About Dr. Stan Michalski

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Boston Brass and the Lakota West Symphonic Winds

Stanley F. Michalski, Jr., Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Music and Conductor of Bands at Clarion University of Pennsylvania forged a distinguished career spanning forty-nine years as a conductor, educator, performer and clinician-adjudicator throughout North America and Europe. Currently, Dr. Michalski is serving as Coordinator of Instrumental Music for the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, Adjunct Professor of Music at Winthrop University where he serves as Associate Conductor of the Winthrop/Carolina Wind Orchestra and Adjunct Professor and Conductor of the Catawba College Concert Band.

Michalski received his B.S. Degree, cum laude, in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1956. In 1958, he was awarded a Master of Education Degree and earned the Doctor of Education Degree from the Pennsylvania State University where he was selected as the first candidate for the Band Conductor Assistantship Program under Dr. James W. Dunlop. Prior to his professorship at Clarion University, Dr. Michalski served as Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Harrisburg, PA from 1956 to 1958, and from 1959 to 1961, held a similar position in Mifflintown, PA.

He is the author of numerous published articles on music education, bands, and low brass and was the founder and conductor of the Clarion University Summer Band and Jazz Workshops and Band Front Clinics. He was the first recipient of the Clarion University Student-Alumni Golden Eagle Award presented to a faculty member for efforts in furthering the reputation and best image of Clarion University.

In 1973, Dr. Michalski was elected into the membership of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, the professional association of master conductors and musicians. Membership is considered the highest honor achievable by American bandsman; it recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of concert band. In the same year, he served as President of the Eastern Division of the College Band Directors National Association. Dr. Michalski has served as tuba soloist, clinician-adjudicator, and guest conductor in forty-five States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Korea, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Holland, England, France. and Austria where is served as conductor for the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna for six years. In addition to his conducting-adjudication assignments within the United States, Dr. Michalski was chosen to conduct the North American Concert Band on a 21-day concert tour throughout Europe during the summer of 1992. He has also served as guest conductor with the U.S. Air Force Band, the U.S. Marine Band, the U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the Armed Forces Bicentennial Band and the U.S. Army Field Band.

Since 1991, Dr. Michalski has been active as an adjudicator and conductor for the half-time shows associated with the Blockbuster, Gator, Orange, Carquest and Sugar Bowls.

Dr. Michalski initiated the annual President’s Concert on the University Campus and annually invited a renowned guest conductor, soloist, or composer to campus to conduct, perform, or present a premier performance of an original work for band. In addition, Dr. Michalski programmed annual tours with the versatile and superlatively talented Symphonic Band. His concept of the clinic-concerts while touring with the Symphonic Band throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and surrounding states has been overwhelmingly successful and warmly received. During Dr. Michalski’s tenure, the University Bands performed a total of 903 campus and community concerts in six states, Canada and Mexico. The highlight of the 1984, 1990 and 1992 concert-tour season culminated with a series of concerts in Mexico City, Acapulco and Cancun, where performances by the symphonic band were received with acclaim.

He is a charter member and past president of Phi Beta Mu, National Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity and extremely active in numerous professional organizations.

In 1971, Dr. Michalski was the recipient of a Certificate of Commendation from the American Federation of Musicians and in the same year was cited as Outstanding Educator of America for his noteworthy contributions to higher education. On two occasions, the Pennsylvania State Legislature honored Dr. Michalski with Citations of Commendation associated with his contributions to music education.

The School Musician Journal, in April, 1976, selected Dr. Michalski as one of the ten most outstanding Music Directors in the United States. More recently, Dr. Michalski was awarded the Citation of Excellence by the Executive Committee of the National Band Association in recognition for his numerous contributions to bands and band music; and in 1978 and 1981, he was the recipient of the Clarion University Distinguished Faculty Award.

In 1979 and 1983, Dr. Michalski was elected as a member of the Clarion Area School Board and served three terms as Board President. He also served as President of the Board of Directors for the Clarion Hospital. In 1982, Dr. Michalski became involved in a community project to build a new hospital in Clarion, Pennsylvania. As vice-president of the board of directors, he co-chaired the effort to raise $750,000 but eventually raised a total of $1.2 million dollars to support the construction of the new Clarion Hospital.

Phi Beta Mu, the National Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity, honored Dr. Michalski in May of 1982 by selecting him as the Outstanding Bandmaster in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In 1984, Dr. Michalski accepted an invitation to serve as conductor and musical director for the Pennsylvania Lions All-State Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. At the annual meeting of the Clarion University Alumni Association in May, 1986, Dr. Michalski was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award and in November of 1985, Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, awarded Dr. Michalski the coveted A. Frank Martin Award in recognition of his contributions to music - an award presented to eight individuals in the past twenty years.

In 1989, Dr. Michalski was invited to serve as guest conductor at the 42nd annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival held at Slippery Rock University. He was the first and only Pennsylvania band conductor to have the honor of conducting this nationally acclaimed group of student-musicians. Dr. Michalski once again conducted the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band hosted by Lock Haven University in March, 2007 heralding 60th anniversary of the event.

During the 1990 Symphonic Band tour of Mexico, Dr. Michalski was presented with an Honorary Diploma de Honor from the El Centro de Estudios de la Communication Social and an Honorary Diploma from the La Casa De La Cultura De Acapulco. In December, 1991, Kappa Kappa Psi again honored Dr. Michalski by selecting him to be the nineteenth recipient of the Distinguished Service to Music Award and Medal of Honor in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the modern college and university band.

Dr. Michalski is a member of the Artist/Clinician/Conductor staff of Jupiter Band Instruments, Inc., manufacturers of band and orchestra instruments, located in Austin, Texas.

The Council of Trustees at Clarion University, in March of 1995, approved a resolution naming the music rehearsal room in the Marwick-Boyd Fine Arts Building the Stanley F. Michalski Jr. Rehearsal Room.

Dr. Michalski served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Bandmasters Association Foundation from 1992 to 1997. In March, 1997, at the 63nd annual convention in San Diego, California, he was elected president-elect of the American Bandmasters Association.

Dr. Michalski served on a panel of international adjudicators for the World Association of Marching Show Bands Championship in Potsdam, Germany - 2001; Tokyo, Japan - 2002; Monza, Italy - 2003; Taubate, Brazil – 2005; Jeju, Korea – 2006; Copenhagen, Denmark in 2007 and will similarly do so in Bejing, China in 2008.