Background, professional training and performance history
Before his retirement in 2011, Joe Ingram taught music for 34 years, the last 27 as the band director at Shasta Middle School in Eugene. During that time, his concert bands consistently received superior ratings at festivals and his jazz bands at Shasta and Willamette High School won festivals in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Highlights include first place at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Sweepstakes Award at the Bellevue Jazz Festival, as well as winning the High School Combo Division with his middle school combo four times at the Pleasant Hill Jazz Festival.
Joe traveled as a staff member to Europe with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music on three occasions and directed many jazz and concert band camps during the summer through Oregon Festival of American Music and Eugene Springfield Youth Orchestras.
In 1993, he was awarded the Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teachers Award in a ceremony at the White House, and in 2005 was selected as one of six Oregon Middle School Teachers of the Year. In 2011, Joe was inducted into the Bandmasters of the Northwest Association, and honored as ACE teacher of the year in the Bethel School District. In 2012 he was recognized as Outstanding Music Educator by the Oregon Music Educators Association.
Joe has directed the SoulBop Groovinators jazz ensemble and has been the band director at Lane Community College working with the Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble. He currently directs one of the Willamette High School Jazz Bands.
Artist statement and teaching philosophy
Joe’s goal is for students to experience the rich jazz music tradition from classic jazz standards to current jazz directions. During this performance class students will learn their role in a jazz ensemble. An important part of this class will involve developing skills and confidence in the art of improvisation. During this jazz journey we will work hard but have fun all along the way!
Instruments & classes taught
Joe teaches band.