Resident Selected for 2021 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award

Castro Valley CA

25 September, 2021

2:48 AM

Description

Castro Valley native Greg Conway is among six individuals selected to receive the 2021 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award, established by the Alameda County Arts Commission to recognize community members' achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and residents of Alameda County. A consummate advocate of youth music education, Greg is an Executive Board Member of the Jenny Lin Foundation in Castro Valley and the Symphonic Band Director of the Foundation's summer program. Every year, the Jenny Lin Foundation presents a youth concert and offers two scholarship awards to recognize the achievements as well as the potential of student-musicians at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley. In 2019, over 300 musicians from 35 middle schools and high schools of 12 Bay Area cities participated in the summer music programs that included Choir, Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra, and performed at a large concert to give back to the community. What's more, a beautiful viola has been donated to Castro Valley Unified School District's Music Department, and is entrusted to an outstanding violist to use for a year. To celebrate the Foundation's 25th anniversary in 2019, Greg requested a composition from renowned musician Richard Meyer. A dedication to Jenny, From Darkness Joyful Sounds Are Born featured a distinctive voice of the viola, Jenny's instrument; any ensembles performing the piece in future would help raise awareness to child safety through music. From 2005 to 2021, Greg was the Director of Instrumental Music at Hopkins Junior High School in Fremont where he shared his passion for music with thousands of students. In 2019, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors presented certificates to acknowledge the proud accomplishments of Greg and each of his Advanced Orchestra students. Greg is currently the Large Group Festival Coordinator of California Music Educators Association Bay Section, and recently joined the Executive Board of the California Orchestra Directors Association. He is a graduate student of San Jose State University pursuing a Master's Degree in Instrumental Conducting. Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2021 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award: Lisa Bullwinkel, Gregory Conway, Kala Ghaty, Carl Larson, Vanessa Thomas and Angela M. Wellman. They will be honored by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors at the Board's meeting on Tuesday, October 12 beginning at 10:45 a.m. as the County celebrates National Arts and Humanities Month. For information on how to join the meeting online, the public may visit the Alameda County Board of Supervisors' website at www.acgov.org/board. https://www.acgov.org/arts/htm...