Adjunct Professor of Music
Director of Jazz Studies

George West attended Oberlin for his undergraduate study in 1950, but his work was interrupted by a four-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force as a trombonist and arranger for the U.S.A.F. (Glenn Miller) "Airmen of Note" in Washington, D.C. He completed the degree at Oberlin, and afterward played and arranged trombone for the Kai Winding "Trombone Sound Septet" until September 1960. From then until September of 1962, he played trombone with Guy Lombardo and his orchestra. During the same time in New York City, he was active in studio recording and occasional engagements with orchestras such as Woody Herman and Les Elgart, among others.

In 1962, Dr. West made a career change and returned to academic pursuits by accepting a graduate fellowship at Michigan State University, where directed jazz studies, including the M.S.U. Jazz Ensemble. He became a faculty member at Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas (1964-67), the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1969-71), and James Madison University, Virginia (1971-96), professor emeritus. While teaching as a university faculty member, he was still active in performing, composing, and arranging for various well-known musical artists and entertainers.

In 1971, he established the jazz performance area of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan with continued involvement every summer since as jazz area chairperson and director of the "Blue Lake Monster" faculty jazz ensemble. A life member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, he has served on the IAJE Executive Board and Eastern Regional Coordinator since 1971.

At present, Dr. West is semi-retired in DeLand, Florida where he serves as adjunct faculty at Stetson University as director of jazz studies.