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Justin R. Stolarik
Conductor of the Wind Ensemble
Director of Athletic Bands
justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu    Â
DR. JUSTIN R. STOLARIK serves as Director of Bands at Stony Brook University, where he directs and oversees all aspects
of the NCAA Division 1 FCS Athletic Bands Program, and conducts the Wind Ensemble.
He is also the Director and Coordinator of the State University of New York (SUNY)
Annual Summer Pride Band. This December 2024, he will lead the Stony Brook Wind Ensemble
in performance at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference
in Rochester–the first-ever appearance by a Stony Brook Music Department ensemble at the state
music conference. As an active freelance musician and conductor in New York City, he has served as Associate Conductor
of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Resident Guest Conductor of the Kings County Concert
Band, Assistant Director and Conductor of the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic
Band, as a percussionist with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony (BKWS), and as Artistic Director
of the National Lesbian & Gay Marching Band (Washington DC). With the BKWS, he performed
at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference
in Gwangju-Gyeonggi, South Korea (2024) and in San Jose, California (2015), including
performances in Tokyo and Carnegie Hall. He can be heard as timpanist and section
percussionist on the “Michael Markowski / Brooklyn Wind Symphony” recording, under
the direction of Jeff W. Ball. Before arriving at Stony Brook in 2018, Dr. Stolarik
served approximately 700 real estate agents as Market Center Administrator of Operations
(Chief Operating Officer) at Keller Williams New York City.
Prior to New York, Dr. Stolarik served as Associate Director of Bands and Director
of Athletic Bands as the Gene Braught Chair of Music at the University of Oklahoma,
and served as Assistant Director of Bands at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and Henderson State University (Arkansas). During this time, he led bands to the Sugar
Bowl (2014) in New Orleans, Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses Parade (2010, 2011,
2012) in Pasadena, and the Champs Sports Bowl (2009) in Orlando. His wind and percussion
arrangements have been performed by athletic bands at football and basketball games
around the country before audiences of over 80,000. In addition to athletic bands,
he has arranged for the Dallas Winds and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble (both
conducted by Jerry F. Junkin). Dr. Stolarik has worked with such notable performers
as will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas), Everlast (House of Pain), Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard), Ed Shaughnessy
(The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson), Allee Willis, Carolyn Wonderland, Roky Erickson,
Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel), Jerry Jeff Walker, and Ghostland Observatory.
Dr. Stolarik completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in
Percussion Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, serving as a Graduate
Assistant for the University Bands Department, and his Bachelor’s degree in Music
Education, with Highest Honors, at the University of Florida. His primary percussion
teachers were Thomas Burritt, Tony Edwards, and Kenneth Broadway. While at UT, he
performed with the UT Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in 2005 for the World Premiere
of John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 3 “Circus Maximus,” and in 2008 at the Jungfrau
Music Festival (Switzerland), Mid-Europe Festival (Austria), Wiltz Open-Air Festival
(Luxembourg), Festival Veranos de la Villa (Spain), and in Cadogan Hall (London),
featuring the same work. He can be heard as timpanist on the World Premiere recording
available from Naxos Classical, under the direction of Jerry F. Junkin. Additionally,
he can be heard as timpanist on the UTWE’s “Starry Crown” album available from Longhorn
Music (also under the direction of Jerry F. Junkin). During his years at UF, he was
a three-year Front Line member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps (2000-2002),
and was two-time Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International Timpani Solo Champion
(2001 and 2002). He was featured in issues of Percussion News and Modern Drummer for
these solo performances. He later served on teaching staff for the Madison Scouts
as Front Line Instructor in 2003.
Dr. Stolarik is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi (Alpha Tau) and Tau Beta Sigma
(Theta Theta) National Band Service and Leadership Organizations, and led the founding
of Stony Brook’s Xi Delta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, which he continues to oversee.
He is also an active member of CBDNA, NYSSMA, NYSBDA, NAfME, SCMEA, and NMEA, and
annually presents at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester (2020-2024). In May
2024, he presented a Mental Health Panel Discussion at the College Band Directors
National Association (CBDNA) Athletic Band Symposium at the University of Montana
in Missoula, leading to a subsequent article in The Instrumentalist by Jason Cumberledge (August/September 2024, Volume 79, Number 1).
Visit stonybrook.edu/bands for more information about the Stony Brook University Band Department, which includes
Concert, Marching, and Varsity Band opportunities for all undergraduate and graduate
Stony Brook University students, regardless of major.
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Doctor of Musical Arts
The University of Texas at Austin
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Master of Music
The University of Texas at Austin
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Bachelor of Music Education
The University of Florida
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Certificate of Music Performance
The University of Florida
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Teaching and Research Areas
Wind Bands (Athletic, Chamber, Concert), Wind Band Literature and History, Conducting