Endorsements 

"Working with Dr. Watson was an engaging and educational experience. When discussing the details of his guest conducting of our All-County Elementary Band, his communication was always prompt and informative. Dr. Watson was flexible in the face of inclement weather postponing a performance, and rearranged his schedule to accommodate ours. He kept the students focused and detail-oriented, and he was an enthusiastic and effective conductor. There was much positive parental feedback, and the experience is one that the students will never forget. Thank you for working with our ensemble!"

Maggie Shorb, Elementary Band Director, Washington County Public Schools, Maryland

"MusicAlliance commissioned Dr. Scott Watson to compose two pieces for Concert Band for our 2014 Summer Honor Band Camp and to come in and rehearse the music and conduct the premiere performances. It was truly a great experience for all involved! Dr. Watson was very well prepared for all aspects of this project and had great communication with us. Before he wrote the compositions, we were able to discuss with him the particular needs our middle school/junior high honor band groups had and what we were looking for in the pieces. The music that he composed for us was absolutely wonderful and very well liked by the students and staff alike. Dr. Watson is fantastic music educator, communicator, and guest conductor. He is very personable and able to relate to the kids at their level - our students loved him! He is truly a consummate professional.

We asked Dr. Watson if he could do an in-service session for our teaching staff while he was in town, and the information that he shared with us was very eye-opening and helpful. I'm sure that our teachers benefited greatly from having attended the session. If you are looking for a very talented, experienced, and upbeat music educator and a creative composer of exciting accessible music, look no further, contact Dr. Watson before someone else does. We think that you'll be glad you did."

Debra Blechman and Franklin Adams, Executive Directors, MusicAlliance (Cleveland, OH)

"Northampton Area School District hosted the 2014 PMEA District 10 Elementary All-Star Festival, where Scott Watson guest conducted. It is from this event that I highly recommend Dr. Watson for your event. Every interaction I had with Scott prior to the festival was incredibly professional. His program was well thought out and perfectly matched to the student's abilities. His rehearsals were planned and executed flawlessly, as was the performance. Even the piece of music he composed was well done. I cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Scott Watson. If you have the opportunity to hire Scott for composing or as a guest conductor, I suggest you do it. You will not be disappointed!"

James J. Sansone, Director of Bands, Northampton Area High School (Northampton, Pennsylvania)

"Scott Watson served as our guest conductor for the 2014 Conestoga Valley School District spring band concert. He conducted several pieces at all grades levels (elementary through high school) and was commissioned to write a piece (El Cid) for our 5th/6th grade band. Scott was a true professional from start to finish. Communication prior to the event was excellent! I highly recommend Scott Watson to anyone looking for a guest conductor or looking to commission a piece!"

Jared M. Daubert, Co-director of Bands, Conestoga Valley High School and Middle School (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

"Recently Dr. Scott Watson worked with my students in rehearsal (we are performing his original composition Aquatica). His manner and interaction with my students was flawless...My students have been talking about his visit ever since...Many thanks for your professionalism and kind-hearted way of teaching Dr. Watson!"

James Lykins, M. Ed., Director of Bands, Northwestern Lehigh High School (New Tripoli, Pennsylvania)

"On behalf of all the band directors in PMEA District 12, I would like to thank Dr. Scott Watson for being our guest conductor for the 2014 5th and 6th Grade Band Festival (PMEA District 12). Besides being a wonderfully talented composer, Dr. Watson brought energy and enthusiasm to all of our students. To measure the success of a musical experience all you need is to watch the students who are involved. As I watched I saw excited, enthusiastic faces who were experiencing a new level of musicianship, and Dr. Watson fostered in them the importance that music plays in the enrichment of the human soul. Thank you to Dr. Watson for a wonderful fest!"

Drew Reynolds, Director, Band Director and Festival Co-host, Octorara Intermediate School (Atglen, PA)

"Thank you to to Scott Watson for his work with the Salisbury High School Concert Band on the commissioned piece, Aquatica (Grade 3, Alfred). From initial consultation to the finished product, Scott provided professional and personal support every step of the way. He quickly answered questions and took care of requests and accommodations so that my band would have a high level of success with the piece. He guided me through the process in a manner that made sure any and all possible questions were answered--even those I might not have thought of myself...

...I highly recommend Scott Watson for any band looking to commission a piece of music and look forward to working with him again."

Rachel Reinecke, Salisbury High School Band Director (Allentown, PA)

"On behalf of all the musicians in the 6th Grade Band of Hershey Middle School within the Derry Township School District, Hershey, PA, I would like to congratulate Dr. Scott Watson for writing a fantastic musical composition for our ensemble entitled Regal Fanfare and March. This piece was commissioned by Mrs. Melissa Ott, Director, 6th Grade Band in the Hollidaysburg Area School District and myself for a performance in May, 2013.

