Marvin Western

Clarinet

Marvin Western, clarinetist, serves as adjunct professor of music at Christopher Newport University where he teaches applied clarinet. He holds the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from Shenandoah University where he studied with Dr. Stephen Johnston. The title of his dissertation is The Music of Peter Schickele: An Analysis of His Music Involving the Clarinet. He has also been recognized as a Certified Teacher of Music by the Music Teachers National Association. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the Colorado State University-Pueblo and a Master of Music degree from Pacific Lutheran University.

He serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, and is an active recitalist and chamber music performer, and was the founding artistic director of the Virginia Chamber Music Academy.

In addition to performing on and teaching clarinet, he is particularly interested in music education. As a member of MENC and the Society for Music Teacher Education, he serves on the Area for Strategic Planning and Action committee focusing on Music Teacher Socialization. In addition, he serves as Virginia Music Education Association College/Collegiate Section Treasurer. He also holds memberships in the College Music Society, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the International Clarinet Association, the Music Teachers National Association, the Virginia Music Teachers Association, the Peninsula Music Teachers Association, and the Tidewater Music Teachers Forum.

Dr. Western has performed as a member of the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra, The Tidewater Winds, and the Commonwealth Musical Stage Orchestra and served as assistant conductor of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. He served as a clarinetist in the USAF Band Program for 23 years.