GARY DEPAULO + KELLY WALSH HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

Gary DePaolo received his bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. While attending he studied with Chicago Lyric Opera Principal Violist, Rami Solomonov and was coached in chamber music by the Chicago String Quartet. Having recently completed his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Montana State University, DePaolo is entering his tenth year as the director of the orchestra and guitar programs at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper Wyoming. In 2019 his groups joined Laramie High School and the String Academy of Wyoming to travel to and perform in Ireland. His orchestras collaborate with Casper College regularly. This year they are premiering a piece by up and coming composer Stephanie Anne Boyd in March as part of a national collective of high school and college orchestras.

DePaolo has been a guest director for the Wyoming State String Clinic and judge for Colorado ASTA. He is also an adjunct string instructor at Casper College and the principal violist of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Both are positions that he has held for the last 21 years. In 2022 DePaolo collaborated as a content creator for Conn-Selmer’s musicprofessor.com and his viola curriculum will now be offered nationally and internationally via the online service. DePaolo is an avid composer having created underscores for Richard the 3rd, The Diviners, The Scarlet Letter , the Laramie project and various other works. He has always been a collaborator with local bands and musical groups. His group “ Leave it to S.H.I.V.A.” was featured in the Wyoming Arts Council 2021 “Summer Roadtrip” playlist. In 2022 he began a new electronica and strings project with his wife Jennifer DePaolo. DePaolo’s private teaching focuses on ease and tension-free viola playing with traditional and nontraditional repertoire. In his spare time he likes to hike and explore Wyoming’s open spaces and wilderness areas with his wife, son and daughter.