Thomas Caneva
Professor of Music
Director of Bands
Thomas Caneva is Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Coordinator of Ensembles and Conducting at Ball State University. Dr. Caneva’s responsibilities include conducting the Ball State Wind Ensemble, coordinating the graduate wind conducting program, teaching undergraduate conducting, and administering the entire band program.
Since his arrival at Ball State in 2006, the Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at numerous festivals and conventions including the 2009 MENC North Central Division Convention, the 2010 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) North Central Division Conference, the 2011 and 2017 Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conferences, the 2011 CBDNA National Conference in Seattle, WA, and the 2017 CBDNA National Conference in Kansas City, MO. The performance in Seattle marked the first appearance of a Ball State concert ensemble at a national convention. In 2012, Ball State co-hosted (with Butler University, Indiana University, and Purdue University) and performed at the 78th Convention of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) in Indianapolis, IN. In 2014, Ball State hosted the CBDNA North Central Division Conference and the Ball State Wind Ensemble performed at the conference. In 2016 the Wind Ensemble appeared at the Mid-North Horn Workshop, which was also hosted by Ball State. The BSU Wind Ensemble most recently performed at the 87th ABA Convention in 2022, and made its third appearance at a CBDNA National Conference in Athens, GA in 2023.
Previous to his appointment at Ball State University, Dr. Caneva was a member of the music faculties at the University of Illinois, University of Colorado, Auburn University, and University of Texas. Now in his 44th year as an educator, his teaching career began at Lincoln-Way Community High School in New Lenox, Illinois.
Active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and Canada, Dr. Caneva has presented lectures/clinics/sessions at CBDNA Regional and National Conventions, the CBDNA Conducting Symposium, the CBDNA National Intercollegiate Athletic Band Symposium, and at NAfME State and Division Conventions. He served as the coordinator and host of the 2005 CBDNA National Intercollegiate Athletic Band Symposium, which was held at the University of Illinois. In 1995, while teaching at the University of Colorado, Dr. Caneva guest conducted at the CBDNA National Conference in Boulder, CO and the 7th World Association of Symphonic Band and Ensembles International Convention in Hamamatsu, Japan. Additional guest conducting appearances have included university, public school, and community bands and wind ensembles at district, regional, and all-state events.
In 2001, Dr. Caneva was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, where he currently serves as a member of the ABA Board of Directors and as the Chair of the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest committee. He is the Indiana State Chair of the CBDNA and a past President of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association. In 2014, he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Mu. Other honorary and professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Educators, Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary membership), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (honorary membership).
Dr. Caneva received his BS in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, MM in Wind Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin, and DMA in Instrumental Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder.