John Christian, a native of Fairmont, WV, is a retired band director from
the Harrison County, West Virginia, school system. He received his Bachelor
of Arts degree in music from Fairmont State College and has two Masters
Degrees in administration and in music from West Virginia University. He was
the band director at Fairview High School in Marion County, band director at
Washington-Irving High School in Harrison County, Principal at Sardis
Elementary School in Harrison County, Assistant Principal at North View
Elementary and Junior High School in Harrison County, Principal at Wyatt
Elementary School in Harrison County, finishing his educational career as
the band director at Bridgeport High School in Harrison County.
In 1996 Mr. Christian received the 25 Years of Distinguished Service Award
from the West Virginia Music Educators Association, in 1998 he was named the
West Virginia Band Director of the Year, and in 2001 he was inducted into West
Virginia Music Educators Association "Hall of Fame".
Mr. Christian is sanctioned by the West Virginia Secondary Schools
Activities Commission and the West Virginia Bandmasters Association as
an adjudicator for middle school, junior high school, and high school band
competitions. He has judged numerous concert band, marching band, jazz
ensemble, and solo/ensemble festivals throughout the state.
Mr. Christian has been an adjudicator for the Virginia State Marching
Band Festival:
In 2004 and 2005 at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
In 2006 at Pulaski County High School in Dublin, Virginia and at
Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. Also in 2006 he was an
adjudicator for the Virginia State District III Concert Band Festival
in Chesterfield, Virginia. In 2007 at the Charlottesville Cavalcade in
Charlottesville, Virginia; and also the Virginia State Marching Band
Festivals at Charlottesville High School in Charlottesville, Virginia and
at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.
In 2002 Mr. Christian was Guest Conductor for the Kanawha All-County Jazz
Ensemble at the All-County Middle/Junior & High School Band Festival Concert
held at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium.
In 2004 Mr. Christian was Guest Conductor for the Harrison County Senior
High School Band at the Harrison All-County Band Concert held at the Robert
C. Byrd High School Theatre.
Mr. Christian is a member of the National Education Association, the Phi
Beta Mu music honorary, the West Virginia Bandmasters Association, the West
Virginia Music Educators Association, and the American Federation of
Musicians (Local No. 580). His credentials include playing lead trumpet with
The Orlando Columbo Orchestra,
The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra,
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra,
The Larry Elgart Orchestra,
The Mon River Big Band,
The Maestros Of Swing Big Band,
Rick K. and the Allnighters,
The Brass Knuckles Band from
Uniontown,
The Pastels Dance Band,
The Vince Villanova Big Band from
Wheeling,
Buddy O & The Dancemasters from
Wheeling,
The West Virginia Wesleyan College Faculty Jazz Band,
The Smoot Theater House Band in
Parkersburg,
The Mel Gillispie Orchestra from
Huntington,
MARK VII a seven piece swing dance band
from Wheeling,
The Bill Brant Big Band from Pittsburgh,
The Gene Caussin Big Band,
The J. R. Farley Big Band,
The Bobby Earle Orchestra,
Trinity Assembly Of God Worship Band,
TAG 5 Jazz Group,
TAG 6 Jazz Group,
Dancemasters II from Wheeling,
The Don Hamilton Orchestra,
The Ron Rose Big Band from Wheeling,
The Graham Grubb Orchestra from Greensburg,
The Mike Westbury Orchestra from Wheeling,
The Steubenville Civic Choral Society Big Band Christmas Concerts,
The Joe Santee Big Band from Uniontown,
The Doug Hess Big Band from Parkersburg,
The Virgil Vingle Orchestra,
The J.P. Trio + 1 from Fairmont,
Evergreen from Morgantown,
Easy Listening from Fairmont,
The Sam Bettini Big Band,
The Farley Five Combo,
The Originals from Fairmont,
High Society from Morgantown,
The Top Hatters from Clarksburg,
The Noteables,
The Margo Skinner Combo from Fairmont,
The Doc Koon Combo from Fairmont,
The Shriners' Dixieland Band from
Clarksburg,
The Joe Silva Big Band from Uniontown,
The Italian Festival Orchestra in
Clarksburg,
The Leonard Hannigan Orchestra,
The Dusty Rhoades Big Band from
Morgantown,
The Appalachian Brass Quintet,
The Mountain State Brass Quartet,
The Woodlands Brass Quintet,
The West Virginia Public Theater Orchestra,
The Act II Theater Orchestra,
The Fairmont Pops Orchestra,
The Morgantown Civic Concert Band,
The Shinnson Community Band,
The United Mine Workers' Concert Band,
Port Authority,
guest artist for
The 249th National Guard Army Band,
guest artist for
The West Virginia Wesleyan Jazz Band,
and for many years headed his own
John Christian Big Band.
He has played with or provided backup for such big name performers as
Jim Nabors,
Connie Stevens,
The Temptations,
Christina Fontanelli,
Bobby Vinton,
Lou Christie,
Shirley Jones,
Bill Hayes,
Soupy Sales,
Five by Design,
Jimmy Merchant,
The Four Lads,
Mary Wilson of The Supremes,
The Four Aces,
Bobby Rydell,
Jerry Vale,
Gianni Russo,
Eddie Mekka,
Fabian,
These Three Tenors,
Fred Travalena,
Gene Ferrari,
Steve Wright,
Dick Contina,
Anna Maria Alberghetti,
Art Pepper,
Jeff Jarvis,
Rich Matheson,
Phil Wilson,
Gary Burton,
Dizzy Gillespie, and
Lew Soloff of Blood, Sweat & Tears.
He has also been instrumental director of numerous community musicals including
ANYTHING GOES,
SINGING IN THE RAIN,
HELLO DOLLY,
OLIVER,
CAROUSEL,
OKLAHOMA,
A CHORUS LINE,
GUYS AND DOLLS, and
WEST SIDE STORY.
In addition, he has played in the orchestra for the West Virginia Public
Theater and community theater presentations of
OLIVER,
CAROUSEL,
THE SOUND OF MUSIC,
HELLO DOLLY,
SWEENEY TODD,
OKLAHOMA,
THE KING AND I,
CHICAGO,
CATS,
SWEET CHARITY,
MAME,
DAMN YANKEES,
FORTY-SECOND STREET,
MY FAIR LADY,
LES MISERABLES,
THE FULL MONTY,
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE,
THE MUSIC MAN,
ANNIE,
GYPSY,
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF,
BIG RIVER,
NO, NO, NANETTE,
JEKYLL & HYDE (The Musical),
A CHORUS LINE,
CINDERELLA,
WEST SIDE STORY,
THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES,
GUYS AND DOLLS, and
THE WIZARD OF OZ.
He recently played lead trumpet for the 20th Century Celebration at the
Fairmont Senior High School Auditorium Rededication.
