Keith Whitford recently retired as the Assistant Director of Bands at Western School Corporation. During his time at Western, the concert band received consistent Gold Ratings and the marching band earned 16 state titles and 5 national championships. For over 40 years, Whitford also coached Western's brass ensembles and individuals who constantly advanced to State Contest Gold Ratings. While at Western, he also served as Auditorium Director. In addition, Mr. Whitford has maintained a private teaching studio for over 40 years and has helped hundreds of students realize their potential. Many have gone on to win auditions for all-state ensembles, earn scholarships, pursue music in college and succeed as professional music educators and performers. He also served as adjunct Trumpet Instructor at Ball Sate University for 4 years and at Taylor University for 20 years. Whitford actively performs throughout central Indiana andis Principal Trumpet in the Kokomo Park Band and the Kokomo Symphony, is a member of the Marion Philharmonic and is a former member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic where he was employed for 18 years. He also manages the Kokomo Park Band, a non-profit organization that produces nine professional concert band events per year. Mr. Whitford is a graduate of Ball State University where he holds a B.S. Degree in Music Education and a Master of Music Degree in Instrumental Performance. After taking piano lessons for 3 years with the very strict and demanding Mabel Jackson, Whitford began playing trumpet in the 5th grade studying with trumpet-cornet virtuoso and local legend Ross Dwiggins. While in high school he studied privately with his band director Al Jones and also with Richard Winslow who later became Professor of Trumpet at Chico State University in California. At Ball State he studied briefly with Boyd Hood (Los Angeles Phil) and Larry McWilliams, then was mentored for 4 years by David Greenhoe who taught not only technique but also musicanship and professionalism. Following college, Whitford traveled frequently to Chicago to study with the legendary musician and pedagogue Arnold Jacobs. Other teachers and coaches include Vincent Cichowicz (Chicago Symphony and Northwestern Univ) , Paul Everett (Ball State), Marvin "Chappy" Perry II (ISO) and Larry Wiseman (jazz/big band lead player). Whitford has served five times as Principal Cornetist in the National Community Band sponsored by the National Band Association and is a frequent brass adjudicator for ISSMA solo and ensemble contests. His performance experiences have given him the opportunity to perform with such artists as Doc Severinsen, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Atkins, Natalie Cole, the Moody Blues and the Smothers Brothers. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild and the Indiana Bandmasters Association has been inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda- a national music honor society. Whitford was also awarded the Alumni Achievement Citation Award from the Ball State University School of Music and was recently recognized by the New World Youth Orchestra as Indiana Music Educator of the Year for 2019. In addition to his musical activities, Mr. Whitford is active in his church, is an avid bicycling enthusiast and enjoys fishing. His wife Trudy is a professional flutist, teaches flute lessons and is involved in equestrian activities including operating a boarding facility.