Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May...

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Gene Aitken Bio Grammy-nominated Dr. Gene Aitken is considered one of the most exciting and energetic jazz clinicians today, and is recognized as a visionary in both jazz education and computer technology. In June 2007, he was awarded DownBeat magazine’s Jazz Educator of the Year and inducted into the DownBeat magazine’s Hall of Fame. In addition, he was the 32 nd member inducted into the 1995 International Association of Jazz Educator’s Hall of Fame along with Ella Fitzgerald and Doc Severinson, joining luminaries such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others. Dr. Aitken is only one of four individuals in the world who have received induction into both organizations’ Hall of Fame. In 1985, the University of Northern Colorado Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under his direction, was awarded a prestigious Grammy Nomination by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It is the only time NARAS has ever awarded this honor to an institution of higher education in the vocal jazz area. Dr. Aitken currently spends most of his time teaching jazz and music education in Asia and the Middle East, and has recently retired as Director of the Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. His activities as a conductor, performer, composer, adventurer, clinician, adjudicator, and producer of educational events have led him to all corners of the globe. His recent travels to Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq from June through August 2009 brought him to some of the most dangerous places in the world in which to teach music. Since retiring from the University of Northern Colorado in 2002, he has worked extensively as a conductor and teacher in the Middle East and Asia. In addition to coordinating donations of music and musical instruments from the United States and Asia to musicians in the Middle East, he has conducted some of the top military bands and wind ensembles in Asia and the Middle East including the Peoples’ Liberation Army Band of China (Beijing), the Pershmerga Army Band in Kurdistan (Erbil), the Lebanese Army Band (Beirut), the Sulaimaniyah Wind Ensemble (Iraq) and the Nepal Police Academy Band. This year, 2010, Dr. Aitken will spend most of the summer months teaching in the Middle East with the Houston-based non-profit organization, American Voices and the YES Academy (Youth Excellence on Stage) presenting concerts featuring student and professional musicians in the countries of

Transcript of Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May...

Page 1: Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May 2007, Dr. Aitken conducted China's top military band, the Military Band of the Peoples'

Gene Aitken Bio

Grammy-nominated Dr. Gene Aitken is considered one of the most exciting and energetic jazz clinicians today, and is recognized as a visionary in both jazz education and computer technology. In June 2007, he was awarded DownBeat magazine’s Jazz Educator of the Year and inducted into the DownBeat magazine’s Hall of Fame. In addition, he was the 32nd member inducted into the 1995 International Association of Jazz Educator’s Hall of Fame along with Ella Fitzgerald and Doc Severinson, joining luminaries such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others. Dr. Aitken is only one of four individuals in the world who have received induction into both organizations’ Hall of Fame. In 1985, the University of Northern Colorado Vocal Jazz Ensemble, under his direction, was awarded a prestigious Grammy Nomination by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It is the only time NARAS has ever awarded this honor to an institution of higher education in the vocal jazz area.

Dr. Aitken currently spends most of his time teaching jazz and music education in Asia and the Middle East, and has recently retired as Director of the Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. His activities as a conductor, performer, composer, adventurer, clinician, adjudicator, and producer of educational events have led him to all corners of the globe. His recent travels to Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq from June through August 2009 brought him to some of the most dangerous places in the world in which to teach music.

Since retiring from the University of Northern Colorado in 2002, he has worked extensively as a conductor and teacher in the Middle East and Asia. In addition to coordinating donations of music and musical instruments from the United States and Asia to musicians in the Middle East, he has conducted some of the top military bands and wind ensembles in Asia and the Middle East including the Peoples’ Liberation Army Band of China (Beijing), the Pershmerga Army Band in Kurdistan (Erbil), the Lebanese Army Band (Beirut), the Sulaimaniyah Wind Ensemble (Iraq) and the Nepal Police Academy Band.

This year, 2010, Dr. Aitken will spend most of the summer months teaching in the Middle East with the Houston-based non-profit organization, American Voices and the YES Academy (Youth Excellence on Stage) presenting concerts featuring student and professional musicians in the countries of

Page 2: Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May 2007, Dr. Aitken conducted China's top military band, the Military Band of the Peoples'

Thailand, Myanmar, Beirut, Syria, and Iraq. In August 2010, Dr. Aitken will conduct the combined bands of the Lebanese Army Band, the Lebanese Police Band, and the LeBAM student band, in the mountain town of Beit Meri, Lebanon, culminating a weeklong wind ensemble music festival and summer music program.

In Taipei, on 6 May 2010, he conducted a concert at Fu-Jen University featuring the Fu-Jen University Jazz Ensemble. And prior to that performance, on 17 April 2010, he conducted the Taipei Jazz Orchestra in a concert featuring Taipei jazz singer, Dawid Vorster.

