More About Blake Buehler
Blake Dylan Buehler (b. 2000) is an internationally performed composer, educator, and artist-activist with a passion for innovative music and the betterment of society through music. He has collaborated with acclaimed groups including Transient Canvas, the Texas New Music Ensemble, the Furman Symphonic Band, and Unheard-of//Ensemble. His catalogue includes a broad range of music, encompassing works for band, jazz ensembles, Pierrot ensemble, woodwind quintet, percussion ensembles, various mixed ensembles, and a lengthy list of solo repertoires. He is exclusively published by Alias Press, an affiliated publisher of the Theodore Presser Company. Buehler’s music is a place of radical acceptance, and he is dedicated to activism and leadership through music.
Philanthropy and Activism
Buehler is a philanthropist, activist, and leader. Many of his compositions consider LGBTQIA+ identity and serve as a platform for advocacy through performance. Furthermore, most of these works donate a portion of sales directly to LGBTQIA+ focused foundations and charities. Buehler’s focus through these works is to create community in the new music scene through collaboration with fellow queer artists, and by uplifting queer voices in traditionally conservative settings in order to invite acceptance and equity into those spaces.
Buehler served as the Projects Chair for the Gamma Eta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity from 2019-2020 and as the Fraternity Education Officer from 2020-2022. As Projects Chair, he not only raised hundreds of dollars through the annual talent showcase, but initiated the inaugural ‘piano smash’ fundraiser, which has since raised thousands of dollars for Title I public music programs in the greater South Carolina Upstate area. He sought philanthropy through the fraternity, as well as through his work as President and co-founding member of Sexuality and Faith Exploration (SAFE), a safe space for LGBTQ+ persons which explored the intersectionality of religion and sexuality. Through this organization he launched events to advocate for queer lives on campus as well as to fundraise for the local LGBTQ community. His largest project was a ‘blind date with a book’ sale, which raised enough money to support the opening of a queer wellness center in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. He also began a letter writing initiative to support transgender people through Point of Pride, which includes letters of love and support in care packages to transgender people in need. His active role in service earned him the Harry B. Shucker Outstanding Student Leader Award upon graduation.
Research
Buehler’s current research endeavors focus on identity and cultural impacts of popular music. His master’s thesis, So Much (for) Saving Rock and Roll: The Musical DNA of Fall Out Boy considers how identity and culture has shaped the musical output of Fall Out Boy, and how Fall Out Boy has contributed to popular culture. This research is culminated in an original 20-minute long pop-punk chamber work, which synthesizes Fall Out Boy’s musical ideas with Buehler’s creative voice.
Buehler was a research fellow on the project “The Time Signature – How Life Experiences Have Shaped Perspective, Success, and Longevity for 50 Educators Over the Age of 50” under the direction of Dr. Sue Samuels from 2020-2022. This project aims to reveal how to remain valid, current, and vital within the music education profession, and provide advice to young educators looking to further their careers. The project includes interviews from over 50 of the most successful music educators in the United States, and is set to become a documentary series and book. The findings of this research have been published and presented at the South Carolina Music Education Association Conference 2021 and the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference 2021.
Education
Buehler holds a Master of Music degree in Composition at Stephen F. Austin State University. He studied under the direction of Dr. Stephen Lias and held a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the theory area. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Composition in 2022 from Furman University under the direction of professors Dr. Mark Kilstofte, Dr. Peter Kay, and Prof. Jay Bocook. At Furman, he was an active performer and dedicated member of the bands and jazz programs and served as Vice President of Bands from 2021 through 2022. He was also the head stage manager at Furman, and taught flute and composition lessons through Furman and the KJ Music Academy.
Awards and Honors
Texas New Music Festival Composition Fellow — 2024
Midwest Clinic GenNEXT Scholarship — 2023
Dan Beaty Memorial Music Scholarship — 2023
Stephen F Austin Alumni Legacy Scholarship – 2023
Collaborative Composition Initiative Fellow – 2023
Alba Music Festival Composition Assistantship – 2023
Alba Music Festival Composition Fellow – 2023
Harry B Shucker Outstanding Student Leader Award – 2022
Miles Davis Outstanding Jazz Leadership Award – 2018
Performance Involvements
Stephen F Austin State University Band 2023
Ives Jazz Quintet 2018-2022
Furman Symphonic Winds 2018-2022
Furman Pauper Players Pit 2019-2021
Paladin Regiment 2018-2022
Furman Symphonic Orchestra 2018-2022
Paladin Pep Band 2018-2022
West Shore Marching Band 2015-2018
Cedar Cliff Jazz Band 2015-2018
Cedar Cliff Wind Ensemble 2014-2018
Central Pennsylvania Flute Choir 2014-2018
Do you do anything besides music?
In my free time I enjoy working out, being outside, playing video games on my Nintendo Switch (especially Legend of Zelda), and cooking. I also have a wonderful cat named Po (pictured), who is named after the Aztec God of war.
