Associate Professor of Music and Director of Marching Band at Riverside City College, where his band has had an unprecedented record of accomplishments. Mr. Locke holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Redlands and a California Teacher’s Credential from California State University at San Bernardino. He has been Vice President of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the Southwest. He has judged band contests in California, Hawaii, England, Netherlands, Scotland, France, and Japan, and has done clinics with bands and band directors in Texas, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, California, Australia, and Japan.In his 37-year teaching career, bands under his direction have appeared in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (1984, ’90, ’97, ’04, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’13), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City (1981, ’90, ’06), Sunkist Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona (1991), Hollywood Christmas Parade (1987 thru ’89, & 1991 through 2005), “Fetes de Geneve” Parade in Geneva, Switzerland (1985), Queen Victoria Days Parade in Canada (1986), Hawaii Invitational Parade (1988), Melbourne Moomba Festival Parade in Australia (1992), “Battle of Flowers” Parade in Nice, France (1994), St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland (1996) the gala London New Year’s Day Parade (2000, ’05, ’11, ’14) and the gala Paris New Year’s Day Parade (2001).Referred to as “Hollywood’s Band,” the Riverside City College Band has appeared in television commercials for Peugeot Automobiles, Aloha Airlines, Wendy’s Hamburgers and the Riverside Auto Center, and has appeared on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on ABC. This busy group of college entertainers has been seen in several major motion pictures including Warner Brothers “My Blue Heaven,” starring Steve Martin, Columbia Pictures “Hero,” starring Dustin Hoffman, an Emmy Award-winning HBO production “The Positively True Adventures of the Cheerleader-Murdering Mom,” starring Holly Hunter, and a TV-movie “For Their Own Good,” starring Elizabeth Perkins. Other feature films have included “Dear God,” starring Greg Kinnear & Tim Conway, “Austin Powers,” starring Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley & Mimi Rogers, “Wag the Dog,” with Robert DeNiro and “The Truman Show,” with Jim Carrey! Highly regarded by the Walt Disney Organization, the RCC “Marching Tigers” have appeared in the Disney “Symphonic Spectacular” at the Hollywood Bowl and in the Disney “Pigskin Classic III & IV.” In addition, RCC is the only band ever to have performed at every Disney theme park, including Anaheim (several times), Orlando (1989), twice in Tokyo (1987 and ’93), and twice at Paris Disneyland (1994 and 2001). Released in February, 1999: Disney Touchstone Pictures film “The Other Sister,” staring Diane Keaton, Tom Skerrit, Juliette Lewis & Giovanni Ribisi. Released in 2001: “American Pie 2″ starring Jason Biggs & Eugene Levy. In May 1990, Mr. Locke was invited to be a guest speaker at the annual National Convention on Teaching Excellence, held at the University of Texas at Austin. In January, 1993, he was selected as the first recipient of the “HERO” Award, presented by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce to the person responsible for bringing the most “positive publicity to the City of Riverside.” The RCC Band has appeared as the guest exhibition group at the Bands of America “Grand National Championships” an unprecedented seven times – 1994, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010.<br><br>

Based on the above achievements, Gary Locke was nominated as a member of the National College Band Directors Hall of Fame. Inland Empire Magazine selected Mr. Locke as one of the “top 25 people of the past 25 years” in its May, 2001 special anniversary issue. He has also been inducted into the La Serna High School Hall of Fame, signifying his position as being one the most famous graduates of that Whittier, CA school. He has also been appointed as “Regional Chairman of Selection” for Youth Music of the World, a London-based event organization. In April, 2010 he was presented with the “Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence” by the Riverside Community College District.