Faculty Biography
Gary Moreau – Choral and Handbell Director and General Music Classroom Teacher
Gary Moreau, a native of Burlington, received his B.S. in Music Education, and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instructional Development from the University of Vermont. He studied voice with Ms. Shari Fleming at UVM and Mr. Raymond Murcell and Mr. Charles Bressler of New York City. Mr. Moreau is in very much in demand as a soloist throughout Vermont. He has performed with the Vermont Symphony, Vermont Mozart Festival, and Oriana Singers, among others. He has also performed internationally in Quebec City and at the Vatican in Rome.
Mr. Moreau’s teaching career began in 1976 in Essex Junction at the A.D. Lawton Intermediate School. His responsibilities include general music classes, handbells, and choral activities. Mr. Moreau has been a key figure in the District III Middle School Music Festival where he has served as the Festival Director for more than twenty years. In addition, he is currently the President-elect of the Vermont Music Educators Association. He has conducted numerous District Festivals around the state. He also works with the Vermont All-State Scholarship Competition for which he has served as adjudicator for the past 19 years and is currently in his fifteenth year as its coordinator. In 2007, Mr. Moreau was named the “VERMONT OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR” by the Vemont Music Educators Association.
Additional music activities include Mr. Moreau’s work in various churches throughout the Burlington area, most specifically, Holy Family in Essex Junction where he is church organist and cantor. He also currently leads a mixed voice choir at St. Lawrence Church in Essex Junction where he has worked for sixteen years. He is often requested to direct of the Vermont Catholic Diocese choir for major diocesan events and services such as ordinations and bishop installations.
Mr. Moreau is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Vermont Music Educators Association (VMEA), Vermont Association of Arts Educators (VAAE) where he serves on the board as treasurer, and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).
Adam Sawyer – Band Director
Adam Sawyer is a native Vermonter, who grew up in St. Albans. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he received his bachelors degree in music education. He returned to Vermont to do his student teaching and was offered the band director position at the Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. Mr. Sawyer was named the Vermont Young Music Educator of the Year in 2005 by the Vermont Music Educators Association.
Mr. Sawyer lives in Essex with his wife. He is an avid performer on trombone, playing regularly with such groups as The Joe Levesque Big Band and Joey Leone’s Chop Shop, which covers all styles of music from rock to funk and R&B to jazz. When he is not performing, he enjoys playing golf, camping, canoeing, cooking, and the New York Football Giants.
Asiat Ali – Orchestra Director
Asiat Ali received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from The University of Vermont in 1992. He continued his studies for two years at the Conservatoire National de Region in Rouen, France. Upon his return from France, Mr. Ali began a private studio of violin and viola students. Mr. Ali has been part of the artistic staff of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association for nine years as the conductor of Presto, a string orchestra for beginning string players with little or no ensemble experience. Mr. Ali has taught in Essex Junction School System as a part time string instructor since 2000. Having begun the violin in grade three in the very same school system, Mr. Ali is thrilled to provide students the same opportunity of playing a string instrument that was given to him.
Last updated: Oct 22 at 7:38 am
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