During the months of March and April 2010, Dr. Aitken conducted the All-Star Bands at the University of Kansas Jazz Festival and the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival. In addition, Dr. Aitken was a Guest Artist at the Metropolitan State College of Denver for their Jazz Celebration, conducting the Metro State Jazz Singers.

In the months of January and February 2010, Dr. Aitken was in both Lebanon and Iraq working with students at the American Community School (Beirut) as well as rehearsals with the Lebanese Army Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble. In addition, he and Dr. Gholmieh, Director of the Lebanon Conservatory of Music, were honored by a member of the Lebanese Parliament for their musical contributions to the country of Lebanon, with members of the community and the US Embassy in attendance.

During the past year, 2009, Dr. Aitken was appointed Guest Professor of Music to the music faculties of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Nanchang Conservatory of Music (Nanchang, China) and Xinghai Conservatory of Music (Guangzhou, China). In October and November 2009, he conducted jazz concerts with the Shanghai Conservatory Jazz Ensemble, the University of Technology Jazz Wind Ensemble (Guangzhou), as well as jazz master classes at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music and a three-day in-residency at the American International School in Guangzhou.

Dr. Aitken arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, 20 July, 2009, where he worked with the YES Academy - Lebanon (Youth Excellence on Stage), the first visiting performing arts program in the country. During this month-long Academy, the faculty visited Palestinian camps as well as local and international music schools, encouraging students from Tripoli and Beirut, as well as students from countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Iraq to attend. The Academy rehearsals were held at the in Beirut at the American Community School (ACS) with facilities support from both the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University.

On 28 June, Dr. Aitken traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan for a 10-day in-residency on behalf of American Voices to work with students at Kabul University and the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. This project was

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funded by the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kabul. From there he returned to Erbil, Iraq to present workshops over a two-week period, teaching jazz combos and presenting jazz master classes.

This was the third year Dr. Aitken has participated in the China International Trumpet Workshop and Conference, presenting workshops on the Jazz Trumpet Section. The 4th Annual Conference was held at Nanchang University, Nanchang, China from 13-17 May 2009.

In February 2009, Dr. Aitken conducted the APAC (Asia Pacific Activities Conference) 100-member Honor Wind Ensemble in Hong Kong featuring students from China, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.

The United States Department of State appointed Dr. Aitken as the first Cultural Envoy to the country of Nepal in June 2008. During that period of time, he worked with teachers and music ensembles throughout Nepal and at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory. While in Kathmandu, he conducted the Nepal Police Academy Wind Ensemble and worked members of the Nepal Army Band.

For the third time, Dr. Aitken returned to Iraq in March and April 2008 to rehearse and perform with wind and jazz ensembles in Sulaimaniyah as with jazz ensembles in Erbil, Iraq. While there, he conducted the first Iraqi Wind Ensemble in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, as well as worked with the Sualimaniyah Pershmerga Military Band trumpet section.

On 25 July 2007, Dr. Aitken appeared on ABC World News direct from Erbil, Iraq, conducting the American Voices Jazz Bridges Combo and Big Band as part of a 10-day festival in the performing arts. One of main goals of the 10-day music camp was to play a significant role in uniting the Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, and many other cultures and religions. In addition to working with the Jazz Bridges ensembles, he rehearsed the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra brass section for an upcoming tour. In October 2007, a follow up of this historic event was published in the Jazz Times magazine, Jazz In Iraq, by David Adler.

In June 2007, Dr. Gene Aitken received the United States top jazz education honor by being awarded the 2007 Jazz Educator of the Year by DownBeat magazine and the seventh inductee into the DownBeat Magazine Jazz Educators’ Hall of Fame, joining Dr. David Baker, Lawrence Berk, Bunky Green, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell.

On 12 May 2007, Dr. Aitken conducted China's top military band, the Military Band of the Peoples' Liberation Army of China, in Beijing, for the opening of their new Concert Hall. It is the Central Government of China's own military band. In addition, he conducted master classes for over 100 Chinese wind ensemble educators on how to build and strengthen their wind ensemble programs.

Page 4: Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May 2007, Dr. Aitken conducted China's top military band, the Military Band of the Peoples'

Dr. Aitken retired in October 2006 as Director of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. During his tenure at the Conservatory he served as Deputy Director of Conservatory, was on the Board of Directors for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and was instrumental in the design, construction, and innovative media technology implementation of the new multi-million dollar NUS music facility.

Prior to his appointment at the National University of Singapore, he was Advisor to the Director of the College of Music at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. At Mahidol University he established the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Choral programs as well as helping to design curriculum for the Recording Engineering and Jazz Studies Programs. In addition, he was actively involved the building design of the new Multimedia Center, Music Museum, and 300-seat auditorium.

