John
E. Williamson
John
E. Williamson,
professor of conducting, has been director of bands
at Central Michigan University since 1979. Born and raised in
Joliet, Illinois, he studied clarinet with his father and Jerome
Stowell of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to guiding
all aspects of the Central Michigan University band program, he is
conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, which has performed for
the Midwestern Conference, regional and national conferences of MENC
and the College Band Directors National Association and in historic
Carnegie Hall, New York. In 1997, Professor Williamson founded the
CMU Chamber Winds, which is comprised of faculty and selected
students from the School of Music. This ensemble presents regularly
scheduled concerts and will be featured at the 60th
annual Midwest Clinic in December 2006. He was previously conductor
at Wheeling (IL) High School, where his wind ensemble gained
national recognition due to its unique programming and performances
across the United States, including a performance at the Midwest
Band Clinic in Chicago. The Sousa Foundation recently honored the
Wheeling program, as one of the nation’s finest with Mr. Williamson
receiving the coveted Sudler Award. He is active as an adjudicator,
clinician and guest conductor nationally with additional appearances
in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. He has received praise for
his interpretations from such leading composers as Michael Colgrass,
Karel Husa, H. Owen Reed, David Maslanka, Augusta Read Thomas and
David Gillingham. Among the many soloists he has accompanied are
Adolph Herseth, Dale Clevenger and Michael Henoch of the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. Professor Williamson is a member of the
prestigious American Bandmasters Association, National Band
Association and Phi Mu Alpha. He has held offices in the College
Band Directors National Association and is head of the commissioning
project for the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association.
In addition to being listed in the International Who’s Who in Music,
he has received the NBA Citation of Excellence, was the first
Illinois director to receive the “MAC” Award from First Chair of
America. He was most recently presented the Excellence in Teaching
Award from Central Michigan University, as well as the Orpheus Award
from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. He has been a new music
reviewer for The Instrumentalist, BD Guide and Band
magazines and is co-author of “Strategies for Teaching High School
Band” published by MENC. He recently authored Rehearsing the
Band published by Neidig Services, which is now in its third
printing in response to national and international demand and has
recently been translated into Japanese for sales in that country.
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