John A. Climer is Professor of Music, Director of Bands and conductor of the Wind Ensemble at Ohio University.  He also serves as director of the New Music Ensemble, conductor of The Southeastern Ohio Youth Wind Symphony, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in wind literature and conducting.  Dr. Climer received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Akron, and graduate degrees in conducting and performance from Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music and the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he was a student of Gary W. Hill.  Prior to his appointment to Ohio University, he served on the faculties of the University of North Dakota, Emory University (Atlanta GA), and Ohio Northern University; he is the former conductor of The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony.

Dr. Climer maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Invitations to conduct have taken him to numerous universities and concert venues around the country including Cornell University, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, East Tennessee State University, Murray State University, Central Missouri State University, Fort Hays State University, Chadron State University, Duquesne University, University of South Florida, the University of Dayton, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Minnesota-Morris, several provinces in Canada, and honor bands throughout the country.  Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform for music conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, the North Dakota Music Educators Association, the Society of Composers, and the Ohio Music Educators Association. 

His interest in new music has led to his involvement in numerous commissioning projects.  These commissions include works by composers Akira Miyoshi, Warren Benson, Roberto Sierra, Richard Smoot, Elliot Del Borgo, Walter Mays, Timothy Broege, Robert Rodriguez, Michael Schelle and Daron Hagen.  Under his direction, the Ohio University Wind Ensemble has collaborated with composers Donald Erb, James Mobberley, Nancy Galbraith, Roberto Sierra, Jack Gallagher, and have performed under a distinguished list of guest conductors.

Dr. Climer holds memberships in Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and the Music Educators National Conference, and the College Band Directors National Association for which he served as state chair from 1996-2001. He is an artist-affiliate with United Musical Instruments, and his biography is published in the third edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.  Dr. Climer is the recipient of the 1997 Ohio University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award, and the 2001 College of Fine Arts Outstanding Teacher Award.

The Ohio University Wind Ensemble can be heard on their CD “Dawning” with flutist Alison Brown Sincoff.  The disk features works by Henk Badings, Timothy Broege, Jack Gallagher, David Gillingham and Kurt Weill.