About
Information about the music and work of Dr. Scott Watson.
BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Scott Watson
Dr. Scott Watson is Associate Professor of Music Theory & Composition in the School of Music at Cairn University (Langhorne, PA). For 35 years prior, Watson was an instrumental and elective music teacher in the Parkland School District (Allentown, PA) where he served as high school Director of Bands, then Elementary Instrumental Coordinator, teaching in and administering a program with approximately 900 1st and 2nd year band and strings students, with 7 staff (one of the region's largest and most vibrant!). Watson received his B.S., Music Education from West Chester University and his M.M and D.M.A., Composition from Temple University (principal teachers Maurice Wright, Matthew Greenbaum and Clifford Taylor). Watson also teaches as an adjunct instructor for Moravian University (Bethlehem, PA) and University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA). During the 2001-2002 academic year, on leave from the Parkland School District, Watson was full-time Asst. Professor of Music Theory/Composition at Temple University's Boyer College of Music.
Watson was recognized by the Parkland School District with a 2015 Parkland Pride Award for outstanding achievement; in 2020 he was awarded the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 10 Citation of Excellence in Teaching Award; and in 2022 he received the Phi Beta Mu (Nu Chapter) Outstanding Contributor Award (only the 6th Pennsylvanian so honored).
An award-winning and frequently commissioned composer, his unique voice - evident in more than 100 published concert band, string orchestra and chamber works at all levels - is informed equally by his experiences with contemporary concert art music and the band world. Watson’s music has been performed around the world and in the U.S. at such prestigious venues as Philadelphia’s Academy of Music, the White House, and the Midwest Clinic (Chicago). Described as “outstanding...with beautiful melodies and interesting harmonies" (The Instrumentalist) and "written with supreme craft" (Percussive Arts Society Percussive Notes), Watson's music has received awards and recognition from the American Composers Forum, the American Music Center, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Percussive Arts Society, and others. Recent commissions include works for: East Stroudsburg (PA) Area School District Composers Series Commissions (in 2021 and 2012!), Composers and Schools in Concert (for a consortium of 12 university and high school bands across the U.S.), Magic Valley Symphony Orchestra (Twin Falls, ID), Albemarle County (VA) Middle School Honors Band, MusicAlliance Honor Band Camp (Cleveland, OH), the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association, and many school ensembles. Watson is an exclusive composer/clinician for Alfred Publications and a contributor to the Sound Innovations band series. He (with co-authors Brian Beck and Robert Sheldon) created Alfred Music's Sound Sight-Reading method for concert band.
Watson has presented numerous workshops/clinics for music educators, including the 2022 Iowa Bandmasters Conference, 2022 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Annual Conference, 2019 New Hampshire Music Educators Association Conference, 2017 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic (Chicago, IL), 2017 MENC Eastern Division Conference (Atlantic City, NJ), 2015 NAfME National Conference (Nashville, TN), the keynote for the 2013 Music Technology in Education Conference (Melbourne, Australia) and many other conference and school district presentations and professional development workshops. He frequently serves as guest conductor/clinician for honor bands/festivals, including the 2021 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (N.C.) Middle School All-County Honor Band, 2020 East Central Mississippi Band Director's Association High School Honor Band, 2019 Mississippi Middle School All-State Band, 2019 PMEA 12 Delaware County 5th/6th Grade BandFest, 2018 PMEA 10 Elementary Band Festival, 2017 PMEA District 5 Freshman Band Festival, and the 2015 All New England High School Band Festival (Plymouth State University, NH). He is the author of the highly regarded music education text, Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity (©2011, Oxford University Press) and a member of the Buffet Crampon Educational Advisory Board.
To learn more, visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.
SHORT VERSION
Dr. Scott Watson is Associate Professor of Music at Cairn University (Langhorne, PA). For 35 years prior he was an instrumental and elective music teacher in the Parkland School District (Allentown, PA), first as high school Director of Bands, then as coordinator of the elementary band/strings program across the district. He is a frequently commissioned composer with more than 100 published pieces for band and strings at all levels that have been performed around the world at venues including the Academy of Music (Philadelphia), the Midwest Clinic (Chicago) and the White House (Washington, D.C.). He is an exclusive composer/clinician for Alfred Publications and a contributor for their Sound Innovations band series. Watson has presented numerous workshops/clinics for music educators, frequently serves as guest conductor/clinician for honor/festival bands, and is the author of the highly regarded music education text, Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity (©2011, Oxford University Press). To learn more, visit www.scottwatsonmusic.com.
