BRIAN PETER

 

     Brian Peter graduated from the University of Southern California in 2001 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. In January 2009, he earned a Master of Music in Conducting from the American Band College, at Southern Oregon University. He attended the ‘16 Northwestern University Conducting Symposium, led by Dr. Mallory Thompson and H. Robert Reynolds. 

     He is the former Department Chair of Performing Arts and Band Director of Westlake High School. His WHS ensembles performed at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall, three times at the California All-State Music Education Conference, twice at The Midwest Clinic, three times at The Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz festival, The Jazz Education Network Conference, The Chicago Natural History Museum, and at the U.S.S Missouri.

     Brian performed with the Blue Devils "A" Corps, playing top bass in 1997 and snare in 1998. He was on the Blue Devils "A" corps visual staff from 2000-2017, instructed the Blue Devils "B" Corps pit 1999-2001 and in 2002 was the Blue Devil “B” visual caption head. He also was the lead full time instructor for the 2015/2020 Blue Devils “International Corps,” traveling Europe for five weeks, culminating with ten shows at the Basal Tattoo.  Brian has been a full time staff member for the American Band College in Ashland, OR for the past two years. He has also served as a Master Teacher for four CSUN student teachers.

     GCWE is excited to welcome him as our next conductor!

 MICHAEL DOTY

 

     Michael Doty, Co-founder of GCWE, retired as Conductor at the end of the 2022-2023 season and was promptly named Conducotr Emeritus. He received his music training from the University of California at Santa Barbara, earning a BA in 1969 and a Teaching Certificate in 1970.  His first teaching positions were in the state of New South Wales, Australia. He also taught at high schools in Atascadero and Whittier before settling in at Hueneme High School in Oxnard, California, in 1980. Michael earned a Masters Degree in wind band conducting (with honors) from CSUN in 1997.  He retired from active teaching in 2007, but continued to serve as interim or long-term director  in five Ventura County high schools in both the winds and strings areas.   In 2017, he was thrilled to conduct the Ventura County Honor Band.  As Conductor Emeritus, he will be back on the GCWE podium periodically in the coming seasons.

 

 

CLINTON H. DAWLEY

 

     Clinton Dawley, Co-founder of GCWE, announced his retirement from GCWE at the June 4,  2017 concert after 26 years at the helm. He passed away on October 20th, 2021.