Director of state champions retires after 20 years of excellence
Celebration Weekend Scheduled April 28-May 1
After 20 years of bringing acclaim to the northwest metro area - and the state of Colorado -- WL Whaley, director of instrumental music at Pomona High School, is retiring.
A teacher's retirement is not often cause for a weekend's worth of celebration, but in Whaley's case, it is, simply because of the high regard his peers, his students and the community have for the man whose talent and force of will propelled the program into the national consciousness.
Pomona High School's music program is regarded nationally for its excellence. The Pomona program offers three concert bands, an award-winning marching band, two jazz ensembles, winter guard, winter percussion ensemble and orchestra. Pomona's Marching Band, with more than 200 performers, is an 11-time Colorado Bandmaster's Association Class 5A State Champion (1994-96, 1998-2005). The Pomona Band has marched twice in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (1996 and 2005) and in the London New Year's Day Parade (2001 and 2006).
The Pomona Symphonic Band was a 2000, 2003 and 2006Colorado Music Educator's Association Honor Band. The Pomona Winter Guard and Percussion Ensemble were 2004 WGI World Finalists.
A roster of celebration events are planned for April and May, culminating in a final performance of the award-winning Pomona High School Band (this time, including alums of the program) on May 1 at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, a 360-degree-surround concert hall and the premiere performing venue in Colorado.
Events include:
- 10 a.m., April 28, "WL Whaley Open" golf tournament, The Heritage at Westmoor, 10555 Westmoor Drive, Westminster, CO 80021
- 6 p.m., April 29, "Band is Fun" picnic, Nottingham Park, 8695 Allison St., Westminster, CO
- 1-3 p.m., April 30, "Perfect Practice, Perfect Show" rehearsal at PHS -- alums welcome, 8101 W Pomona Drive, Arvada, CO
- 7 p.m. - whenever, "Special Moment" for parents at Old Chicago Restaurant, 8711 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, CO
- 7:30-8:30 p.m., "Special Moment" for current Pomona students at PHS, 8101 W Pomona Drive, Arvada, CO
- 7-9:30 p.m., "Finals: Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence" celebration concert at Boettcher Hall, 1031 13th St., Denver (Denver Performing Arts Complex). Tickets are $14 for adults, $9 for children.
A graduate of Oklahoma State University and Grand Canyon University, Whaley was recently selected into the Colorado Bandmasters Association's Hall of Fame and was named 2007 Phi Beta Mu Kappa Chapter Outstanding Band Director of the Year.He has been honored by the city of Arvada as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the History of Arvada" and was named "Arvada Man of the Year" by the Northwest Metro Area Chamber of Commerce.Widely sought out as a clinician and adjudicator, Whaley was recognized in the School Band and Orchestra magazine article, "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" in December 1999. He is a member of the National Education Association, the Colorado Music Educators Association, the Jefferson County Education Association, the Colorado Bandmasters Association and is past president of Phi Beta Mu. Whaley and his wife, Shirley, also a teacher at Pomona, live in Arvada and have two grown daughters.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to download participant forms, go to www.wlwhaley.com.