Biography
William Owens (b. 1963) is a native of Gary, Indiana. He is a seasoned music educator and very
active as a composer, clinician and conductor throughout the United States and Canada. His
compositional style for young ensembles displays a keen, practical approach which has firmly
established him as a leader in the field. Since 1993, Mr. Owens has written over 200
commissioned and published works for concert band, string orchestra and small ensemble. His
music is performed and appears on required music lists nationally and abroad. Principal
commissions include those from the California Band Directors Association, the Iowa
Bandmasters Association, the South Plains College (TX) Department of Fine Arts, the College of
Charleston (SC) and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. Several of his works
including The Blue Orchid and Maesong have been recorded and analyzed in educational text by
the GIA series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Other works such as Carpathia,
Great Wall, The Tahoka Galop and Tudor Sketches have become staples of the young band
repertoire.
William is a 1985 graduate of Chicago's VanderCook College of Music and the recipient of
numerous awards and grants for composition. Professional memberships include the American
Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the Texas Music Educators Association
(TMEA), the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) and Phi Beta Mu International
Bandmasters Fraternity. He is recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by his alma mater, and a
recipient of the Texas Bandmasters Association’s Meritorious Achievement Award.
In January 2014, William formally retired from duty as a band director in Texas after 30 years of
service. His spare time interests include sightseeing and reading, particularly motivational
material and Presidential biography. A proud Chevrolet Corvette owner/enthusiast, he holds
membership with Cowtown Vettes, a non-profit service organization in the Dallas/Fort area.
William resides in Fort Worth, TX with his wife and best friend, Georgia.
Session Titles
Discipline is NOT the Enemy of Enthusiasm!
Teacher
This session offers practical, straightforward solutions for quality classroom management and generating student enthusiasm.
Doing “Within” When You’re Doing “Without”!
Teacher
With the myriad of challenges presented by today's diverse and fast-paced school environment, band programs of small size are no longer the exception; they're the rule! This comprehensive workshop will offer practical, easy-to-apply strategies to help bands of modest resource achieve successful and satisfying performances in any situation.
Guest Clinician/Conductor
Misc.
A seasoned instrumental educator of 35 years, Mr. Owens is very active as a composer, clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada.