Dr. David M. Blon serves the students of the Purdue Bands and Orchestras as Clinical Assistant Professor of Bands. Prior to this appointment in fall of 2021, Dr. Blon previously spent time with the Boilermakers as Artist in-Residence during the 2019-2020 academic year. He currently serves as conductor of the Fall Collegiate Band, Fall Varsity Band, Fall University Band, Spring Concert Band, and is the assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble. In spring of 2023, Dr. Blon served as co-director of the Percussion Ensemble and at various times throughout his appointment, has taught courses in Music Appreciation and has served as the faculty coordinator of the PBO Engineering Learning Community.

Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree, Dr. Blon served on the faculty at the University of Hawai’i as Associate Director of Bands. From 2011-2016, Dr. Blon led the “Rainbow Warrior” Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble in addition to teaching various courses in conducting and music education. He also previously served as the Director of Athletic and Concert Bands at West Virginia Wesleyan College. For three summers, Dr. Blon was the Ensemble Manager for the World Youth Wind Symphony at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

In addition to his work making music, Dr. Blon is also active in recording production and arranging. He has served as producer on albums for the Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Dr. Stephen L. Gage, conductor (released by Naxos Music Library) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Wind Symphony, Steven D. Davis, conductor (released digitally via Soundcloud). Dr. Blon has worked closely with many accomplished composers, most notably Pultizer-Prize winning composers Zhou Long and Jennifer Higdon. Dr. Blon published a transcription of Jennifer’s orchestral work, Machine for wind ensemble through the composer’s Lawdon Press in 2019.

Dr. Blon received his Bachelor of Music Education (Percussion) at Slippery Rock University, his Master of Music (Conducting) at Youngstown State University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts (Wind Conducting) at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory. Dr. Blon’s primary conducting teachers have been Steven D. Davis, Stephen L. Gage, Joseph Parisi, James Berry, Stephen Hawk, and Jack Stamp.