May 5, 2003
Contact: Larry Gookin (509-963-1916/fax 509-963-1239/e-mail: gookinl@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington University music
professor Larry Gookin received the “2003 Music Educator of the Year”
award during the recent Washington Music Educators Association
(WMEA)/Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) State
Music Conference in Ellensburg,
“This award usually goes to a public school teacher, so I was
surprised to receive it,” says Gookin, who has been director of bands
and professor of music education at CWU since 1981
That’s an understatement. In the 13 years the award has been
presented, Gookin became the first university professor to receive it.
He was one of nine nominees for this year’s award. A WMEA selection
panel makes the final choice.
“The person being selected needs to be an outstanding music
teacher – that’s a given,” Bruce Caldwell, WMEA executive manager,
says. “They also need to have provided opportunities for students, in
grades 9 through 12, to participate and excel in activities beyond
their own classrooms.”
Gookin was cited for organizing annual high school band
festivals on the CWU Ellensburg campus, his work as an educational
clinician and in workshops across Washington, and his service as a
music competition adjudicator.
“He’s very visible to kids and he’s got a reputation as a
great judge,” Caldwell adds, “because he gives such helpful advice and
constructive comments. He sees judging as educating, not just
competing.”
Along with music education, Gookin’s fields of expertise
include wind literature, conducting and low brass performance.
In 1992, Gookin was elected to the membership of the American
Bandmasters Association; in 2000, he was selected for the WMEA Hall of
Fame; and in 2001 he was named CWU’s Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Gookin was also music director of the Washington Ambassadors
of Music. In that post, he lead four biennial European concert tours,
in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002, involving more than150 high school
musicians from Washington.
In addition, he has served as president of the Northwestern
Division of the College Band Directors National Association, as well as
WMEA vice president.
