Ben Factor

About

Mr. Benjamin E. Factor is in his nineteenth year of teaching and twelfth year as Director of Bands at Lancaster High School. He directs Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Freshman Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, and the Band of Gold. He also assists with the General Sherman and Thomas Ewing Junior High School bands.

Bands under his direction have consistently earned Superior ratings at local and state adjudicated events, including the school’s first State Superior rating in over 20 years for the top concert band, and the first-ever State Superior for the second concert band.

A native of Grove City, Ohio, Mr. Factor earned his Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University, graduating magna cum laude in 2007. He holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Ohio Dominican University.

Before his appointment in Lancaster, Mr. Factor served seven years as Director of Bands at Liberty Union-Thurston Local Schools in Baltimore, Ohio. In his first year, the Liberty Union Marching Band qualified for State Marching Band Finals for the first time in school history and earned Superior ratings every year thereafter. The band also received fourteen consecutive first place awards across five seasons. His concert band received its first state superior rating in nearly 50 years, and continued to receive consistent superior ratings at district and state adjudicated events throughout his tenure with the band program.

Mr. Factor’s professional affiliations include the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, American School Band Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, the Ohio Music Education Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. In 2022, he was honored with the Music Education Roll of Distinction Award from The Ohio State University School of Music.

An active leader in the Ohio Music Education Association, Mr. Factor has served as State Treasurer, All-State Ensembles Co-Chair, All-State Jazz Band Chair, Strategic Plan Chair, Advocacy Committee Member, and District 15 Treasurer. He is also a certified OMEA adjudicator for Marching Band and Solo & Ensemble.

Mr. Factor has presented clinics at the OMEA Professional Development Conference, Ohio State University Student Leadership Intensive, Capital University Complete Band Director Workshop, and the OMEA Marching Band Adjudicator’s Summer Session.