Larry Daehn

Larry Daehn was born in 1939 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and grew up on his parent’s farm near Rosendale, Wisconsin. He attended a one-room grade school, and Rosendale High School. He received his Bachelor Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and his Master’s Degree from University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Daehn’s 35-year teaching career included elementary, middle school and high school band, chorus and classroom music.

The New Glarus, WI High School Band, which Daehn directed for twenty-seven years, received many state and national honors: 6 Six Flags Best In Class trophies, 4 Wisconsin Governor’s Special Commendations, a Wisconsin Senate Citation Of Excellence. The band was chosen to perform at the Wisconsin State Music Convention in 1996.

Daehn is a member of American School Band Directors, Wisconsin Music Education Conference, World Association of Symphonic Bands And Ensembles, The Percy Grainger Society, National Band Association and Phi Beta Mu National Honor Society. He was named in Leaders of American Education in 1971, and was chosen Outstanding Bandmaster by Phi Beta Mu-Pi Chapter in 1988. In 2021, Daehn was awarded the prestigious Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation by the American Bandmasters Association, in recognition of conspicuous service in the interest of bands and band music.

Daehn was commissioned to write The West Point Bicentennial March, which was premiered in Carnegie Hall. He has lectured and guest-conducted in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon and California. His articles have appeared in The Instrumentalist and Bandworld magazines.

Since 1987, Daehn has been owner and operator of Daehn Publications, now distributed by C. L. Barnhouse. He is a popular guest conductor and music lecturer.