The Purdue University Old Masters Program began in 1950 when student leaders, business representatives, and university officials together defined success as \u201chonesty, personal integrity, and good philosophy.\u201d\u00a0 The mission of the Old Masters program has been defined by uniting distinguished alumni, friends, and students, while embodying the value of the Boilermaker experience.\u00a0 Each person selected as an Old Master has made significant and recognizable contributions to their field and all desire to share the same philosophies and experiences with Purdue students.<\/p>\n
This year, Al G. Wright Chair for Purdue Bands & Orchestras, Jay Gephart, has been selected as an honorary Old Master. Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure, and in 2009 he was promoted to Full Professor. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue \u201cAll-American\u201d Marching Band and the Purdue Wind Ensemble.<\/p>\n
Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble has shared the stage with some of the nation\u2019s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educators Association state convention on two occasions.<\/p>\n
In February 2012, the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster\u2019s Association held in Indianapolis.\u00a0 His wind ensemble has also performed on the stage at Chicago\u2019s Symphony Center and at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City on two occasions.\u00a0 Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, Virginia, and Arkansas. \u00a0He has also\u00a0served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.<\/p>\n
Most recently, he served as guest conductor and conducting evaluator at the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon and clinician for the Hawaii Music Festival. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. During his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including \u201cAnthem\u201d by Steven Bryant, which was premiered in 2011, celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands & Orchestras.<\/p>\n
Since being appointed director of the Purdue \u201cAll-American\u201d Marching Band, he has heightened the national and international reputation of the program.\u00a0 In 2008, the band traveled to Beijing, China to perform in the \u201cMeet in Beijing\u201d International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games, in 2010 became the first Big Ten Band to lead the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in 2013 landed in Ireland to march in the St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade in Dublin, and in 2015 established a partnership with Colombia when the band performed at the La Feria de Las Flores.<\/p>\n
Professor Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator\u2019s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director\u2019s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster\u2019s Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-2012, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director\u2019s Association and currently holds the position of Treasurer and Vice President of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster\u2019s Association in 2008 and currently serves on the ABA Board of Directors.<\/p>\n
He and his wife Jana have four children and one granddaughter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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