Benjamin T. Finley

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Benjamin Finley is currently the Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Percussion at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Originally from Searcy, Arkansas, Benjamin earned the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Thomas Burritt, Tony Edwards, and Brannen Temple. Prior to his appointment at East Central University, he served on the faculty of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. In addition, Benjamin was the director of the marching percussion program at the University of Texas from 2003 to 2005, coordinating and teaching the drum line of the Longhorn Band.

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Dr. Finley served as percussion caption head of the Delta Brigade Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000, and competed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Snare Drum Individuals from 1999 to 2001. As an adjudicator/clinician/arranger, Benjamin has worked with numerous schools in the Austin, San Antonio, and Houston areas, as well as Texas State University, and has given clinics in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Idaho, and Missouri. Benjamin also holds a Masters of Music from the University of Central Arkansas, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University. His additional teachers include Blake Tyson, Phil Parker and Gilbert Baker. As a concert artist, Benjamin is active in the creation and performance of new music for marimba and percussion, and in the presentation of solo concerts throughout the Midwest. In addition to giving concerts and clinics, Dr. Finley has also worked with several consortiums in the commissioning of new works by composers such as Robert Morris, Halim El-Dabh, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Charles Wuorinen.

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As a composer, Finley has published several works for marimba, percussion, and percussion ensemble – many of which are available through Tap Space Publications (www.tapspace.com). Some of Benjamin’s performance videos can be viewed at www.youtube.com/resonantmettle.