Distinguished Alumni Award - Paul Lavender 

Paul Lavender, ’73, supervises the creative work of many of the music industry’s most respected composers and arrangers, producing more than 600 new instrumental publications each year.

He works as vice president of instrumental publications for Hal Leonard Corp., directing the product development and marketing of the company’s extensive catalog of performance publications for orchestra, concert band, marching band, and jazz ensemble, as well as instrumental books, collections, and methods.

Recently, his association with renowned film composer John Williams has produced the prestigious John Williams Signature Series, featuring Williams’ authentic film scores and concert music for professional orchestras. In addition, Paul served as music supervisor and arranger for several of Williams’ concert events, including the 2003 Marine Band Anniversary Concert, the 2004 Rose Bowl, and the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors program.

Also a prolific writer, Paul has contributed more than 1,000 arrangements and compositions to the educational and concert repertoire and continues to be one of the most widely played writers today. He is co-author and managing editor of the new Essential Elements 2000 method for beginning bands.

Paul did both his undergraduate and graduate work in music theory and composition at CMU, where he also served as a graduate assistant teaching music theory, sight singing, and ear training. During that time he began his writing career, providing arrangements for the CMU Marching Band under the direction of Norman Dietz and Jack Saunders.