Edward Kocher

Edward Kocher supports the mission of Duquesne University in performances, classroom presentations, and through leadership roles for the regional and national arts community. Prior to his current appointment as Professor Emeritus, he served as Dean and Professor at Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music from 2000–2014, as the inaugural holder of the William Patrick Power, C.S.Sp. Endowed Faculty Chair in Academic Leadership from 2014-2019 and from 2019-2025 as Duquesne Professor of Music. An accomplished trombonist, he performs chamber music with the “Brass from the Bluff” and as a member of the New Vintage Big Band. His performance credits include tours and recordings with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on stage performances at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, a 2007 GRAMMY winning recording with Nancy Wilson on the MCG Jazz label, and a host of solo and chamber music performances in America, Europe, and Asia.

An energetic and passionate advocate for the arts, Kocher serves as Board President for the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. He is active as a visiting evaluator and consultant for the National Association of Schools of Music. He served in an impressive array of leadership roles including the Commission for Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Music, President of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, Member of the Board of Directors for the Belle Voci intergenerational women's chorus, and as a member of the Arts Education Collaborative Steering Committee Dr. Kocher has made scholarly presentations for the National Association of Schools of Music, American Educational Research Association, and the Management Workshop for Music Executives in Higher Education. His current scholarly agenda focuses on two areas: 1) investigating career outcomes for alumni of music programs and 2) creating solo and chamber music performances for senior citizens.

Prior to his appointment at Duquesne University, he served for two decades at DePaul University in Chicago, IL, where he earned competitive grants for technology, improvisation, and diversity initiatives. Kocher earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy Analysis-Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Master of Arts in Trombone Performance at the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Music Education at Northwestern University.

• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
• M.A., University of Iowa
• B.M.E., Northwestern University