Keith Koons, D.M.A.

• Professor
• Associate Director, Personnel, Curriculum, and Course Scheduling/Staffing
• Keith.Koons@ucf.edu
• 407-823-5116
• Campus Location: PACM122
• View CV

A native of Maryland, Keith Koons holds degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BME), the Manhattan School of Music (MM) and the University of Southern California (DMA). His teachers include Thomas Silliman, Mitchell Lurie, Leon Russianoff, Robert Genovese and Donald Oehler. 

He has performed or presented at conferences of the International Clarinet Association in Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Chicago, Ohio, Utah, Texas, California, Nebraska, Louisiana, Kansas, and Tennessee; national and regional conferences of the College Music Society, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the National Flute Association, the International Double Reed Society, the American Musical Instrument Society, the North American Saxophone Alliance, the European Clarinet Association and the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium.  

He is a longtime member of Toastmasters International, and has achieved the recognition of Distinguished Toastmaster, the organization’s highest award.

Dr. Koons is a frequent recitalist and chamber musician, often featuring new music and premiere performances. He has held the position of Principal Clarinet with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne, FL since 1992, and also performs with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Recent concerto appearances include the world premiere of Reflections of the Last Post by Howard Buss with the UCF Wind Ensemble. As a clarinetist with the Walt Disney World Orchestra, he performs with the Candlelight Processional Show.

Dr. Koons formerly taught in the public schools of Maryland and at Arkansas Tech University. Since 1990, Dr. Koons has been a member of the faculty at the University of Central Florida. After previously serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Music, he is currently Professor of Music, Graduate Coordinator and Associate Director of the School of Performing Arts. He has developed and sponsored the annual UCF Clarinet Day, featuring guest artists from the United States and abroad.

Dr. Koons served from 2008-2014 as President-elect, President, and Past President of the International Clarinet Association, the world’s largest clarinet organization with more than 3500 members in 80 countries. He was the founding Chair for 13 years of the ICA Research Presentation Committee, and also served the Association as Research Coordinator and Library Liaison. In 2017, he served as Artistic Director and host for the ClarinetFest® annual conference in Orlando. In addition, he has held several leadership positions with the Southern Chapter of the College Music Society, and served as President from 2003-2005. 

He is a longtime member of the UCF Faculty Senate, and served as Chair 2015-2017. Through that position, he was also a member of the UCF Board of Trustees.

Education

• D.M.A. in Clarinet Performance from University of Southern California (1983)
• M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Manhattan School of Music (1978)
• B.M.E. in Music Education from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1977)

Courses

Updated: Jan 14, 2021