Michael Thrasher

Michael Thrasher currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of Graduate Studies at the Florida State University College of Music. Previously, he served as Director of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Tyler, and also held teaching and administrative positions at North Dakota State University, North Central Texas College, and in public school music education.
As a researcher, Thrasher has presented papers and lectures at conferences of the College Music Society, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, Texas Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and at conventions of the International Clarinet Association in Ohio, Georgia, Sweden and Spain. His work has been published in various journals, including the Journal of Performing Arts Leadership in Higher Education, The Clarinet, Saxophone Symposium, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, and the NACWPI Journal.  He has also edited a variety of clarinet chamber works for the British firm Rosewood Publications, and recently served as program editor for the annual conference of the International Clarinet Association.
As a performing clarinetist, Thrasher has performed in numerous symphony and opera orchestras, including the Shreveport Symphony (Louisiana), Fargo-Moorhead Opera and Symphony (North Dakota), Texarkana Symphony (Texas), and the Longview Symphony (Texas). He maintains an active schedule as a recitalist and chamber musician, including appearances in California, Minnesota, Texas, North Dakota, and Colorado. As a clinician, Thrasher has presented at meetings of the North Dakota Music Educators Association, Minnesota Music Educators Association and Texas Music Educators Association.
Thrasher is a past state chair of both the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors and the International Clarinet Association. He has served as program annotator for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the ETSO. He currently maintains active involvement with organizations such as the National Association of Schools of Music and the International Council of Fine Arts Deans.
Thrasher holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northwestern State University, and both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas.