Veteran music teacher Pat Garrett is joining the music education faculty at West Liberty University.
According to a news release from the University, he will begin Aug. 16.
"We welcome Pat to West Liberty," says Matt Harder, chair of the music and theater department. "His years of experience and record of teaching success will add immeasurably to our already successful music program."
Garrett will be the WLU music education specialist and will teach classes in music education methods to music majors, as well as trombone lessons and music skills classes for elementary education majors.
Garrett was band director at Wheeling Park High School from 1985 to 2012.
He was responsible for growing the music program to include concert band, marching band, percussion ensemble, marimba ensemble, steel band, brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble, jazz combos and jazz ensemble.
He is co-founder of the annual Festival of Sound concert.
He also served as department chairman for the Fine and Performing Arts Department.
While under his direction, the WPHS marching band ("The Pride of Ohio County") was honored with more than 250 awards and was a Bands of America Eastern Regional finalist from 1995 - 1998.
The concert organizations also received numerous superior ratings in solo and ensemble, jazz ensemble, and concert band festivals.
The concert band also received superior ratings at state band festivals since 1985, and was named West Virginia Honor Band in the spring of 2000, while the jazz ensemble was named a state champion in 2006.
Garrett received both his bachelor and master degrees in music education from West Virginia University and also completed course work with the Microsoft Training Academy.
He has guest conducted several honor bands, including ennsembles at Shepherd University, Marshall University, the University of Alabama, West Virginia University and the Maryland All State Junior Band.
Garrett plays trombone in several performing ensembles in the area and serves as a music judge through the country and for Drum Corps International.
He also has served a president of the Northern Band Master's Association, president of the West Virginia Band Master's Association, and secretary-treasurer of the Phi Beta Mu Band Master's Honorary.
His arrangements have been performed and recorded by the "Pride of West Virginia" WVU Marching Band and for the 2001 inauguration ceremony of West Virginia Governor Robert Wise.Garrett was named Teacher of the Year for Ohio County in 1991, Band Master of the Year in 1993 and 2004 and Wheeling Park High School's Teacher of the Year for the 1995-96 school year.
Garrett and his wife, Leslie, have two children, Shelby and Joshua, and reside in Glen Dale.
Garrett was named Teacher of the Year
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