Department of Music & Theatre

Dr. Michael Golemo - Director of Bands

Michael Golemo is the Director of Bands at Iowa State University. In addition to conducting the Wind Ensemble and teaching courses in music education and saxophone, Dr. Golemo oversees a program of eight bands. A native of Chicago, he received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University where he studied conducting with John P. Paynter and saxophone with Frederick L. Hemke. He completed his doctorate in wind conducting at Michigan State University under Kenneth G. Bloomquist and John L. Whitwell. He served as Assistant Director of Bands at The University of Akron (OH), and prior to that as Director of Bands at Albion College.

With over 200 instrumental arrangements, transcriptions and compositions to his credit, he has had works performed by a variety of performers and ensembles, including Louie Bellson, Wynton Marsalis, Anita Baker, Simon Estes, William Warfield and the Akron Symphony Orchestra. His music is published by Dorn Publications, Santa Barbara Music Publishers, Daehn Publications, and Great Works Publishing.

As a saxophonist, he has performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Chicago Bears Jazz Band, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, The Spinners, The Four Tops, Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, Robert Goulet, Red Skelton, Ed Ames, the Rockettes, the Ringling Brothers Circus, Mitzi Gaynor, Hal Linden, Jerry Vale, Patti Page and over 20 other headline acts.

Dr. Golemo is an active guest conductor and adjudicator, and holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honorary, Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honorary, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters, and is an honorary member of both Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is the immediate past National President of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity and a member of their Board of Trustees.

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Matthew Smith - Associate Director of Bands

Matthew Smith joined Iowa State University in the fall of 2002. His responsibilities at ISU include directing the Cyclone Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Men's Basketball Band, as well as teaching in the Department of Music.

Mr Smith comes to Iowa State from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he spent the last two years. While at Baylor, he served as Associate and Assistant Director of the Golden Wave Band. He also conducted the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Courtside Players. In addition, he taught in the School of Music and observed student teachers in instrumental music education. Prior to his arrival at Baylor, he was the Assistant Director of Bands and Visiting Lecturer in Conducting at the University of Michigan for the 1999-2000 school year.

Raised in Fairfax, Virginia, Mr. Smith received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After teaching in the Maryland public schools, he completed a master's degree in music education from the University of Michigan. Mr. Smith has guest conducted and served as a clinician in a number of states. His professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, the Iowa Bandmaster's Association, and the College Band Director's National Association.

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Gary Kleptach - Assistant Director of Bands  

     Gary Kleptach holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Kent State University, a Master of Music Education degree from Vandercook College of Music in Illinois, and post-graduate work at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He recently accepted the position of Assistant Director of Bands at Iowa State University. His responsibilities include assisting in the instruction of drill and music for the Cyclone Marching Band, organizing trips for the University Band Department, conducting the University Band, teaching applied low brass, and low brass methods.

     Prior to his appointment at Iowa State University, Mr. Kleptach served as an Assistant Band Director at Malone College in Ohio. His career began in the Ohio public schools where he was director of the award-winning Copley High School Band. Other appointments include positions at West Holmes, Canton Lincoln, Lorain Southview, and Rittman High Schools as well as the College of Wooster.

Mr. Kleptach maintains active memberships in the American School Band Directors' Association, Ohio Music Educators' Association, Music Educators' National Conference, and the College Music Society. In addition, he is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi.

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Barry Larkin - Associate Professor of Percussion

     Barry Larkin joined the faculty at Iowa State University as Assistant Professor of Percussion in 1991 and was recently promoted to Associate Professor.  Dr. Larkin's previous teaching appointments include faculty positions at Stephen F. Austin State University in East Texas, and East Tennessee State University. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Arizona State University, Master of the Arts from Stephen F. Austin, and a DMA in Percussion and Music History from the University of Southern California.

     Dr. Larkin is currently principal percussionist with the Des Moines Symphony and an active performer and adjudicator throughout Iowa. He has published articles and reviews in Percussive Notes and the journal for the National Association of Wind and Percussion Instructors. He has presented papers at meetings of The Percussive Arts Society, The Acoustical Society of America, The International Society of Musical Acoustics, The College Music Society and The North American Society of Chinese Music on subjects such as computer sequencing, percussion midi applications and marimba acoustics. Recent recital activities include performances in Germany, at South Dakota State University, Northern Illinois University, Indiana State University, a lecture recital at the College Music Society meeting in Vienna, Austria and a paper presentation in Edinburgh, Scotland.