Jack R. Anderson was appointed Director of Bands at the University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...

 in 1995 after serving as assistant director at Pitt for 9 years. His responsibilities include directing the Varsity Marching Band

University of Pittsburgh Marching Band

The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, or Pitt Band, is the college marching band at the University of Pittsburgh. The band includes over 200 instrumentalists, a majorette squad known as the Golden Girls, a color guard, and the University of Pittsburgh drumline. The band was founded...

, leading the Pep Band, and conducting the Symphonic Band. As a music educator in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 for 37 years, he has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for PMEA

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, more commonly known as PMEA, is the Pennsylvania state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. PMEA is a statewide non-profit organization of over 5,000 members reaching thousands of students, dedicated to promoting the...

 throughout Western Pennsylvania.

University Education

Jack played in the Pitt Band in the late 60’s and early 70’s and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s of Education degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro University is a public liberal arts university located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA and one of 14 schools associated with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The town is named after Edinburgh, Scotland. It is also not to be confused with the University of Edinburgh...

.

Membership

Anderson is a member of many professional organizations including the College Band Directors National Association, Big East

Big East Conference

The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...

 Band Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, more commonly known as PMEA, is the Pennsylvania state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. PMEA is a statewide non-profit organization of over 5,000 members reaching thousands of students, dedicated to promoting the...

, and the following honoraries: Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...

, Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...

, Tau Beta Sigma

Tau Beta Sigma

Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni...

, Mu Kappa Upsilon, and Iota Beta Kappa.

Distinguishments

In 2007, Anderson was awarded the “Distinguished Service To Music Medal for Marching Band,” the highest national award presented by Kappa Kappa Psi, a national college band fraternity. He also was awarded the “Professor of the Year Award” in 2006 and 2007 for outstanding teaching from Pitt’s Fraternity and Sorority Life, a part of the Division of Student Affairs. In addition to these prestigious awards, he has received the “Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director Award” presented annually by Tau Beta Sigma, Honorary National Band Sorority, to a college band or university band director who distinguishes himself in the field of university bands; “Outstanding Leader on Campus Award,” presented by the Student Government Board at Pitt; and a “Special Recognition Award,” given by the Mon Valley Chapter of the Panther Club for his dedicated service to Pitt athletics.

Personal life

Jack and his wife Peggy met while in the Pitt Band as undergraduates, and they live in Scott Township. They have two daughters, Katie Anderson and Carrie Fisher, both alumni of the Pitt Band. They are also the grandparents of Anderson Michael Fisher, son of Carrie and Michael.