Ben F. Miller is Professor Emeritus of Music at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, where he served as Coordinator of Percussion Studies, Conductor of the Symphonic-Community Band and was a member of the M.U. Jazz Faculty.  A native of Joliet, Illinois, he received his B.M.E. degree from Indiana University and M.A. and D.M.A. degrees from the University of Iowa.  As Coordinator of Percussion Studies Dr. Miller taught applied percussion, conducted the M.U. Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band and taught percussion techniques classes for music education students.  In addition to conducting the Symphonic-Community Band he also taught instrumental conducting.  For forty years he served as the Assistant Director of the university’s 300 member “Marching Thunder” marching band and also conducted the Basketball Band. Dr. Miller is the former Timpanist and Principal Percussionist with the Cedar Rapids (IA) and West Virginia Symphonies and serves in a similar capacity with the Huntington Symphony and Pops Orchestras.  He is the founder and leader of the “Flat Baroque (mostly) Marimba Quartet.”

As a freelance performer, Ben is active in the tri-state region of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.  A popular guest artist, conductor, clinician and adjudicator Dr. Miller has presented concerts and clinics throughout the United States including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), The Midwest Clinic as well as in Cuba, Brazil, China and New Zealand. Many elementary school students know Ben as “Professor Boom Boom” who demonstrates his unique collection of percussion instruments from around the world and addresses the similarities of various cultures through percussion instruments and rhythm.

Ben is associated with Pearl/Adams, Sabian Cymbals, Mike Balter Mallets, Pro-Mark Drum Sticks and Evans Drum Heads as a clinician and consultant.  He is Past President of the West Virginia Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (P.A.S.) and served as a member of the International P.A.S. Education and University Pedagogy Committees. He is also a member of the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, American Federation of Musicians, Jazz Education Network (JEN) and the Central States Judging Association.