Lafayette Concert Band

Conductors

Gerald J. Guilbeaux
Conductor

 A member of the Lafayette Concert Band since its inception in 1982, Gerald Guilbeaux has been the Conductor/Music Director of the band since 1993. He is also the founder and conductor of the Acadian Wind Symphony, a select 50 piece wind ensemble which performs during the summer months and at special events. Under his direction, the Lafayette Concert Band became the 1999 recipient of the Sudler Silver Scroll, an international award recognizing excellence in adult community bands, administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the Acadian Wind Symphony was awarded the 2021 American Prize for Community Bands. 
  

He is a nationally recognized advocate for adult community bands and currently serves as Vice-President/Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Mr. Guilbeaux is an active guest conductor and adjudicator, serves on the Selection Committee for the Sudler Silver Scroll and is the administrator and assistant conductor of the Sousa Foundation’s National Community Band. He is Past-President of the Association of Concert Bands and served as Publications Coordinator and Editor of the ACB JOURNAL. He has twice been awarded the Citation of Excellence by the National Band Association and received the Diploma of the Order of Merit by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He has served as Chair of the Associate Member Committee of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and served as a member of the Board of Directors of ABA. He most recently was awarded the 2021 American Prize in Conducting - Community Band Division. 
  
He is married to Maria LaFleur and is the proud father of three daughters, Amy, Lynn and Chrissy. Granddaughters, Carly and Cameryn O’Quain, Addison Thompson, Lily Bone and grandsons Lucien Bone IV and Mark and Henry Thompson add tremendous joy to his life.

Scotty Walker
Associate Conductor

Scotty Walker began his teaching career in Eunice, Louisiana where he taught beginning through high school band. He moved to Lafayette Middle School where he taught for 2 years then moved to Lafayette High School where he remained and retired after teaching for 33 years. During his tenure at Lafayette High School, the Symphonic Band has performed on some of the most prestigious concert stages in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York City six times.  The band has received the National Band Association's "Citation of Excellence" award for performing in the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, the All South Conductors Conference and the CBDNA southern division conference in Jacksonville, Florida and Natchitoches, LA. In 2015 the band received the Blue Ribbon National High School Award for Excellence sponsored by the National Band Association.  The Marching Band has marched in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Mighty Lion Marching Band is the 17 time Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands Grand Champion. In 2011, the marching band was named Class AAA Grand National Champion by Bands of America in Indianapolis, IN. The band is always well represented in District, State, Regional, and National Honor Ensembles. 

Mr. Walker has received the "Excellence in Education" award given by the Acadian Arts Council, and honored by receiving the Louisiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award in 2002, 2009 and 2019 by the Phi Beta Mu honorary music fraternity. In 2011, Mr. Walker was inducted into Bandworld’s “Legion of Honor”, sponsored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 2017.   In 2019 Mr. Walker was inducted into the Louisiana Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.  In 2022, he was named the United Way High School Teacher of the Year and was initiated as a National Arts Associate by Sigma Alpha Iota. His professional affiliations include the Louisiana Association of Educators, National Association for Music Education, Southwest Louisiana Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Beta Mu. He is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Educators Association.  He has been married to his wife Blanche for 36 years.

MEMBERS OF THE BAND