Gary Gemberling

Gary Gemberling is a native of Great Falls, Montana, earning his B.M.E. in 1980 from Montana State University and M.M. in 1992 from the University of Idaho.  He has performed on trumpet with The Russ Morgan Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Lou Rawls, Claudio Roditi, The Temptations, Lionel Hampton New York Big Band, and toured nationally with Broadway musicals.  Gary has been a guest trumpet and vocal soloist with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Spokane Jazz Orchestra and Spokane British Brass Band.  He also spent several years performing at Walt Disney World and Busch Gardens Theme Parks and has played the club circuit throughout the U.S. and Canada along with opening for concert performances by major artists.  Gary continues to perform with several jazz combos and big bands and stays busy with his work as a clinician, adjudicator and guest artist and conductor. He recently conducted honor bands at the International Schools Music Festival in Shanghai, China and has over 20 musical theater shows, as music director, to his credit. Most recently, the Whitman College production of "HAIR": The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.

Prior to coming to Whitman, Gary spent twenty years as instrumental and vocal director at Lewiston High School in Idaho and was the music coordinator for Lewiston Public Schools. He was an Adjunct Music Professor at Lewis Clark State College directing the jazz ensemble and jazz choir. Gary is a National Board Certified music teacher and has been President of the Idaho Music Educators Association as well as serving on the Executive Board of the Idaho High School Activities Association. This year, Gary received the Dick Fleischman Memorial Award recognizing his efforts coordinating music festivals and activities in Idaho.