Margaret Reidy, musical director of the United States Youth Ensembles European Concert Tour, is director of bands at Minnechaug Regional high school in Wilbraham, MA where she directs a program of more than 200 students involved in the areas of concert band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, jazz band, marching band and elementary strings. For the past 20 years she has been active at the district, state and regional levels serving as ensemble manager, festival coordinator and adjudicator for a number of events including the Massachusetts All-State festival and the Great East Music Festival. A member of MENC and immediate past president of the Quabbin Valley Music Educators Association, Ms. Reidy has written articles for the widely acclaimed PBS film project, “Martin Scorcese presents: The Blues”. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Margaret was named the Western Massachusetts Music Educator of the Year in 2003 after ten years of high school teaching. During the 2004-2005 school year, Margaret was named “Teacher of the Year” at her own high school and was also presented with the Lowell Mason Award at the Massachusetts All-State Conference. Margaret was also named in 2005 as a Grinspoon Award winner and recognized with the Pioneer Valley Distinguished Teacher Award for her positive impact on children in her community. Most recently, in August 2006 she was honored by the Boston Red Sox organization in conjunction with the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association as an “MVT," “Most Valuable Teacher." Margaret has enjoyed the combination of travel and music ever since her first European concert tour with a community band to the Netherlands when she was just eleven years old! She looks forward to bringing together students from all regions of the country to form the 2008 US Youth Ensembles EuropeanConcert Tour!