Gary Henderson
Conductor
Youth Band Gary Henderson has been teaching instrumental music in the New York public school system for the past twenty one years. Currently, he is the band director at Bowling Green Elementary School in East Meadow, NY. Gary received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Hofstra University and a Master of Jazz and Commercial Music Degree from Five Towns College.

Mr. Henderson is the director of the Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Youth Band. He is an active clinician and has served as guest conductor for several All-County and All-District Festivals. As a composer of elementary level band music, he was recently commissioned to write pieces for the Seaford and Herricks School Districts. His piece “The Path of The Viking’ was recently selected to appear in the NYSSMA Manual as a Level One Band composition. His Bowling Green Fifth Grade Band has won several awards, including a Level 2 “Gold with Distinction” rating at the NYSSMA Majors Festival.

Mr. Henderson has written and co-authored several books published by Pinnacle Music Press, Inc, including “The Prerequisites: A Sequential Method for Beginner Winds” (with Frank Bonasera), “Foundations: 120 Progressive Chorales, Warm Ups, and Targeted Exercises for Band” (with Joey Devassy), “Foundations for Orchestra” (with Kristen Bean), and “Five Pieces for First Year Band”.

Mr. Henderson is the founder and co-director of the Interplay Jazz Orchestra. The big band just released their third album entitled “On The Sunny Side” which features four of his arrangements/compositions. The group’s second release, “Detour”, placed at #9 on the CMJ Year-End Jazz Radio Charts for 2016, peaking at #4 for three straight weeks that February.

Mr. Henderson is a member of BMI; his song writing credits include music used for MTV’s “Say What? Karaoke”, the myNetworkTV soap opera “Desire”, and even a Japanese game show! Mr. Henderson has performed all across the United States and most of Europe. In 1997 he was nominated for “Instrumentalist of the Year” as part of the Long Island Music Awards as well as a “Concert Promoter of the Year” by the Long Island Voice. Mr. Henderson resides in West Islip, New York.