Biography: Wayne R. Downey
Wayne Downey is the Music Director of the twelve time DCI Champion Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. Under his supervision as arranger and teacher, the brass section of the Blue Devils has been awarded the Jim Ott Memorial Trophy for "Excellence in Brass Performance" for an unprecedented 21 times, more than any other brass section in the history of DCI.
Being distinguished as one of the finest brass teachers/clinicians and arrangers in the world, Wayne enjoys an active teaching schedule in the capacity of arranger and musical consultant with the Tony & Emmy Award winning show "Blast", the All Japan Marching Band Champion Soka Renaissance Vanguard, the DCA Champion the Syracuse Brigadiers, the DCI Division II Champion, the Magic of Orlando and the award winning RCC Marching Tigers, the Bands of America regional champion Northmont High School as well as many other fine high school and college programs.
In the role of program consultant Wayne has guided The Woodlands H.S. band from The Woodlands, Texas to the Bands of America 3A National Championship and the Lassiter H.S. Band from Marietta, Georgia and the Westfield H.S. Band from Houston, Texas to the coveted crown of Bands of America Grand National Champion.
In 2004 Wayne brought his many years of experience to Blast II "Cyberjam" as itÕs musical director, arranger and member of its creative team. Along with fellow arranger Jim Prime, the League of American Theatres and Producers nominated Wayne in the "Best Score" (Orchestrations) category for the National Broadway Theater Awards for the touring production of "Blast". His other recent accomplishment includes scoring instrumental cues for 20th Century Fox's film production of "The First 20 Million is Always the Hardest" and Universal Pictures latest edition of "American Pie: Band Camp".
Known for his work in educational music publishing, Wayne has served as an arranger/composer for Jenson Publications, Warner Bros./Columbia Pictures Publishing, Arrangers Publishing Co. as well as Barnhouse Music Publishing. Wayne co-authored the "State of the Art Ensemble Techniques for Marching Band" with his colleague Jack Meehan and co-authored the Yamaha Corp. of AmericaÕs curriculum for the "Sounds of Summer" Music Camps with Jay BoCook, Tim Salzman and Jay Dawson. Wayne is currently clinician/endorser and design consultant with Dynasty USA and DEG Music Products Inc.
His recent works in the educational field include; "Dynasty of Brass" an educational DVD for teachers and students alike in 5.1 Surround Sound complete with performance examples and downloadable exercises, Etude of the Month and CyberLesson. All three of these products as well as many other exciting educational tools can be found on his new website www.xtremebrass.com.
His other professional experiences include: Marching Band Director of the San Jose State University Marching Spartans and Conductor/Coordinator for the Sugar, Gator and Orange Bowl halftimes.
In 1991 Wayne was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame for his contributions to the Drum & Bugle Corps activity as the musical director for the Concord Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps.
