[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2227-S2228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. WALTER PAVASARIS

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor a 
visionary in the field of music education, Dr. Walter Pavasaris. Dr. 
Pavasaris, a native of New Britain, CT, has been selected to receive 
the Massachusetts Music Educators Distinguished Service Award.
  Walter M. Pavasaris has been a music educator and curriculum 
coordinator in Massachusetts for the past 31 years. During that time he 
has taught all levels of K-12 music, including both general and 
instrumental, as well as teaching undergraduate and graduate level 
courses in various collegiate settings. In Walter's position as 
coordinator of fine and performing arts for the Lexington Public 
Schools, he is responsible for the implementation of the K-12 
curriculum in the areas of music, visual arts, and drama. He leads a 
faculty of 41 highly motivated professional artists/educators. In 
addition to his responsibilities in Lexington, Walter also serves on 
the music education faculty at the Boston Conservatory of Music.
  In 1971, Walter graduated from the University of Hartford, Hartt 
College of Music, with a bachelor of music education degree. While at 
Hartt he studied double bass with Bert Turetzky, Leland Tolo, and also 
traveled to Boston and Tanglewood to study with William Rhein, 
associate principal double bassist of the Boston Symphony. While 
completing his undergraduate degree at Hartt, Walter was active as a 
freelance musician playing in a variety of small combos and big bands 
in the greater Hartford, CT, area. Additionally, he played in the Smith 
College Orchestra, Springfield, MA, Symphony and New Britain, CT, 
Symphony. In his senior year Walter was recognized by Hartt College of 
Music as an Outstanding Music Educator based on his outstanding 
leadership, participation, and scholarship in the field of music.
  Following his graduation from Hartt College of Music, Walter won an 
audition and was selected to become a member of the U.S. Military 
Academy Band at West Point, NY. During the next 3 years he played 
sousaphone in the marching band and double bass in the concert band and 
chamber orchestra. While at West Point, Walter was a member of the 
Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra. During this time, he studied with 
New York Philharmonic double bassist Orin O'Brien.
  Upon his discharge from the Army, Walter began his graduate studies 
at the University of Michigan majoring in stringed instruments. While 
at Michigan, he was a teaching fellow in the String Department. He 
studied double bass with Larry Hurst. During his years at Michigan, 
Walter played in a variety of orchestral ensembles and was the double 
bassist in the wind ensemble conducted by H. Robert Reynolds. He earned 
his master of music in string instruments in December 1976.
  In September of 1977, Dr. Pavasaris joined the music faculty of the 
Belmont, MA, public schools. During his first few years in Belmont, his 
teaching responsibilities included being the director of orchestras and 
string teacher for grades 3 to 12, and conducting one of the middle 
school bands. As string enrollments flourished, his responsibilities 
shifted to overseeing the entire string and orchestral curriculum in 
grades 3 to 12. In addition to teaching large heterogeneous grouped 
weekly string lessons in each of the elementary schools, Walter 
encouraged his students to also be part of the very popular ``Saturday 
Morning'' music program, which he administered during many of the years 
he was in Belmont. It was in this program that all elementary students, 
studying an instrument, received a small homogenously grouped lesson as 
well as the opportunity to participate in either the All-Town String 
Orchestra or Band.
  During his years in Belmont, the Belmont High School and Chenery 
Middle School Orchestras expanded their music making both within and 
outside the community. Under his baton, the middle and high school 
orchestra ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at numerous 
State, regional, and international music festivals. Additionally, the 
Belmont High School Orchestra was selected to perform at the All-
Eastern MENC Conference in Boston in 1983.
  In 1990, Walter was appointed coordinator of fine and performing arts 
for the Lexington Public Schools. His primary responsibilities include 
advocating for the arts and creating and implementing curricula in the 
areas of music, visual arts, and drama. Along with advocating for the 
arts among a wide array of constituencies, he also supervises and 
evaluates the K-12 fine and performing arts faculty. Throughout his 
tenure in Lexington, the arts have maintained an integral place within 
each student's basic education. Coordinating an outstanding 
professional faculty with a supportive administration and community, 
Walter has continuously modeled his passion and belief that music is a 
lifelong endeavor that transcends, gender, age and ethnicity.
  Throughout his professional life, Dr. Pavasaris has positively 
impacted many young music educators while serving on the faculty of 
many institutions within the greater Boston area, including the Boston 
Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and Boston 
University. As a member of the music education faculty at the Boston 
Conservatory of Music since the late 1980s, Walter has taught a variety 
of methods classes as well as classes in string pedagogy and 
conducting. He also had an integral part in redefining, reshaping, and 
changing the direction of the music education curriculum at TBC to 
address the needs of the contemporary educator. For 11 years, Dr. 
Pavasaris enthusiastically conducted the Boston University All-
University Orchestra. The orchestra, which was comprised of nonmusic 
majors, played for the shear enjoyment of making good music. Whether 
teaching conducting, string pedagogy, or instrumental methods, Walter's 
students have experienced his enthusiasm and passion for the artistry 
of being a musician and educator.
  As a conductor, Walter has had the distinct privilege of conducting 
festival orchestras in all four Massachusetts districts as well as 
throughout New England. In 1992 and from 1999 to 2001 Walter was the 
guest conductor of the U.S. Youth Ensemble String Orchestra during 
their European Tours. During the 2004 and 2005 seasons he served as 
music director of the Nashoba Youth Orchestras. Currently, he is the 
music director and conductor of the Arlington, MA, Philharmonic 
Orchestra, a post he has held since 1980; associate music director and 
associate conductor of the Metrowest Orchestra; and conductor of the 
northshore Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra. In 1992, Dr. Pavasaris was 
the recipient of the Paul Smith Memorial Conductor of the Year Award 
presented by the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors' 
Association. In 1996, the Massachusetts Music Educators' Association 
named Dr. Pavasaris as a recipient of the Lowell Mason Award 
acknowledging his numerous contributions to music and music education.
  Throughout his career, Walter has had the good fortune to be 
associated with many wonderful colleagues and students. He is however, 
most thankful for the patience, understanding, and encouragement of his 
wife Beverly and son Christopher, who currently works in my office as a 
staff assistant.
  Making music is an endeavor that can be enjoyed, cherished, and 
celebrated regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. It is inspiring to 
realize that the personal and professional contributions of Dr. 
Pavasaris will only continue to grow through the works of

[[Page S2228]]

very people that Walter has come into contact with. It is with great 
pride that I recognize such a dedicated visionary in the field of music 
education.

                          ____________________