Willis M. Rapp

Willis M. Rapp, Professor of Music at Kutztown University, serves as Chair of the Department of Music as well as Conductor of the University Orchestra.

He holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Education from West Chester University, the Diploma of Fine Arts in Wind Conducting and Literature from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Dr. Rapp’s career as a published author includes over 400 publications to his credit through Jenson Publications, Meredith Music Publications, and the Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. His articles and reviews have appeared in Percussive Notes, The Percussionist, Selmer Bandwagon, Yamaha New Ways, and School Band and Orchestra Director.

Dr. Rapp performed for fifteen years as Principal Timpanist of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and also worked under Maestro Pitor Gajewski, Conductor of the National Chamber Orchestra in Washington, DC. Since 2000, he has been serving as the conductor of the Reading, PA Pops Orchestra. In 2007, he was honored by Kutztown University as a recipient of the Faculty Research Award in recognition of his career as a published author. Dr. Rapp has guest conducted, performed as a recitalist, and appeared as a clinician in thirty states and two provinces in Canada.