Dave Valasek

David M. Valasek has pursued and achieved a rich blend of classroom music teaching, professional performance, conducting, and musical mentoring. He has led an eclectic variety of music ensembles, from classically trained baroque-style orchestras and staged musical productions such as Brigadoon, to a calypso-oriented steel drum band. His “students” have ranged from age 8 to 83. With every group he has directed he has taken his life’s motto to “take it to the next level” in pursuit of musical excellence.

Currently, Mr. Valasek is dividing his time on several projects. First, he is serving as adjunct faculty at Saginaw Valley State University, teaching general music courses, percussion lessons, and directing the percussion ensemble. He is also a student at SVSU, nearing completion of a Specialist degree in educational leadership. Additionally, he is the Music Director for both the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra and Saginaw Area Concert Band. Finally, as Executive Director for the Hohner Institute of Percussion, he is working on restoring and publishing the work of his mentor, the late Robert Hohner.

From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Valasek taught band classes at South Middle School in the Saginaw (Michigan) Public School District. He has extensive teaching experience in instrumental music with all ages of students. During his 10-year tenure as Instrumental Music Director in the Saginaw Township Community Schools his String Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band received highest honors at Michigan School Band & Orchestra festivals. In addition, the Jazz Band won 1st place at the prestigious Central Michigan University Jazz Weekend and accepted an invitation to perform at the Ford Montreux/Detroit Jazz Festival. Under his leadership, the Heritage High School Marching Band made multiple appearances in the Michigan Competing Band Association State Finals at the Pontiac Silverdome (a feat accomplished neither before nor after his). He also served as site host for many district and regional festivals.

Mr. Valasek holds a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where he also earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He studied percussion with Robert Hohner and orchestral conducting with Stanley Chepaitis, who is currently on the faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Central Michigan University engaged Valasek to serve, first as a graduate assistant, then as a temporary part-time faculty member, where his duties included teaching private lessons for undergraduates and percussion methods courses, coaching and arranging for the Chippewa Marching Band drum line, programming and conducting the acclaimed CMU Percussion Ensemble, and he also recruited and auditioned music majors generally.

He has served at several summer music camps and workshops, and is Director of the Hohner Institute of Percussion Summer Percussion Workshop at Alma College.

He has published work in multicultural music education, has arranged music and drill for marching band, competitive drumline, and percussion ensemble, and is an active member and adjudicator in a wide range of music professional organizations.

Valasek has performed extensively, too, as xylophone soloist, percussionist and timpanist with concert bands and symphony orchestras, as well as with the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble, a nationally recognized touring and recording group.

In 2002 he founded the PanCATS steel drum band. In a short time the PanCATs achieved an impressive resume that includes performances at: Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids; Saginaw Valley State University; Alma College; Saginaw City Hall; Saginaw Temple Theatre; All-Area Arts Awards Banquet at Dow Events Center; Old Saginaw City Art Fair; Midland Center for the Arts; as well as school-related functions. In addition, the band has been featured in the Saginaw News and on FOX66 News. The PanCATs, based at Handley School in the Saginaw Public school district, consist of performers from 3rd through 8th grade.

Mr. Valasek is also director of the Saginaw Area Concert Band, the official community band of the city of Saginaw. The 60-member ensemble’s mission is to offer performance opportunities for amateur musicians and take those performances into the community, especially reaching out to those who cannot attend concerts at the usual venues. They maintain a 9-month schedule performing weekly at area retirement centers, for special community events, and closing every year with a performance at the West Saginaw City Art Fair. In 2006, they performed at the Red Cedar Festival of community bands in Okemos, MI. In 2004, the band performed at the George W. Bush Presidential rally at the Dow Event Center, and for the past several years have been part of the Saginaw’s annual “Open House in the Heart of the City”. Also in 2004, the Saginaw Area City Band was recognized by the Saginaw Community Enrichment Commission as a non-profit organization having made a significant contribution to the community’s “quality of life”.

David is the son on Albert and Lillian Valasek of Lennon, Michigan. He is married to Laurie, who is Vice President/Treasurer of Midland Cogeneration Venture in Midland. They have twin sons, Alexander and Christofer, 12, whose Little League team he enjoys coaching each spring. In the summer he enjoys outdoor activities including boating and fishing on the Saginaw Bay and gardening in his own back yard.

Mr. Valasek has successfully formed bridges between musicians young and old, and between artists and corporate and civic patrons. He’s done all that while keeping the beat that has always drawn him to music and those whose passion it has become. He says “my whole life, I have been surrounded by people who have shared and encouraged my enthusiasm for music. To my family, teachers, and students, I owe my sincerest gratitude.”