Paul Lavender | Compositeurs

As Vice President of Instrumental Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation, Paul Lavender directs the product development and marketing of Hal Leonard’s extensive catalog of performance publications for orchestra, concert band, marching band, and jazz ensemble, as well as instrumental books, collections and methods.

Paul supervises the creative work of many of the industry’s most respected composers and arrangers, publishing over 600 new instrumental publications each year. His longtime association with renowned film composer John Williams has produced the prestigious John Williams Signature Series, featuring Williams’ authentic film scores and concert music for professional orchestras. In addition, Paul has served as music supervisor and arranger for several of Williams’ concerts and special events, including the 2003 and 2008 Marine Band Anniversary Concerts, the 2004 Rose Bowl, and the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors program (televised on CBS).

Also a prolific writer, Paul has contributed more than 1,200 arrangements and compositions to the educational and concert repertoire, and he continues to be one of the most widely played writers today. Most recently, he has received international acclaim with two notable transcriptions for symphonic band: Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky and Maurice Ravel. Both works were written for and recorded by the world-renowned United States Marine Band, and performed on national tours under the direction of Colonel Michael J. Colburn.

Paul is also co-author and managing editor of Essential Elements, the leading method for beginning bands and orchestras. Under his direction, Hal Leonard recently released Essential Elements Interactive, the first-ever, cloud-based resource that features online learning for school band and orchestra programs. His expertise in music notation and preparation, recording production, and computer system design contributes to Hal Leonard's continuing success as the leading print and digital music publisher, recognized throughout the world.

In 2005, Paul received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Central Michigan University, where he did both his undergraduate and graduate work in Music Theory and Composition. After serving as a graduate assistant teaching music theory at CMU, he furthered his music studies at the University of Michigan.