Jay Wardeska currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ohio Music Education
Association (OMEA). In March of 2022, he was named the music director of the Brass
Band of the Western Reserve. He is currently a PhD candidate in Music Education at the
Ohio State University and holds a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Kent
State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mount Union.

Wardeska taught music at the middle school, high school, and college levels in the State
of Ohio for over 30 years. Bands under his direction performed at a number of state and
national events including OMEA Professional Development Conferences, the Ohio Band
Directors Conference, the NAfME-Disney Honors Festival, the U.S. Army Band
President’s Concert, the University of Akron Concert Band Clinic, and partnership
concerts with a number of university band programs.

Wardeska has been the recipient of many honors and appointments, including being
named the 2013 National Band Director of the Year by the National Association for
Music Education (NAfME) and the U.S. Army Band. Additional awards and appointments
include the Joseph A. Leeder Award in Music Education, selection to the NAfME U.S.
Army All-American Band Directors Academy, Grammy Quarterfinalist for the Music
Educator of the Year, the Medina County Arts Council’s Service to the Arts Award,
National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and the National Excellence in
Teaching Award. He is also a Martha Holding Jennings Foundation Jennings Scholar.
Other professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu and the American School Band
Directors Association.