Dr. Jared Spears is Professor of Music Emeritus at Arkansas State University
in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and received
the B.S.E. degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University;
the B.M. and M.M. in Percussion and Composition from the Cosmopolitan
School of Music; and the D.M. in Composition from Northwestern University.
Some of his past teachers include: Blyth Own, Alan Stout, and Anthony
Donato.
Spears has taught theory, history, composition, percussion and band on
all educational levels, from elementary school through college. Since
his retirement from ASU in May of 1999 (after 32 years of teaching), he
has maintained a heavy schedule of composing and conducting.
The most outstanding of his awards have been the Faricy Award for Creative
Music from Northwestern University School of Music, Award of Merit from
the Arkansas Chapter of the National Federation of Music Clubs, Outstanding
Educators of America, International Who's Who in Music and Who's Who in
the World of Percussion-U.S.A., Citations of Excellence from the National
Band Association, Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate, and several
ASCAP awards. During his tenure at Arkansas Sate University, Spears received
the University President's Award for the outstanding faculty member, as
well as an appointment as a President's Fellow.
To date he has produced over 250 original works for band, choir, orchestra,
and chamber ensembles-a majority of which are published by American and
European companies. His music has been performed and recorded worldwide,
and he has conducted band festivals, camps, and clinics in Canada, Europe,
throughout the United States, and has appeared at several universities
as a guest lecturer.