Gary Fagan is a Maryland native. He completed his undergraduate degree in music education at Bridgewater College in 1973 and his masters degree in music education from James Madison University in 1975. In 1973 he became a band instructor in Albemarle County, Virginia where he taught band for 36 years. He retired in 2009 and is currently serving as a University Supervisor and adjunct faculty member teaching Arranging at James Madison University.

In 1989 Mr. Fagan was elected Central Virginia Outstanding Middle School Teacher by the University of Virginia Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. In 1999 he received an Outstanding Educator Award from the Virginia Governor’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts. In October of 2001 he received the outstanding educator award from the Piedmont Council of the Arts. In addition, he was listed twice in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

A member of A.S.C.A.P., the Percussive Arts Society, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and the National Band Association, Mr. Fagan is also active in the Music Educators National Conference and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. He is also a percussionist and the Assistant Director of the Charlottesville Municipal Band. He is also active as a band clinician and adjudicator in addition to composing and arranging for band.

Mr. Fagan has over seventy published compositions for concert band and string orchestra, eight of which were performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. One of his compositions was performed at the White House several years ago and at the inauguration ceremony for former Governor Douglas Wilder in Richmond, VA.