The founder and conductor of the Desert Winds in Las Vegas, Chuck Maguire shares his thoughtful and insightful opinions on music education and the importance of composers and their music.

Topics:

• Chuck’s origin story and his early career and particularly his time at Troy University and a life-changing moment with Robert W. Smith.
• The story of building community at Goshen High School and tips for young directors starting out at small rural high schools.
• The importance of meeting the needs of the stakeholders in an ensemble or school and the example of the Desert Winds.
• Commissioning new music, the importance of composers, and some wonderful anecdotes about two works written for the Desert Winds and their 2016 Midwest Clinic performance.

Links:

• The Desert Winds
• Brooklyn Wind Symphony
• Carol Dweck: Mindset
• Ralph Ford: Its Vegas Baby!
• Julie Giroux: Hearthstone
• Cesarini: Archangels

Biography:

Dr. Charles A. Maguire is the founding Artistic Director of “The Best of Las Vegas Performing Arts Group”, The Desert Winds, who had the distinguished honor of performing for the 70th conference of The Midwest Clinic in 2016. In addition to his artistic duties, Dr. Maguire serves as an educational consultant for band directors within the Clark County School District, the largest school music program in the United States. Dr. Maguire holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Troy University, a Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The University of Alabama and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dr. Maguire has been lauded by his colleagues for fostering music programs within diverse and economically challenged school populations. Listed in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” five consecutive years, Maguire has earned distinction as band programs under his leadership have achieved top honors throughout the United States. In 2000 Maguire founded the “Pride of Pleasure Island” which grew from 19 students to over 300 students in 3 years. Dr. Maguire is an active performer having held lead roles in musical theater productions and most recently performing within the flute section of the distinguished UNLV Wind Orchestra.

Dr. Maguire is an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the United States and Canada. His past and present professional affiliations include The National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, National Education Association, Alabama Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Southern Nevada Band Directors Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity.