Pictured: Howard Meeker (l) and Ken Mehalko (r). Photo by Mark Satola.
The program will feature the premiere of Cleveland composer Clarence Barber's work Jade Fable, written for the band for the 25th season. Dr. Howard Meeker, recently retired professor of music at Cleveland State University will guest direct a program of light classics, show tunes and marches.
Ken Mehalko has been bringing music to Strongsville for the past 52 years. During most of those years, 1961-1990, he served as the Director of Instrumental Music at Strongsville High School. The ensembles he directed-the marching band, concert band, orchestra and jazz ensemble received statewide and national recognition for their musical excellence at state contests, music conventions and parades such as the Orange Bowl Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade. In 1990 he founded the Strongsville Community Band and two years later, the Strongsville City Jazz. He and his wife, Beverly created Puttin’ On The Glitz, a successful musical variety show in Strongsville for persons over 55 years of age. Ken has also served as a music educator in Chile for the Ohio Arts Council as a guest of the Chilean Ministry of Culture on five different occasions. He recently retired as Director of Athletic Bands at Baldwin-Wallace College. He graduated from Baldwin –Wallace College in 1961 with a degree in music education and holds a master of arts degree from Case Western Reserve University. He is a member of the Strongsville Rotary Club, performs with the TOPS Swing Band, is a past member if the Strongsville Education Foundation and has been very active in the Ohio Music Education where he held various offices over the years. His many honors and awards include: The Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award; Baldwin-Wallace College Outstanding Educator Award; Strongsville High School Distinguished Alumni Award as a former teacher and a Medical Mutual Of Ohio Outstanding Senior Volunteer Honorable Mention Award for his work with the “Glitz”. He lives in Strongsville with his wife, Beverly Wehr.
Howard Meeker joined the Cleveland State University music faculty in 1984. He conducts the CSU Wind Ensemble and coordinates the activities of the applied music area. Prior to his appointment at CSU, Professor Meeker was Associate Director of Bands at Washington State University. He has B.Mus. and M.F.A. degrees in percussion performance from the University of Iowa, and has done additional graduate study in wind band conducting at the Ohio State University. Professor Meeker is an active guest conductor/clinician throughout the United States and Canada.