Dr. Scott Lubaroff is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida, leading a comprehensive ensemble program that includes four concert bands, athletic bands, and chamber winds. He also oversees the graduate program in wind conducting and teaches undergraduate courses in conducting and music education. Dr. Lubaroff came to UCF in 2017 after twelve years as Director of Bands (3 years also as Chair of the Department of Music) at the University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg. Under his direction, the UCM Wind Ensemble performed twice by invitation in New York’s Carnegie Hall (2016; 2010), three times in a seven-year span at the annual Missouri Music Educators Association Conference (2015; 2011; 2008), and performed for the 2014 Southwest Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).
Under Dr. Lubaroff’s leadership, the UCF Bands have further developed a national and international presence through featured performance, recording, commissioning and collaboration, special events, and partnerships and exchanges. The UCF Wind Ensemble performed recently as a featured ensemble at the 2026 Southern Division Conference of the CBDNA, and previously performed at the 2020 Southern Division CBDNA Conference, a program that included the world premiere of John Frantzen’s Double Concerto for Solo Violin, Solo Cello & Wind Ensemble. In the fall of 2018, the Wind Ensemble released a commercial recording of Anthony Di Lorenzo’s Zodiac Concerto under the Flying Horse Record label, and in the Spring of 2022 they premiered Zodiac Concerto II, by Jim Stephenson, recording commercially released in 2023. In the Spring of 2025 they premiered and recorded D[RAM]EDY, a major concerto for solo piano and wind ensemble, by Alexander Burtzos, recording of which will be commercially released in the Fall of 2026 under the Klavier Records Label. Dr. Lubaroff and the UCF Wind Ensemble have collaborated with composers and guest artists including Jim Stephenson, Scott McAllister, Andrew Boysen, Jr., William Caballero, Roger Oyster, and Linqua Franqa, amongst others. Since 2018, the UCF Bands have implemented special events designed to support music education in Florida and the Southeast, annually, including the UCF Conductors Symposium, Knights Rising High School Honor Bands, and the Music for All UCF-Orlando Concert Band Invitational. Beginning in 2018, Dr. Lubaroff also developed international partnerships and ongoing exchange relationships with the College of Music at Mahidol University, in Salaya (Bangkok), Thailand, and the School of Music at Yonsei University, in Seoul, South Korea.
Dr. Lubaroff has himself been extremely active in the commissioning and premieres of new music for winds, including many composer residencies and world premiere performances. Prior to his appointment at UCM, Dr. Lubaroff served as Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University (2001-2005), and Director of Bands at Williamsburg High School, in Iowa (1991-1997). He earned his DMA in conducting from Michigan State University, and MFA (conducting), MA (music education), and BM (saxophone/music education) degrees from The University of Iowa. He has published articles in the Journal of Band Research and Journal of the National Band Association, a book on Stravinsky’s neo-classical wind music, a transcription for concert band of Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Eljen a Magyar, and a transcription of John Psathas’ Omnifenix for Solo Jazz Saxophone, Jazz Drum Set, and Wind Ensemble. He also has a book forthcoming through Excelcia Music Publishing, a rehearsal guide for marches. Dr. Lubaroff is in frequent demand as a guest conductor, clinician, speaker, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad, including professional conducting appearances in South Korea and Thailand, several All-State bands in the U.S., and presentations at the 2023 National Conference of the CBDNA, 2022 International Conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Prague, Czech Republic, and 2022 Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinics. He is a member of the CBDNA, National Association for Music Education, Phi Beta Mu, and Pi Kappa Lambda, and is an honorary member of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.