Patrick Bailey
Director of Operations and Program Development; Director & Conductor, PYSB
Learning a musical instrument is an incredibly rewarding pursuit. Getting the most out of musical study means accessing high quality arts experiences both as a learner and an audience member, finding mentors to navigate the many pathways available to artists in today’s changing world, and embracing the understanding that artistic mastery is a lifelong journey. Patrick Bailey is a career musician, educator, conductor, and administrator whose work centers on meeting these needs.
Mr. Bailey currently serves as a tenured faculty member of the Pennsbury School District instrumental music program in Southeastern Pennsylvania – Pennsbury has been recognized as one of the best communities for music education in the country by the N.A.M.M. foundation for over a decade. The school district’s instrumental music program provides opportunities for students in 4th through 12th grade to learn a musical instrument in school. Performing ensembles from the district have toured 4 continents, won national and international musical competitions, and been a springboard for the careers of many professional musicians and music educators.
In addition to his work in public education, Mr. Bailey is deeply involved in the arts education non-profit sector through his work as on the artistic and administrative staff of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute; he currently serves as the Director of Operations and Program Development for the Institute, and Director & Conductor of the Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band – a new program offering from the Institute which seeks to engage advanced instrumental students through performance of high level concert band and wind ensemble repertoire.
As a part of his efforts to help musicians bridge the gap between participation in school music programs and continued engagement in the arts, he engages in music education at the collegiate level. Appointed in 2019, Mr. Bailey serves as the Music Director & Conductor of the Drexel University Concert Band. Past positions in higher education include adjunct professor at Temple University, where he coauthored the Arts Enterprise course on personal financial management and entrepreneurship in the arts, and adjunct professor at Moore College of Art and Design where he taught entrepreneurship in the business minor program.
Mr. Bailey is also an active freelance percussionist, guest conductor, clinician, and private lesson instructor for percussion students: his performances as a soloist included the 2012 North American Debut of John Psathas’s Timpani Concerto Planet Damnation. He also has the distinction of winning the 2009 “Individual and Ensemble” gold medal as a member of Drum Corps International’s Boston Crusaders. Mr. Bailey is a published composer and author through Bachovich Music Publications.
He holds degrees from Temple University (B.M. Music Education) and Drexel University (M.S. Arts Administration), as well as continuing education credits from the University of the Arts and the American College of Education. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team; American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; Pennsylvania Music Educators Association; College Band Directors National Association; and National Association for Music Education.