Visiting Professor of Music
Myron Welch retired as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at The University of Iowa in 2008. During his twenty-eight year tenure at Iowa, he conducted the Symphony Band and Chamber Wind Ensemble, coordinated the graduate program in band conducting, and taught courses in instrumental methods, conducting and band literature. In 2001, Dr. Welch was named a Collegiate Fellow in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for his years of outstanding teaching, service and dedication to the college.
Prior to coming to Iowa, Dr. Welch was Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. He was also band and orchestra director at Okemos High School, Okemos, Michigan, where he developed superior ensembles in both mediums. A native of Michigan, he received the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Michigan State University, with majors in clarinet and bassoon. He earned the Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Illinois where he was selected as the first candidate for the Band Conductor Internship program and studied conducting with Dr. Harry Begian.
Ensembles under his direction have performed at state and national conventions for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Ohio Music Education Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Iowa Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, and the American Bandmasters Association. The University of Iowa Symphony Band presented a concert in Carnegie Hall in March of 2008. Dr. Welch was a reviewer of new music for The Instrumentalist and is a frequent guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician. He has appeared with the Goldman Band of New York City, numerous all-state bands and honor bands, and served on the conducting faculties of Interlochen Center for the Arts, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and music camps throughout the country.
Dr. Welch is Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, Past-President of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Past-President and Treasurer of the Big Ten Band Directors Association, and holds membership in the College Band Association (College/University Representative), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, (Past-Faculty Advisor), and Music Educators National Conference.
Dr. Welch was awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence in 1998. In 2000, he was recognized in the Music Educators National Conference publication, Teaching Music, as an accomplished teacher for his teaching skills and efforts to advance music in the education of young people. He was named the winner of the National Federation of State High School Association’s “Outstanding Music Educator Award” for Iowa, 2004-2005, the regional award winner for 2005-2006, and the national award winner in 2009. The Iowa Music Educators Association presented him with the IMEA Distinguished Service Award in December 2004, and he was selected as the 2005 Outstanding Bandmaster by Phi Beta Mu International. In 2006, Dr. Welch received the Karl L. King Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Bandmasters Association. The Association of Concert Bands presented him with the Mentor Ideal Award in 2007 and The University of Iowa Graduate College honored him as an Outstanding Graduate Mentor for 2007. Dr. Welch received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 2008 and was honored with the “Friend of the Iowa Bandmaster Association” award at their 2008 annual conference.