In January 2003 while at Mahidol University, Dr. Aitken co-founded one of the most exciting projects in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble (SAYOWE). This concept not only furthered positive relations between the Southeast Asian countries, but also identified outstanding musicians in Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. From over 500 students who auditioned in their home countries, 146 were selected and brought together in Thailand where they rehearsed and performed with a final concert at the Thailand Cultural Center in Bangkok.

From 1976 to 2002, Dr. Aitken was Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado, one of the most well known jazz programs in the world. Under his direction, the UNC Jazz Studies Program received more Down Beat magazine awards and more National Endowment for the Arts grants than any institution of higher education in the United States. Also, UNC is the only institution of higher education in the United States to ever receive a Grammy Nomination in the Vocal Jazz area. During his tenure, Gene produced 45 record albums and compact discs under contract with Los Angeles-based, United Jazz Artists Records.

He has authored over 30 articles for national and international journals on jazz education and computer technology, and has had several musical compositions published through Kendor Music. In June 1997, the National Education Association published a chapter in their book, "Music in the Twenty-first Century" by Dr. Aitken on the future of music education in the United States. He has presented seminars and workshops at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, the National Association of the Schools of Music, the Society for Applied Learning Technology, the National Education Association, the American Choral Directors' Association and the International Association of Jazz Educators' Association.

As a wind ensemble conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Aitken is in demand worldwide. In March 2005, he was selected to conduct the International Association of Southeast Asia Schools (IASAS) Honor Wind

Page 5: Gene Aitken Bio Aitken Bio.pdfGreen, Gary Burton, Jamey Aebersold, and George Russell. On 12 May 2007, Dr. Aitken conducted China's top military band, the Military Band of the Peoples'

Ensemble in Jakarta, Indonesia. In November 2002, he directed the All Asian Honor Wind Ensemble in Hong Kong and served a 10-day residency as the Charles W. Kell Scholar in the Hong Kong International Schools. In 2000, 2001, and 2002, he was invited to Bangkok, Thailand to serve on the international adjudication team for the Asian Symphonic Band Festival. And in 1999, he was selected as the Conductor of the IASAS Honor Wind Ensemble, which performed in March 1999 in Taipei, Taiwan.

During the 1998-99 season, Dr. Aitken was Conductor and Musical Director of the Washington Wind Symphony, one of the premiere professional wind ensembles in the United States. In addition to being the Director of the 133rd Army Band Wind Ensemble for 34 years, and Staff Bands Officer for the U.S. Sixth Army in Presidio, California, his Lane Community College Wind Ensembles performed at the College Band Directors’ National Association Conference, the Oregon Music Educators’ Conference, and the Washington Music Educators’ Conference. He has studied conducting under John Paynter, Dr. Howard Hanson, James Nielson, Robert Vagner, Dr. Stanley Chapple, William D. Cole, and Dr. George Kirchner.

In the magazine, U.S. News and World Reports, March 10, 1997 and February 23, 1998 issues, the University of Northern Colorado's Jazz Studies Program was selected as one of the top five Jazz Studies Programs in the United States and Canada.

In February 1997, Dr. Aitken was presented the State of Colorado's highest arts award, the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, presented for his national and international contributions to music and music education.

In January 1995, Gene Aitken was the 32nd individual inducted into the International Association of Jazz Educators' Hall of Fame along with Doc Severinson and Ella Fitzgerald, joining others such as Count Basie, Woody Herman, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. And in February 1985, he was awarded a prestigious Grammy Nomination from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. And in March 1983, the Colorado State Legislature awarded Dr. Aitken a $50,000 Excellence in Teaching award, the only such honor presented by the Colorado Legislature.

In the area of grantsmanship, Gene Aitken has served on the Colorado Council for the Arts Review Panel in 1997-1998 and 1999-2000. He has been on several successful grant-writing teams including the multimillion-dollar award from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, as well as being on the team receiving one of the highest-dollar grant awards from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1986. In addition, he has received several separate grants from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Colorado Council on the Arts, the Oregon Arts Council, and the Schram Foundation.

From 2000 to 2004, Gene Aitken served as the UNC Extended Studies staff representative to Jazz at Lincoln Center, the five-day Ellington Band

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Directors’ Academy held in Aspen, Colorado and other cities during the month of June each year. In June 1999 and 2000, he was one the artists at the Teacher Training Institute in Los Angeles sponsored by the International Association of Jazz Educators. Prior to that time from 1988-1998, he was in charge of the Summer Jazz Workshop program at the Britt Educational Institute held in Medford, Oregon.

In addition to his contributions to the field of jazz education and music technology, Dr. Aitken was active in the Los Angeles area for many years writing and conducting film music for the movie industry as well as serving as co-director of the Los Angles Jazz Workshop. He has studied advanced concepts in multimedia development at the American Film Institute and Mandarin Chinese in the Asian Studies Department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

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