Ardsley High School Alumni
Ardsley, New York (NY)
Alumni Stories
Garwood Whaley
Class of 1960
The Midwest Clinic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rich Piagentini
Executive Assistant
Garwood Whaley to receive “Medal of Honor” at
The Midwest Clinic in December 2011
October 12, 2011
DES PLAINES, IL – The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference is pleased to announce a recipient of our annual “Medal of Honor” this December in Chicago, Illinois. The Medal of Honor was introduced in 1962, as a way to honor conductors, educators, composers, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of instrumental ensembles deserve special recognition.
Garwood Whaley received degrees from the Juilliard School–where he studied with Morris Goldenberg and Saul Goodman–and The Catholic University of America where he earned a doctor of musical arts degree while performing with The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He is conductor emeritus of the Bishop Ireton Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Alexandria, Virginia, former adjunct professor of music at The Catholic University of America, past-president of the Percussive Arts Society, former curriculum coordinator of instrumental music for the Diocese of Arlington Schools and president and founder of Meredith Music Publications. As founder of Meredith Music in 1979, he has been responsible for the publication of some of the most exceptional performance and educational materials available today. More than 400 composers and authors are included in the Meredith catalog.
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Doctoral studies in music education and full-time teaching at the high school level brought Whaley the realization that serious teaching texts dealing with often-neglected topics including score study, comprehensive musicianship, and ensemble rhythm training were missing from the literature. With several new titles in this category including “Guide to Score Study” by Frank Battisti and Robert Garofalo, “Note Grouping” by James Thurmond, “The Art of Elementary Band Directing” by Eileen Fraedrich, and Ed Lisk’s “Creative Director” series, the company began receiving national attention as a serious contender in the music education book trade. The company now had two major focus areas: percussion pedagogical materials and music education/performance reference books.
In 2000, the Hal Leonard Corporation became the company’s exclusive distributor of worldwide sales. Since that time, Meredith Music has grown in both size and stature bringing with it International acclaim. The imprint found new praise with its series in five volumes “A Composer’s Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band,” Peter Boonshaft’s four-volume set beginning with “Teaching Music with Passion,” an autobiography by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass and its multi-volume Cookbook series for strings, voice, percussion and wind instruments. In 2004, Anthony J. Cirone joined Meredith as executive editor of percussion publications adding depth to this genre by creating the “Meredith Music Master Class Series” and the “Symphonic Repertoire Series.”
Gar wrote his first book in 1965 and since then has become one of the best known and bestselling writers of percussion method books of all time with more than 300,000 copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of two of the most popular music method books of the past decade, “Basics in Rhythm” and “Primary Handbook for Snare Drum” and has written many other best sellers. He is the recipient of numerous awards in the field of music and music education and continues to present clinic/workshops throughout the United States and Canada. His personal and corporate charities—through Meredith Music Publications—have provided thousands of dollars to individuals and organizations that promote music and provide music education opportunities. He lives with his wife Adele and Welsh terrier in Galesville, Maryland.
About The Midwest Clinic
The Midwest Clinic exists to serve music educators and to improve the field of music education. The 2011 conference will be held December 14-17, at McCormick Place West (2301 S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago, Illinois). This year’s offerings include 80 clinics designed for band, orchestra and jazz directors at all levels, more than 35 concerts from middle school, high school and adult bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles and chamber ensembles, and over 350 exhibitors from the music industry. ###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rich Piagentini
Executive Assistant
Garwood Whaley to receive “Medal of Honor” at
The Midwest Clinic in December 2011
October 12, 2011
DES PLAINES, IL – The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference is pleased to announce a recipient of our annual “Medal of Honor” this December in Chicago, Illinois. The Medal of Honor was introduced in 1962, as a way to honor conductors, educators, composers, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of instrumental ensembles deserve special recognition.
Garwood Whaley received degrees from the Juilliard School–where he studied with Morris Goldenberg and Saul Goodman–and The Catholic University of America where he earned a doctor of musical arts degree while performing with The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He is conductor emeritus of the Bishop Ireton Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Alexandria, Virginia, former adjunct professor of music at The Catholic University of America, past-president of the Percussive Arts Society, former curriculum coordinator of instrumental music for the Diocese of Arlington Schools and president and founder of Meredith Music Publications. As founder of Meredith Music in 1979, he has been responsible for the publication of some of the most exceptional performance and educational materials available today. More than 400 composers and authors are included in the Meredith catalog.
[1 of 2]
Doctoral studies in music education and full-time teaching at the high school level brought Whaley the realization that serious teaching texts dealing with often-neglected topics including score study, comprehensive musicianship, and ensemble rhythm training were missing from the literature. With several new titles in this category including “Guide to Score Study” by Frank Battisti and Robert Garofalo, “Note Grouping” by James Thurmond, “The Art of Elementary Band Directing” by Eileen Fraedrich, and Ed Lisk’s “Creative Director” series, the company began receiving national attention as a serious contender in the music education book trade. The company now had two major focus areas: percussion pedagogical materials and music education/performance reference books.
In 2000, the Hal Leonard Corporation became the company’s exclusive distributor of worldwide sales. Since that time, Meredith Music has grown in both size and stature bringing with it International acclaim. The imprint found new praise with its series in five volumes “A Composer’s Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band,” Peter Boonshaft’s four-volume set beginning with “Teaching Music with Passion,” an autobiography by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass and its multi-volume Cookbook series for strings, voice, percussion and wind instruments. In 2004, Anthony J. Cirone joined Meredith as executive editor of percussion publications adding depth to this genre by creating the “Meredith Music Master Class Series” and the “Symphonic Repertoire Series.”
Gar wrote his first book in 1965 and since then has become one of the best known and bestselling writers of percussion method books of all time with more than 300,000 copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of two of the most popular music method books of the past decade, “Basics in Rhythm” and “Primary Handbook for Snare Drum” and has written many other best sellers. He is the recipient of numerous awards in the field of music and music education and continues to present clinic/workshops throughout the United States and Canada. His personal and corporate charities—through Meredith Music Publications—have provided thousands of dollars to individuals and organizations that promote music and provide music education opportunities. He lives with his wife Adele and Welsh terrier in Galesville, Maryland.
About The Midwest Clinic
The Midwest Clinic exists to serve music educators and to improve the field of music education. The 2011 conference will be held December 14-17, at McCormick Place West (2301 S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago, Illinois). This year’s offerings include 80 clinics designed for band, orchestra and jazz directors at all levels, more than 35 concerts from middle school, high school and adult bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles and chamber ensembles, and over 350 exhibitors from the music industry. ###
Recent Members
| Dale Dale Fried | 1976 |
| Eugene Shuler | 1969 |
| Eugene Shuler | 1969 |
| Isabel Byrne | 1976 |
| Jeffrey Gottlieb | 1965 |
| Pat Carlyle | 1957 |
| Ross Ross Campbell | 1962 |
| Susan Beller | 1975 |
Military Alumni
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Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!