Former Music Teacher Receives County Arts Leadership Award

Greg Conway, former music teacher from Fremont, 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.

From 2005 to 2021, Mr. Conway was the Director of Instrumental Music at Hopkins Junior High School where he shared his passion for music with thousands of students. Under his direction, the school’s ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Festivals and other competitions throughout the state/nation. Mr. Conway has also served on the CMEA (Bay Section) Board of Directors since 2006, and is currently the Large Group Festival Coordinator.

In 2016, Mr. Conway was recognized by CMEA for “Achievement in Instrumental Music Education,” and in 2017 for “Excellence in Orchestra Education.” In 2018, he was awarded “Outstanding Music Educator”, while California State Assembly (District #25) honored him “Community Hero 2019” for his outstanding dedication and service to the community. To enhance students’ educational experience, Mr. Conway challenged Hopkins Advanced Orchestra to the National Orchestra Festival 2019. The only participant from California, the 70-member group earned “unanimous superior” rating and won second place at the event held in Albuquerque, NM—the first time that a Fremont-based music group competed at a national festival! At a home concert, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors presented certificates to acknowledge the proud accomplishments of Mr. Conway and each of the students.

A consummate advocate of youth music education, Mr. Conway is an executive Board member of Castro Valley-based Jenny Lin Foundation, and has directed its summer program for 13 years. In addition to holding an annual youth concert, the Foundation has established two scholarship awards: one to recognize promising musicians, and the other to honor academic and musical achievements of students of Canyon Middle School. 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, Mr. Conway 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), and any ensembles performing the piece in future would help raise awareness to child safety through music.

Mr. Conway recently joined the Executive Board of the California Orchestra Directors Association. He is now 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/html/advocacy_programs.html