Prof. Walter Harley

Walter A. Harley has taught for 40 years and 31st as Chairman, Director of Bands and Orchestra at Oxon Hill High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. During his tenure at Oxon Hill, the bands and orchestra have received Superior and Excellent ratings at local, state and national music festivals.

Walter attended Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC from 1979 to 1984. Mr. Harley studied percussion with Robert Rosen from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduating from Livingstone College, he attended Morgan State University and studied percussion with Leo Page and Robert Kenneth who both were members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. There he directed Morgan State University Percussion Ensemble as a graduate student and was director of bands at Mark of Excellence Christian Academy in Baltimore, Maryland and assistant band director at Western Senior High School both in Baltimore, Maryland. Walter later in his teaching career attended University of Maryland, College Park, and studied conducting with Professor John Wakefield who became his mentor and friend.

Oxon Hill High School Band performed “A Salute to the 2008 Olympic in Beijing, China. The OHHS Band also performed at the Maryland Music Educators Association Spring Conference (2016). He is a member of the National Association for Music Education; Maryland Music Educators Association (Former Executive Board Member); Maryland Band Directors Association; MBDA Music Review Committee (Present); Maryland Orchestra Directors Association; Texas Bandmasters Association; National Band Association (State Chair 2008-2016); National Band Association (Board of Directors 2016-2018); National Band Association Dr. William P. Foster of Excellence (Eastern Region Director 2016-2020); Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity; Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Member; Minority Band Directors National Association; and Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc.

Walter Harley is the Founder/President and principal conductor of the Fort Washington Symphonic Winds (2014-2020) in Fort Washington, Maryland. This is an all-adult community band. “Serving the Community through Music Performance.”

Walter has received Band Director of the Year 2008, LOVE Award 2009, and 2012; Prince Georges’ County Teacher of the Year 2000; Prince Georges’ County Outstanding Educator of the Year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018; The Washington Post Agnes Myer Outstanding Educator of the Year 2012; and National Band Association Citation of Excellence (2011, 2012, 2018); Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development Award (2025-2026); and John Philip Sousa Foundation Bandworld Legion of Honor Laureate (Elected December, 2026).

Walter Harley and his wife Janis reside in Waldorf, Maryland. They have three children Sheryl Dias Landers (engineer/South Carolina); Jéaclem (accountant/Maryland); Arreon Harley (Choir Director/Penn State University) and six grandchildren. Mr. Harley continues to present clinics, adjudicate, conduct and teach at universities high school band camps. He and his wife Janis are both active members of Healthy Choice Ministries International in Baltimore, Maryland.