John Maltester received his Bachelors and Masters of Arts from Cal-State Hayward University. He has been a music instructor for fifty years, with thirty-seven years as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. He is also the Music Director Emeritus of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Among the many awards John has received are the Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Parent-Teacher Association, and Outstanding Educator of the Year Award (1989-90) at Los Medanos College. John's LMC Jazz Ensemble has received Superior ratings for 24 years at the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. The LMC Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble have toured worldwide. He has been actively involved in many professional organizations including: CMEA Bay Section (President, Treasurer, Area Representative), International Association of Jazz Educators (California President and Western Division Coordinator), College Band Directors National Association (community college representative and presently Co-State Chair), Music Association of California Community Colleges (Special projects coordinator and presently the Northern California President), and formerly was the Executive Director of the Pacific Basin Band Festival in Hawaii. John is also active as a trombonist, rehearsal techniques clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor and lecturer throughout Australia, the Western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. His publications include two textbooks and many magazine articles including The Instrumentalist. John resides in Pleasant Hill with his wife, Diane.