Conductor
Started in 2011
Gary J. Samulski has been a music educator for the past 34 years. For the past 21 years he has been the Director of Bands and Curriculum Coordinator for Music at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, New York.
As a high school student/trombonist in Tonawanda, NY, Gary was the youngest professional musician to play in the pit orchestra at the well-known Melody Fair Theatre. He performed in the pit for: Paul Anka; Engelbert Humperdinck; Tom Jones; The Spinners; Johnny Mathis; Chuck Mangione; Liberace; 5th Dimension; Connie Stevens; The Four Seasons; Don Rickles; and many, many more!
While at Melody Fair he was hired as Technical Director as well. This made him responsible for all the “non-musical” but equally important aspects of the performing business. Under the guidance of impresario Lew Fisher, Gary learned the “ins and outs” of music production and the music business from one of the best!
As a music educator Gary has had the opportunity to conduct various All- County and Area All-State organizations; has been selected to Who’s Who In American Education (5 times!!); was the recipient of: the University of Rochester’s Excellence In Education Award; the Music Educator’s National Conference’s “Nationally Registered Teacher” award; Greece Athena’s “Teacher of the Month” award; was nominated for the Walt Disney Outstanding Teacher Award; and received the Eddie Meath Community Service Award. In April of 2006, Gary was inducted into the Section V Football Hall of Fame for his contributions as the Director of Ceremonies for not only Section V Football but the New York State Football Committee as well! In the fall of 2010 he was named an Outstanding Music Educator by Heritage Music Festivals (National Organization).
His musical organizations have consistently been highly recognized at the local, regional, state and national levels. Since his arrival at Greece Athena High School his Symphonic Bands and Jazz Ensembles have consistently received Gold Awards (90% or higher) at each and every festival every year for 21 years! At many of these festivals the groups received Adjudicator’s Awards (95% or higher) and were honored as the Outstanding Instrumental Program and/or Group for that particular festival.
In the late 1990’s he developed a concert concept that would integrate local professional musicians and groups in performance. This creative ENCORE project brings together the uniqueness of professional rock musicians and student musicians playing together. This is just one of the many different ways Gary has used his extensive background to bring his students (and those of other music programs) the best possible “real life” music situations!
Gary is also in demand as an adjudicator/clinician and has travelled the country as an adjudicator for the National Music Festival Organization Heritage Festivals, as well as many local and regional music festivals. During the summer of 2007 Gary conducted the Lexington, Kentucky Pops Orchestra “in concert” with Beatlemania Now. He was invited back to Lexington during the summer of 2009 to conduct “Abbamania!” in concert. Each concert series attended by over 9,000 people!!
Since the opening of the new performing arts center at Greece Athena High School (April, 2005), he has also taken on the role of concert producer, putting together the first-ever Athena Guest Artist Series. This series has brought in the likes of Maynard Ferguson; country singer John Berry; David Clayton-Thomas (of Blood, Sweat & Tears fame); the United States Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus; Joey Dee & The Starlighters; jazz pianist Gap Mangione (brother of Chuck Mangione) and Beatlemania Now!...among others. Each one of these concerts also involved student performers and student production help…..a real “hands on” experience for all as well as combining the talents of both the students and professionals on stage!
In the fall of 2007 Gary was asked to teach/integrate a special education music class for the 12:1:3 program at Athena HS. His diverse background allowed him the opportunity to give these special students many, many special musical experiences. From signing the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veteran’s Day Concerts to conducting the Symphonic Band in rehearsal; to playing instruments to assuming the role of a pit orchestra musician (in the pit!!) these students had many wonderful opportunities during the two years that he taught this class
In March, 2008, Gary was appointed director of the Greece Concert Band which is part of the Greece Performing Arts Society (www.greeceperformingarts.org) and has since collaborated with the Greece Chorale Society on two historic Veteran’s Day Concerts in November, 2008 and 2010 each attended by over 1,000 people! He has single-handedly revitalized the concert band musically and personnel-wise to one of the most respected community bands in the area! This is a position that he will continue in after his retirement.
In January, 2011 he conducted the 41 person student/professional pit orchestra for one of the first ever high school productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”. This production was performed in front of almost 9000 paying customers....unheard of for a high school musical production. In March, 2011 there will be a national music festival trip to New York City; in April an ENCORE style Beatles Tribute Concert with professional performers “Get Back”; in May a jazz night with a local college big band and local swing quintet w/vocalist; and always more to come!!