Nathan Irby, a third-year PhD student in Music Education at The Ohio State University, serves as a graduate teaching associate for undergraduate music education courses.

Originally from the Seattle area, Irby pursued his education at  the University of Oregon before a 9-year career as a band director in Roseburg and Salem, Oregon. Bands under his direction have received numerous awards from middle school band festivals throughout Oregon, and his students have received several individual honors as members of the Oregon All State Band, regional honor bands, jazz festivals, and regional Solo Ensemble Festivals.

Nathan’s scholarly work has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Oregon Music Educator Journal, and TRIAD: The Official Publication of the Ohio Music Education Association. His research interests include the mental wellbeing of music educators and school jazz ensemble pedagogy.

While at Ohio State, Nathan has been recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Associate in Music Education Award in 2023 and the Award for Graduate Teaching Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2024. In 2016, he received the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from the Oregon Alumni Band Association; in the following year, he received the Outstanding Music Educator Award.

During his time in Oregon, Irby remained active in many music education associations, serving as the chair and contest manager for the OSAA State Solo Event, a member of the Oregon Band Directors Association’s IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access), a OMEA District 4 Band Representative, and the musical director of the Oregon Alumni Band. Irby is a sought-after clinician in the concert band, jazz band, chamber and solo settings.