opinion_band

The Ohio State University Marching Band. Credit: Lantern file photo

A third finalist for Ohio State Marching Band director is set to visit campus Friday and Saturday.

Douglas Henderson, associate director of bands and director of the Cowboy Marching Band at Oklahoma State University, is expected to participate in an “extensive number of meetings, interviews, auditions and conversations” during his visit, according to an email from associate director of university bands Scott Jones to OSU band members.

The Lantern obtained this email Friday.

The email encourages OSU marching and athletic band members to take part in a “meet the candidate” session with Henderson at the Steinbrenner Band Center on Friday evening.

Band members’ feedback will be collected electronically.

Henderson’s visit comes after a second finalist, Corey Spurlin, associate director of bands, marching band director and associate professor of music at Auburn University, dropped out of the running.

Another finalist, Barry Houser, director of the University of Illinois Marching Illini and Athletic Bands, dropped out earlier this month as well.

The band’s former director, Jonathan Waters, was fired in July after an OSU investigation found the band contained a highly sexualized culture.