Gregory Wheeler

Biography

Dr. Wheeler is from Logan, Utah and upon receiving his teaching credentials, taught in Rexburg, Idaho atMadison High School in his first teaching position. Thereafter, he and his family moved back to Cache Valley and has taught there for the past 46 years. After 30 years, he retired from the Cache School District and hassince been employed as Associate Professor of Music/Woodwinds/Jazz/ and Music Education at Utah State University.

His faculty position at Utah State University includes being part of the USU jazz faculty conducting the USU Jazz Ensemble and jazz education courses. He is also a part of the music education faculty instructing music education & woodwind method courses while maintaining a private woodwind studio. He assists in conducting the USU Symphonic Band.

Dr. Wheeler received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and completed his Ph. D. in Music Education at the University of Utah. He also studied saxophone and oboe extensively at the University of North Texas. His Ph. D. focused on conducting, oboe performance, and music education. While at the University of Utah, he conducted the Symphonic Band and taught courses in music education. His dissertation was based on a comparison study of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic teaching structures in the music classroom. These structures were also correlated to the individual personalities of the teachers and students involved in the study. He has been listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers, has been recognized as teacher of the year multiple times in the Cache School District, and was recognized Jr. High Teacher of the Year by Utah Music Educator’s Association. He has been recognized by MENC (NAfME) with the status of Nationally Registered Music Educator. He was recently inducted into the Utah Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. Dr. Wheeler performs regularly as a freelance woodwind performer on all woodwind instruments. He adjudicates and works with school clinics on a regular basis throughout Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. He has performed with the Crestmark Productions Big Band, Larry Smith KicksBand, Kurt Bestor, Shirly Jones, Joe Diffy, Maureen McGovern, Harry James Orchestra (Fred Radke), KSLTailgate Band, Utah Festival Opera, Utah Musical Theater, Utah Symphony, James Groutage, Jay Richards,Jazz Pudding, Way Way East Bay, and most recently the Aggie Music Project (AMP). He presently directs the Legendary Larry Smith Kicks Band. He served as Vice President of Jazz on the Board of the Utah Music Educators Association and later served as President of the Utah Music Educators Association. He is an Educational Artist for Eastman Instruments. He continues his research and presents regularly on teaching methods and the young student. Dr. Wheeler is extremely proud to have rubbed shoulders with hundreds of wonderful teachers and thousands of students allowing the opportunity to grow from those ongoing memories and associations.

Dr. Wheeler has had the opportunity to work directly with many great Utah music educators who have a great influence on his life – they include: Dr. Max F. Dalby, Dr. Larry G. Smith, Dr. Glen Fifield, Dr. Alvin Wardle,Dr. Edward Asmus, Dr. Mark Ely, Dr. Kirt Saville, Steve Richins, Boyd Ericksen, Sheri Manning, Bill Monday,Dr. Thomas Rohrer, Dr. Jon Gudmundson, and Tom Nelson.

Dr. Wheeler has a wonderful wife, Julie, and four children whom he is extremely proud of.