Gary Riler – Director of Bands
Gary Riler is starting his 36th year of teaching band in public schools in Oregon and Washington. His last stop before arriving at Cleveland HS in 2015 was at Heritage HS and HeLa High School in the Evergreen School District in Vancouver, WA. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Oregon State University, and his Master of Arts in Teaching with emphasis in Music Education from Lewis & Clark College in Portland. While teaching in Chehalism Washington (1997-2013), his W.F. West HS Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the 2013 NAfME Northwest Division Conference held in Portland, Oregon. His Chehalis Middle School Symphonic Band was invited to and performed at the 2006 Washington Music Educator’s State Conference in Yakima, WA; and the 2009 Northwest Division Music Educator’s Conference in Spokane, WA. He also received the Washington Music Educator’s Association “Middle Level Music Educator of the Year” award in 2010.
More recently, Cleveland High School ensembles have also been recognized since Mr Riler’s arrival. The Cleveland Wind Ensemble performed a concert hour at the 2020 Oregon Music Educator’s Conference in Eugene and has been invited to perform again this year at the 2025 conference. The Wind Ensemble has placed in the top five of the OSAA State Band Championships the past three years (5th 2022; 5th/2023; 3rd/2024). The Jazz Ensemble placed 4th at the OMEA State Jazz Band Championships in 2023 and 2nd in 2024.
Mr. Riler is also active outside of the classroom as an adjudicator, guest conductor, clinician. He has adjudicated band and solo contests at both the Middle School and High School levels in Oregon and Washington. He was a saxophone clinician at the 1996 Oregon Music Educator’s State Conference, and a panelist for a collegiate session regarding instrumentation at the 2006 Washington Music Educator’s State Conference. He has recently presented session in the areas of jazz, program building and chamber music for professional development session in Portland Public Schools and at Oregon Music Educator’s State Conferences. He has served as President for the Southwest Washington Region of the Washington Music Educator’s Association, from 2004 – 2006, and 2010-2012. In addition, he served as Executive Director of the Northwest Wind Symphony in the Chehalis area from 2006 – 2008. His is currently the State Chamber Music Contest chair for the state of Oregon (2020-current). He has performed as a saxophone soloist with the Northwest Wind Symphony, and has performed concerts for churches in California, Oregon and Washington. Gary is also currently the Choir & Orchestra director (music minister) and an ordained minster at the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, OR.
Gary is also married to his talented and very supportive wife of 31 years – Kristina. They enjoy their three wonderful children (Amanda – 24, Ethan – 23, Jaron – 17).