Gary Stith

Gary Stith holds degrees from The Ohio State University and the Eastman School of Music, as well as the Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the State University College of New York at Buffalo.  He taught instrumental music in the Holland and Williamsville Central Schools for a total of thirty years.  From 1997-2001, he served as an adjunct instructor of music education at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

From 1979-93, his Williamsville East High School Wind Ensemble received consistent 6A and 6A+ NYSSMA Ratings, won nine superior “gold” ratings at national music festivals across the northeastern U.S, and made various major convention appearances including the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) Symposium, the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference, and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Eastern Division Conference.

From 1993-2002, he served as Instructional Specialist for the Fine and Performing Arts in the Williamsville Central Schools, during which time he founded and conducted the Williamsville Concert (Community) Band and established the national Williamsville Commissioning Consortium for the commissioning of new works for wind ensemble.

He has authored articles which have appeared in The Instrumentalist, NYSSMA School Music News, Flute Talk, National Band Association Journal, NFHS Music Association Journal,  NYSBDA Band Stand, and The New Conductors Anthology, and most recently served as Consulting Editor for a compilation entitled Classic Beginning Solos for the Complete Percussionist, published by Kendor. In addition, he is a frequent guest conductor at county and regional band festivals, and has served as a clinician at the Western New York Conference Day for Music Teachers, NYSSMA Winter Conference, NYSBDA Symposium, and the MENC Eastern Division Conference.

Past President of both the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME) and the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA), Past Chairman of the Erie County Council of Music Coordinators (ECCMC) and former adult choir director at both the Eastern Hills and Orchard Park Wesleyan churches, he was the northeast regional recipient of the 1976 American School Band Directors Association-Stanbury Award, the 1976 Holland Kiwanis “Citizen of the Year Award,” the 1993 “Outstanding Music Educator Award” at the World of Music Festival in Chicago, the 1998 NYSBDA “Outstanding Service Award,”  and the 2003 Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/ECCMC “Award for Excellence in Music Education.”

In August 2002, Gary accepted the appointment as Coordinator of Music Education and Conductor of the Symphonic Winds at the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College.

Last reviewed: 1/11/2009