Veteran music educator Pat Garrett has been selected to join the music education faculty at West Liberty University and will begin his new position on Aug. 16, 2012.
“We welcome Pat to West Liberty. His years of experience and record of teaching success will add immeasurably to our already successful music program,” said Matt Harder, chair of the department of music and theater.
Garrett will be the WLU music education specialist and will teach classes in music education methods to music majors, as well as trombone lessons and music skills classes for elementary education majors.
Garrett was previously the band director at Wheeling Park High School from 1985 to 2012. He was responsible for growing the music program at the consolidated high school to include concert band, marching band, percussion ensemble, marimba ensemble, steel band, brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble, jazz combos, jazz ensemble and is a cofounder of the annual Festival of Sound concert. He also served as the department chairman for the Fine and Performing Arts department.
While under his direction the Wheeling Park marching band was honored with more than 250 awards and was a Bands of America Eastern Regional Finalist in 1995, 96, 97, and 98. The concert organizations also received numerous superior ratings in solo and ensemble, jazz ensemble and concert band festivals. The concert band also received superior ratings at state band festivals since 1985, and was named West Virginia Honor Band in the spring of 2000, while the jazz ensemble was named a state champion in 2006.
Garrett received both his bachelor and master degrees in music education from West Virginia University and also completed course work with the Microsoft Training Academy.
He has guest conducted several honor bands, including ensembles at Shepherd University, Marshall University, the University of Alabama, West Virginia University and the Maryland All State Junior Band.
Garrett also plays trombone in several performing ensembles in the area and serves as a music judge throughout the country and for Drum Corps International.
He also has served as president of the Northern Band Master’s Association, president of the West Virginia Band Master’s Association and as secretary/treasurer of Phi Beta Mu Band Master’s Honorary. His arrangements have been performed and recorded by the “Pride of West Virginia” WVU Marching Band and for the 2001 inauguration ceremony of West Virginia Governor Robert Wise.
In addition to receiving a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association, Garrett was named Teacher of the Year for Ohio County, W.Va., in 1991; WV Band Master of the Year in 1993 and 2004 and Wheeling Park High School’s Teacher of the Year for 1995-96 school year.
Garrett and his wife, Leslie, have two children, Shelby and Joshua, and reside in Glen Dale, W.Va.
West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. Established as West Liberty Academy in 1837, it was created to respond to the need for higher educational opportunities west of the Appalachians. Led by President Robin C. Capehart, West Liberty is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, please visit www.westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.
