Gary Shaw is Professor of Music and Chair of Winds, Brass and Percussion at Millikin University where he teaches trombone and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Dr. Shaw performs on trombone with the Millikin Faculty Brass Quintet, is principal trombone of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and trombone soloist with the Decatur Municipal Band. He performs in the Professor’s Choir at the Southeast Trombone Sympoisum held annually at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. He is co-director of the Professor’s Trombone Choir at the Midwest Trombone Conference held each fall at Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Shaw has taught in Urbania, Italy, for Millikin’s 4-week summer immersion class in music, language and culture, and at the University of Illinois Summer Trombone Camp and the Illinois Honors Trombone Choir.
Dr. Shaw is the founding director of the Greater Decatur Youth Band (GDYB). The GDYB began in 1994 as a cooperative program between Millikin University and the Decatur Park District. Each summer students in grades 5-10 perform concerts in neighborhood parks, the Millikin University Quad, the Decatur Park District Lantern Parade and the Decatur Celebration Parade. Students attend rehearsals bi-weekly at Millikin University and work for 8 weeks with Gary Shaw and Millikin University music education majors.