Gary Washburn is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator born in Tulsa, OK and started playing professionally at age of 16. He received a B.M. E.D. from Oklahoma University, an M.A. in Composition from the University of Hawaii and completed his doctoral work at Boston University. He attended MacDowell in 1974 and 1977 on an Aaron Copeland fellowship where he composed Just In Thyme A Life In A Day, a thirteen movement suite for Jazz-fusion ensemble and Earth Life and October Full Moon for two pianos and percussion. Other recordings includes Sassy and Lavender. All are available on Spotify and YouTube.
As the Honoka’a High School Music Director in Hawaii since 1978 he has received a NAMM Award, a Claes Nobel educator distinction award, a Grammy Signature Schools Award, and was recognized by the Hawaii State Senate as a “Living Treasure of Hawaii”. In 2021, he received the Ellis Marsalis/John Laporta Jazz Educator of the year award from the Jazz Education network and the Berklee College of Music.
Visit Gary Washburn Hawaii on YouTube and Gary Scott Washburn on Facebook.
