About the Arranger - Peter Tileston

About Peter Tileston - Arranger

Mr. Tileston is the retired music director of the King Philip Regional School District. He held that position for over twenty-seven years. In that time his groups received local, state, regional, as well as national recognition. Possessing a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of New Hampshire, Mr. Tileston earned a Masters in School Administration from Cambridge College. During his tenure at King Philip the symphonic band consistently earned gold medal ratings at the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) annual Concert festival over the last two decades as well as being a National Concert Band of America Festival participant in 2005. The King Philip Jazz Ensemble under his direction was an Essentially Ellington Finalist in 2002, 2007, and 2010, as well as a gold medalist in IAJE State Finals numerous times. The King Philip Marching Band has also achieved national recognition having placed third in the Bands of America National Championships in Indianapolis in Class AA in 2000 and 30 consecutive gold medals at the MICCA State Finals. Mr. Tileston arranged the band’s music repertoire for over 20 years

Mr. Tileston served as president of MICCA for seven years. While serving as past-president he created and developed the Stars at Symphony project, which is now called the Gold Medal Showcase. In cooperation with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Gold Medal Showcase project offers students of gold medal groups the chance to perform at Symphony Hall and Mechanic’s Hall.

Mr. Tileston has received the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Lowell Mason Award in 1996. He was elected to the MICCA Paul Smith Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002 and 2007, Mr. Tileston was selected by SBO (School Band & Orchestra) magazine to be the Massachusetts representative as one of fifty band directors that make a difference. In 2003, Mr. Tileston received the Champion Educator for Music from the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education. In 2015 Mr. Tileston received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators.

Mr. Tileston is a frequent guest conductor having quest conducted the Massachusetts Southeast District Junior Jazz band in 2010 and 2015. Four times he has been the conductor of the Massachusetts Lion’s All State Band and has also conducted the New Hampshire All-State High School Jazz band. He serves as a clinician for the MICCA Task Force and has given numerous clinics at the MMEA All-State conference.

Although retired from full time teaching, Mr. Tileston continues to teach as an adjunct instructor at King Philip. He is the coordinator and coach of multiple chamber ensembles that meet once a week.