Following a forty-five year teaching career, Dr. Thomas Caneva was named Professor of Music Emeritus at Ball State University upon his retirement in 2025. Caneva served as the Director of Bands and coordinator of the graduate wind conducting program at Ball State University for nineteen years. Under his leadership, the Ball State Wind Ensemble performed at numerous festivals and conventions, including three CBDNA National Conferences (2011, 2017 and 2023), two CBDNA Division Conferences (2010 and 2014), two ABA Conventions (2012 and 2022), two IMEA Conferences (2011 and 2017) and the MENC North Central Division Conference (2009). He was involved in more than forty-five commissioning projects and premieres, and collaborated with more than one hundred guest conductors, composers and performing artists during that time. Caneva previously served on the music faculties at the University of Illinois, University of Colorado, Auburn University, and University of Texas. His teaching career began at Lincoln-Way Community High School in New Lenox, Illinois. In addition to university and public-school teaching experience, Caneva has served as a conductor of community bands and held the positions of Artistic Director and Conductor of the Boulder (CO) Concert Band and Principal Guest Conductor of the Denver Concert Band. Under his direction, the Boulder Concert Band performed at the 1998 CMEA Convention. In 2001, Caneva was elected to membership in the American Bandmasters Association, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest committee. He previously served as the President of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association from 2018-2021 and as the Indiana State Chair of the College Band Director’s Association. In 2014, he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu. Dr. Caneva holds degrees from the University of Illinois, University of Texas, and University of Colorado. He holds the unique distinction of also serving on the faculties of each of these universities. ittee. He is the Indiana State Chair of CBDNA and is an elected member of Phi Beta Mu.

Dr. Caneva holds degrees from the University of Illinois, University of Texas, and University of Colorado.

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