Sheet music by Gary Fagan

Gary Fagan was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland. He completed his undergraduate degree at Bridgewater College in Music Education in 1973 and began teaching middle and high school choral music in Louisa County, Virginia. He attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia from 1974 - 1977 receiving a masters degree in music education. In 1975 he became a band instructor in Albemarle County, Virginia where he taught band for another 34 years. He retired in 2009 and is currently serving as a University Supervisor at James Madison University and is also an adjunct faculty member there teaching Arranging.

In 1989 Mr. Fagan was elected Central Virginia Outstanding Middle School Teacher by the University of Virginia Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. In 1999 he received an Outstanding Educator Award from the Virginia Governor’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts. In October of 2001 he received the outstanding educator award from the Piedmont Council of the Arts. He has also been twice listed in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He is active in the Music Educators National Conference and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. He is also a member of A.S.C.A.P., the Percussive Arts Society, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and the National Band Association. He is a percussionist with the Charlottesville Municipal Band and is Assistant Director of that organization. He is active as a band clinician and adjudicator in addition to composing and arranging for band. He is also currently serving on the James Madison University Music Education Advisory Council.

He has had over fifty compositions for concert band published by Heritage Music Press, MSB Publishing Co., Grand Mesa Music Publishers, Daehn Music Publications, Ludwig Music, Boosey & Hawkes and Alfred Publishing. Eight of these have been performed at the prestigious Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. One was performed at the White House several years ago and at the inauguration ceremony for former Governor Douglas Wilder in Richmond, VA.