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Bruce Cox

Photo of Bruce Cox

Department Head, Department of Instrumental Studies
Division of Music
School of Fine Arts and Communication

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Education

  • DMA, Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy, University of Southern Mississippi
  • MS, Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
  • BS, Music Education, Bob Jones University

Courses

About

Dr. Bruce Cox is professor of music in the Department of Instrumental Studies. He holds the B.S. degree (music education) from Bob Jones University, the M.S. degree from the University of Illinois, and the DMA degree (trumpet performance and pedagogy) from the University of Southern Mississippi. While at Illinois and Southern Mississippi he performed in ensembles under James Keene, Thomas Fraschillo, and Jay Dean. He studied trumpet with Michael Tunnell, Ray Sasaki, and Allan Cox. After graduate school he continued private trumpet study with Ruth Still and Larry Black. Dr. Cox attended two summer sessions of the Westminster Choir College Conducting Institute.

From 1984 through 1990 he directed the pre-college bands of Bob Jones Academy, and since 1997 has been involved with the BJU band program, first as assistant director of bands at BJU, and since the fall of 2019 as the director of the Symphonic Wind Band. In addition to the BJU bands he directs the trumpet choir, teaches courses in brass pedagogy and literature, directs the Lab Band for music education students, and serves as the Department head for Instrumental Studies. He serves frequently as guest clinician for Christian high school band festivals and summer camps.  An active performer, he played in BJU's faculty ensemble--the Foundation Brass--for 25 years, the Anderson (SC) Chamber Orchestra, and is still a trumpet section member in the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra.  He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, the College Band Director's National Association, the National Association for Music Education and the South Carolina Music Educators Association.

Bruce is married to Jennifer Mercado Cox with whom he has three children.