Jazz Education Legend Passes

John Moawad, the long time jazz professor at Central Washington University passed away on November 22nd, after a long battle with cancer.

His students called him "Coach", and he was a great one.  Throughout his long career in jazz education, he inspired thousands of young musicians, including me.  I had the honor of playing in his Jazz Band I for 4 years as an undergraduate student at Central, and played lead trumpet with his group when I returned for graduate school.

Mr. Moawad had a great influence on music education in our state and our country.  His groups were among the first to be fully included in the schools and he helped jazz earn its place along side orchestra, choir and concert band in the school curriculum.

"Coach" had a way of showing his students how to play and sing jazz music with honesty and integrity and his groups were amazing - year after year - winning many national awards and recognition as among the nation's finest collegiate jazz ensembles.

Memorial Ceremony details will be shared once announced..

THANKS COACH - We'll miss you!

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT MR. MOAWAD'S EDUCATIONAL LEGACY

John Moawad, Central Washington University professor emeritus of music, is considered by many to be the dean of jazz educators on the West Coast. John received his B.Ed. in 1959 and his M.Ed. in 1963, both from Central Washington University. An award-winning music teacher, jazz mentor, and clinician, John’s professional career at CWU lasted 28 years. Serving as the head of Central’s widely respected jazz studies program from 1970-1998, he received the CWU Distinguished Professor Award in 1984. Referred to often as coach, teacher, mentor, and father figure, Moawad has touched the lives of future musicians in ways they never thought possible. His reach includes the many high school students who have taken part in the John Moawad Invitational Jazz Festival at Central, the CWU students who studied under him or took his memorable History of Jazz class, and all the jazz fans and musicians who now support "Jazz in the Valley" every summer in Ellensburg.

Central Washington University continues to build on the legacy Professor Moawad started nearly four decades ago by supporting an endowed scholarship in his name to benefit future generations of jazz students.

Donations from friends and alumni are important in strengthening this legacy. Please consider making a gift to the John Moawad Jazz Scholarship.

To make a gift on line, please visit the CWU Music Department's giving page.  To direct your gift, select John Moawad Jazz Scholarship in the drop down gift designation box.