Degrees: DMA, 1991, Univ Hartford; MME, 1981, Univ Hartford; BM, 1979, Univ Hartford

Bio:

Peter Loel Boonshaft holds Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude), Master of Music Education in Conducting, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Dr. Boonshaft was also awarded a Connecticut General Fellowship for study at the Kod?°ly Musical Training Institute, from which he holds a Certificate. He is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music and Director of Bands. He is Conductor of the Hofstra University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, professor of conducting and music education, and Director of the graduate wind conducting program. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Boonshaft was on the faculty of Moravian College and the University of Hartford. He was Founder and Music Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Honors Concert Band and the Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble. In addition, he held the post of Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston.

Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed books Teaching Music with Passion and Teaching Music with Purpose published by Meredith Music Publications, distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation. He is also the author of Vaclav Nelhybel: His Life and Works, the only authorized biography of the composer, a contributing author of The Music Director’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program, and articles for Instrumentalist Magazine, the National Band Association Journal, MENC's Teaching Music and Band Director's Guide. In addition, he holds the post of Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for the School Music News. Dr. Boonshaft has been a consultant or recorded for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers, Southern Music Publishers, Kendor Music Publishers, Daehn Publications and C. Allen Music. Active as a proponent of new literature for concert band, he has commissioned and conducted over forty world premieres by such notable composers as Eric Ewazen, W. Francis McBeth, Johan de Meij, Fisher Tull, H. Owen Reed, Vaclav Nelhybel, David Gillingham, Philip Sparke, Sam Hazo, Andrew Boysen, Robert W. Smith, David Holsinger, Robert Washburn, Elliot Del Borgo, Stephen Melillo, Kenneth Lampl, Herbert Deutsch, Robert Hawkins, Larry Lipkis, Ian McDougall, Rossano Galante, Reber Clark, Gregory Sanders, Roland Barrett and Jared Spears. Among the soloists who have appeared in performance with Dr. Boonshaft are John Marcellus, Harvey Phillips, Ed Shaughnessy, Lynn Klock, Don Butterfield, Dave Steinmeyer and the United States Air Force "Airmen of Note," Chester Schmitz, and the Vienna Schubert Trio.

Dr. Boonshaft has been awarded membership in Pi Kappa Lambda and Alpha Chi, as well as twice receiving the University of Hartford Regent's Award and that University's Outstanding Music Educator Award. He has received official proclamations from the Governors of four states and a Certificate of Appreciation from former President Ronald Reagan, as well as performing for former President and Mrs. George Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and for Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His honors also include being selected three times as a National Endowment for the Arts "Artist in Residence,” three times awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and being selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University.

Extremely active as a guest conductor, speaker and clinician for conferences, festivals, concerts, and workshops nationally and internationally, he has guest conducted the MENC All-Eastern Band, MENC All-Northwest Band, MENC All-Eastern Directors Band, and Goldman Memorial Band. He was also named conductor of the MENC National High School Honors Band for the National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. He has served as a speaker for the Canadian Music Educators Association National Convention, MENC National Conference, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Samuel Barber Institute for Music Educators, Conn-Selmer Institute, Music Education Center of America, and as keynote speaker for the MENC Northwest Division Conference, MENC Southern Division Conference, ACDA Western Division Conference, European Music Educators Convention, National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association, National Convention of the American String Teachers Association, Music for All/Bands and Orchestras of America Summer Symposium, NESA Council of Overseas Schools Conference in Bangkok, Thailand and numerous state and regional music education conventions across the country.