Darrin Thornton joined the Penn State School of Music faculty in 2010 and serves as an e-Learning Institute Faculty Fellow developing curriculum and administers aspects of the Center for the Study of Learning and Teaching. He teaches music education undergraduate courses and maintains research foci in music education teacher training and continued professional development, educational access and outreach in music, and adult music engagement and participation.
Thornton taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels in the state of New York; served on the conducting faculties at the University of Missouri and SUNY- Fredonia; and has over 19 years of administrative experience holding posts at the University of Missouri, SUNY-Fredonia and Penn State. He currently remains active as a performing percussionist, conductor and adjudicator and assists with the Penn State Marching Blue Band.
>Thornton holds an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and graduate degrees from National Louis University and the University of Missouri. Professional affiliations include: College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), College Music Society (CMS), National Association for Music Education (MENC), Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.