Gerald King

B.M. (UBC), M.M. (West. Wash.) Ed.D. (B.Y.U)
Professor
Conducting, Music Education, University Wind Symphony (Conductor)

MacLaurin Building (Music Wing)
By Appointment
gking@uvic.ca

Brief Biography

 “Conductors/Teachers must be humanist leaders who guide each individual and ensemble to reach their own creative potential.”

Dr. King is Professor and Director of the School of Music at the University of Victoria where he serves as the conductor of the UVIC Wind Symphony. He is also the conductor of the South Island Wind Ensemble.

Considered one of Canada’s most respected conductors and educators he is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Order of the Phoenix by the Western International Band Clinic where Dr. King has made 5 separate conducting appearances. His most recent honor was being elected into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. Dr. King is currently 1 of only 5 Canadians in the ABA. In March 2004 he was formally inducted into the ABA when he served as a guest conductor for the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from Washington, DC.

Dr. King’s background is varied. Although he is primarily recognized as a conductor of Wind Bands, he is equally comfortable conducting Orchestras and Choirs. A former student of internationally renowned conductor, Maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Dr. King’s professional career has taken him throughout Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Mexico, and most recently in November 2006 when he made his conducting debut in Hong Kong. Dr. King will also return to Mexico  and  Hong Kong in 2008. Dr. King’s conducting appearances with Regional, National, International Honor, and Professional Ensembles have been praised for performance quality, artistry, and creativity.

In addition to his passion for making music he is also widely recognized as an expert for his ability to link theory and practice in the field of teaching and learning. Dr. King has recently completed a DVD—The Craft of Conducting and is currently working on a Handbook to accompany it. Among his many recordings and publications is a chapter in the book, Creativity and Music Education written by seventeen authors from the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, Great Britain, Spain, and Scotland. The book includes a forward by noted author on Creativity, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi.

Over the past 17 years in his capacity as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician he has worked with over 10,000 bands, choirs and orchestras representing more than 500,000 musicians.