Jay Wardeska

Jay Wardeska currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). In March of 2022, he was named the music director of the Brass Band of the Western Reserve. He is currently a PhD candidate in Music Education at the Ohio State University and holds a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mount Union.

Wardeska taught music at the middle school, high school, and college levels in the State of Ohio for over 30 years. Bands under his direction performed at a number of state and national events including OMEA Professional Development Conferences, the Ohio Band Directors Conference, the NAfME-Disney Honors Festival, the U.S. Army Band President’s Concert, the University of Akron Concert Band Clinic, and partnership concerts with a number of university band programs.

Wardeska has been the recipient of many honors and appointments, including being named the 2013 National Band Director of the Year by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the U.S. Army Band. Additional awards and appointments include the Joseph A. Leeder Award in Music Education, selection to the NAfME U.S. Army All-American Band Directors Academy, Grammy Quarterfinalist for the Music Educator of the Year, the Medina County Arts Council’s Service to the Arts Award, National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Teaching Award. He is also a Martha Holding Jennings Foundation Jennings Scholar. Other professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu and the American School Band
Directors Association.