From the very beginning of the commissioning process Dr. Watson made the procedure very easy with template forms detailing all aspects of the process. He was also eager to communicate with me at any time throughout the year to answer questions or to check on the development of the musical selection. One of the highlights of the school year for the students and I was speaking to him via Skype before the composition was rehearsed. This opportunity allowed the students to ask the composer many questions about "their" piece and allowed Dr. Watson to explain his creative process. I would recommend any director of any type of ensemble at any level to commission a musical composition from Dr. Watson.”

John M. Gabriele, Director, 6th Grade Band , Derry Township School District Middle School (Hershey, PA)

"It is my pleasure to endorse Dr. Scott Watson as a guest conductor at the middle school level for band. Dr. Watson recently spent a day with our PMEA District 10 Intermediate Band students, hosted at Saucon Valley. The fest was a full day event that included 6 hours of well paced rehearsal and culminated in a fine concert given that evening. Dr. Watson was professional in his preparation for the day, in his correspondence with me in the weeks and months leading up to the fest and with the students during the day. In working with the students his direction was consistently clear, concise and gracious. He had a keen sense of the needs of the students both as young musicians and as young men and women. I am very thankful that these students had the opportunity to work with Dr. Watson both as a guest conductor and as an accomplished composer. It is my sincere hope that many more of our young musicians have a similar opportunity in the near future. "

Carol Free, PMEA District 10 Band & Orchestra Fest Host

Director of Bands, Saucon Valley Middle School (Hellertown, PA)

"Scott - you were terrific with our ensembles today. The input you provided was PERFECT and will really help the kids shine tomorrow night. I hope this was a fun experience for you as well!"

Chris Bernotas, Director of Bands, Mountain Lakes High School (Mountain Lakes, NJ)

"Thanks again for guest conducting the PMEA District 12 Delco 5/6 Band Fest. I have received nothing but glowing remarks and comments about the festival from parents and participating directors… Directors have shared with me how much their students liked practicing and performing the selections you chose...an ideal match for the instrumental proficiency of the students. Some even stated that they thought the music selection was at the top of the Band Fests we have done since 2000 when we started...The success of any one-day event such as this is directly related to the interaction of the Guest Conductor and the student musicians. You hit the ball out of the park! During rehearsal, your descriptions of your own compositions gave the students an additional viewpoint about the music and provided greater meaning to the selections. It was evident that the students were most responsive to your direction. Your manner and musicianship combined to motivate the students to give you what you asked for through their performance. In reviewing the comments the other participating directors included on their Act 48 evaluations, many stated that through their observation of you working with the students in rehearsal, they gathered additional insights in technique and pedagogy that they intend to implement in their own programs. Overall, I'm extremely pleased at how well everything went during the Fest and want to express my appreciation for your efforts in contributing to that success."

Roger Morgan, Host, PMEA District 12 Intermediate Band Festival (BandFest), 

Band Director, Radnor Middle School (Radnor, PA)

"Scott Watson came to the East Stroudsburg School District as a guest conductor and composer. His interactions with every level of ensemble, from fifth graders to high school students, was impressive. All students were able to easily respond to his respectful and age-appropriate guidance. His energy and encouraging demeanor had students still talking about the experience many days after his visit. Each band played a piece by the composer and we were all impressed with how well the pieces worked for each level. As a side note, Dr. Watson was also very thorough and timely in his email replies as various directors asked him questions in preparation for his visit. That was greatly appreciated. I can, with no reservations, recommend him as a great guest conductor for any level of instrumental ensemble."

Katye Clogg, Director of Bands, High School-South, East Stroudsburg Area School District (East Stroudsburg, PA)

"Please accept a heartfelt thanks for a great experience for our students. From the commission piece to the manner in which you worked with all of our bands, it was very rewarding all around. I have since received MANY positive compliments about the quality and excitement of When Men and Mountains Meet (the commission), your interaction with the listeners in the audience to convey insights and ideas of your compositions of all levels, and the diverse styles of your pieces for the younger bands through to the high school level. You are one of the few composers to possess the outstanding ability and expertise to "teach from the podium", enabling the students to express the meaning and message of your compositions with a more in-depth perspective."

Melodie Shamp, Music Department Chairperson, East Stroudsburg Area School District (East Stroudsburg, PA)

I am writing this letter on behalf of Scott Watson, a composer with whom I have the honor of commissioning a work...I found Scott's approach to working with our project to be very refreshing...Once we finally settled on a text, Theodore Roethke's “Night Journey,” Scott got to work very quickly and was finished well before the deadline...The directors of our two ensembles who premiered the piece were very proud to have their students work with Scott. They both believed that Scott was truly an educational composer and they were very proud to have worked with such a professional in his field. They felt that the most important piece of the work was having Scott come in to the rehearsal to really give the students a chance to understand how the piece worked and what it may be like to be a composer...The piece was premiered at the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Conference in March of 2007. This was one of our most successful commission projects and I would happily recommend Scott Watson for other projects.

