R. Gary Langford is Professor of Music and Assistant Director of the School of Music at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He came to the University in 1971 as Assistance Director of Bands and Professor of Trumpet. He received his Music Education degree from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Master of Music degree in Trumpet performance from the University of North Texas where he was a member and soloist with the famed One O’Clock Jazz Band. He also was principal trumpet in the UNT Orchestra and performed extensively with the UNT Brass Quintet. His responsibilities at the University of Florida have included Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and teaching in the Music History and Music Theory area. In 1996, having completed 25 years with the University of Florida Marching Band, the “Pride of the Sunshine,” the last 10 as its director, he “retired” from that position and in 1998 was appointed Assistant Director of the School of Music. Mr. Langford is an accomplished arranger with over 390 arrangements for marching band that are used by college and high school bands throughout the United States. His published compositions have appeared in the catalogues of Hansen Music, C.L. Barnhouse, Carl Fischer and Columbia Pictures.

Professor Langford has held offices in the International Association of Jazz Educators, Florida Unit, and was selected by the organization as the 1982-83 outstanding Jazz Educator. He has been honored twice by the University of Florida as the Teacher of the Year from the College of Fine Arts and is the recipient of a TIP award fro excellence in teaching. In 1997, Langford was honored as the Musician of the Year by the Foundation for the Promotion of Music and was selected as the 1998 College Music Educator of the Year for the State of Florida by the Florida Music Educators Association. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Service to Music Medal” by Kappa Kappa Psi for his “contributions to the growth and development of the modern college and university band.”

Professor Langford is an active adjudicator/clinician and has directed numerous County, District and All-State Bands including the Florida All-State Jazz Band, Florida All-State Junior High School Concert Band and the Florida All-State Community College Jazz Band. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Orchestra Association and the Florida Music Educators Association. Mr. Langford has been the conductor of the Alachua County Youth Orchestra since 1987.