars administrative team ever since, holding numerous leadership roles within the organization. Brad has dedicated countless hours touring, managing corps operations, and coordinating with members, staff, and volunteers to ensure a smooth, successful, and safe drum corps experience each season.
Harris holds Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Instrumental Conducting from Illinois State University (Normal, IL), where he studied trombone with Dr. Stephen Parsons and wind conducting with Dr. Stephen Steele. Brad earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Luther College (Decorah, IA), where he studied trombone with Dr. Michael Smith and conducting with Dr. Daniel Baldwin.
Harris maintains an active performance schedule and is currently a member of the Cincinnati Brass Band and the Jump ‘n Jive Big Band. Additionally, he has performed in the Central Iowa Symphony, Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, the Des Moines Metro Brass Quintet, the Fifth of Brass Quintet, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonia da Camera in addition to many academic ensembles. In addition to drum corps touring, Brad has traveled and performed internationally with concert bands in Japan, China, and Norway, and was honored to perform the Derek Bourgeois Trombone Concerto with the Illinois State University Wind Symphony during his graduate studies.
Brad’s professional teaching experience includes serving as a band director in the Johnston Community School District in Johnston, IA from 2013 to 2020. Additionally, he has served as a clinician and adjudicator in numerous music contests and festivals in the Midwest. His additional ensemble direction experience includes serving as Assistant Director of the Cincinnati Brass Band, Director of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony Brass Ensemble, and as a Graduate Assistant of the Bands at Illinois State University.
Brad is a native of Forest City, Iowa and currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.