Tom O'Toole, Commissioned Works Chair, Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association

"Dr. Watson completed a composer-in-residence program here at Southern Lehigh School District...The residency included time for Dr. Watson to instruct middle school instrumental music students in beginning compositional and improvisational techniques and culminated with the commissioning of a piece for concert band...The students worked hard to produce a stellar performance of their new piece. The parents and school still speak with pride when this program is discussed. When the piece was picked up by a publisher this past fall, the school board again affirmed that this is the type of program that is beneficial for students....Dr. Watson's professional demeanor and wonderful interaction with the students of Southern Lehigh brought about an experience long to be remembered by school personnel, students, and their parents. I would highly recommend Dr. Watson."

Dr. Nancy Beitler, Instrumental Music Director, Southern Lehigh Middle School (Coopersburg, PA)

"I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Dr. Scott Watson during the 2005 PMEA District 10 Elementary Band & Orchestra Festival (West), which I co-hosted...Dr. Watson showed enthusiasm and initiative, contacting the co-hosts on a regular basis, and easily meeting all deadlines that were given to him. Dr. Watson's professionalism and good rapport with our elementary band students impressed me. I saw Dr. Watson interacting with the children, and they seemed to be very willing to work hard for him. Several of the students' band directors made similar comments to me throughout the day and after the concert."

Ashley B. Crust, Band Director, Shenandoah Valley School District (Shenandoah, PA)

"Dear Scott, On behalf of the four middle school band directors, I would like to express my gratitude for the outstanding job that you did at our annual "Bands In The Round" concert last month. Your talents, both conducting and composing, were an integral part of one of our most successful and memorable concerts...Your determination and interaction with the students was unparalleled as they learned many aspects of being a fine musician in just the few hours that you spent with them."

Paul T. Recker, Instrumental Music Director, Harrison-Morton Middle School (Allentown, PA)

"Dr. Watson...was easy to work with at all times. He provided us with the score and parts to his music well before our deadline, was quick to make the few corrections that any new piece needs, and was available whenever we needed him to speak at a concert or workshop...at all times he displayed both a sense of absolute professionalism and a warmth of spirit. We were very pleased with the work that Dr. Watson wrote for us. He did an excellent job of capturing some of the most important elements that make the Twin Falls area what it is, and his piece was a pleasure to perform. As a conductor, Dr. Watson came to the podium well-prepared, and he made very efficient use of rehearsal time. His conducting was easy to follow and contributed much to the successful performances of his music. In short, Scott Watson has my highest recommendation as a composer and conductor."

Dr. George A. Halsell, Associate Professor of Music, College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID)

"The Delaware Valley Middle School hosted our Middle Grades Music Festival this past April 22nd and we had the distinct pleasure of having Dr. Scott Watson as our guest conductor...Dr. Watson made it a very pleasurable and exciting experience....Right from the start Dr. Watson had the students' focus and attention, which can be very difficult at the middle school level. The group played two original compositions...which was very rewarding and exciting for the students as well as for myself. I would highly recommend Dr. Watson to anyone considering hosting a festival and I look forward to the next opportunity we get to work together."

Ryan S. Curchoe, Band Director, Delaware Valley Middle School (Milford, PA)

"Recently I had the privilege of conducting the world premiere of Watson's Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra...with Terell Stafford as soloist and the Temple University Symphony Orchestra. It has been a rewarding experience for the orchestra and I to learn and perform this wonderful concerto....very well received by the enthusiastic audience that came to the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. I find his compositions very spirited and expressive. Strong and dramatic musical messages in its sonorities as well as wonderful contrasts in the orchestration...."

Maestro Luis Biava, Music Director and Conductor, Temple University Symphony Orchestra  
and former Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra (Philadelphia, PA)

"The enthusiasm for the work [Hymn and Declaration] from audience, orchestra and press was quite remarkable. In addition to participation in rehearsals, Scott contributed program notes, presented a pre-concert lecture prior to the premiere performance and spoke to an audience for an "Open Rehearsal" on the preceding evening...Scott was a pleasure to work with for the year preceding the premiere, always meeting deadlines and working in a most professional manner...I urge you to consider him a candidate who would not only write a wonderful work but would also make a most important impact on the people with whom he works."

Donald Spieth, Music Director, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra (Bethlehem, PA)