Gary Ambrosier: Longtime CHSAA Music Adjudicator President Retires

A legend of Colorado high school music is stepping away.

After decades of service and unwavering dedication to the Colorado high school music community, Gary Ambrosier has retired from his position as President of the Colorado Music Adjudicators Association for the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA). 

“I’ve been at it for 30-plus years and I’ve been thinking for a while that there’s gonna be a time that at some point I’d have to give it up,” Ambrosier said. “I think things just sometimes come to a closure. We’ve got new blood to do it. I did a lot that I’m proud of.”

A lot to be proud of is an understatement, as he’s had his hand heavily involved with expandng music opportunities for kids throughout the state.

“We’ve been doing it for kids; that’s why I started the honor bands,” Ambrosier continued. “Some of these schools have good players and all of these schools have good kids. They all need the opportunity to play with good, quality people. They have a good experience and they go back and talk about it, and then more kids sign up. And that’s what it’s about, expanding the opportunities for music.”

A 1968 CSU graduate in music education, Ambrosier was band director at Glenwood Springs High School (1976-79) and band director at Central High School in Grand Junction (1979-94) when he was named assistant principal for Grand Mesa Middle School for two years before taking over as music coordinator for the district.

Principal developer of the present-day handbook of guidelines and procedures, Ambrosier is a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame (Class of 2013), the Colorado Band Masters Hall of Fame (2011) and the Colorado Music Educators Association Hall of Fame (2019). 

One of the architects of the CHSAA Music Adjudication process, Ambrosier promoted an adjudication model that utilized a rating form that focuses on a numeric measurement, rather than a subjective one. Ambrosier was also instrumental in developing the educational process for adjudicators and helped in assigning the adjudicators to the CHSAA large group festivals.

“Gary’s longevity in this work speaks not only to his passion, but to the immense impact he’s had on students, teachers, and adjudicators across Colorado,” said CHSAA Assistant Commissioner Rashaan Davis, who oversees music for Colorado. “His influence is woven into the fabric of how we celebrate music education, and his legacy will live on in all that we do moving forward. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement from the CMAA.”

A lover of sports, Ambrosier also coached swimming, baseball and basketball throughout his career.
 

Career Highlights

• Offices Held
  • President of CSU Band (1966-68)
  • President of District 13 MSBOA in Michigan (1973-76)
  • President of CMEA Instrumental Council (1988)
  • President of Colorado Bandmasters (1991-92)
  • Chairman/President of Colorado Music Adjudication Association (1990-2025)
• Involvement Outside of Music
  • Volunteer for American Red Cross Instructor Trainer for Upper Peninsula of Michigan (1972)
  • National Ski Patrol Sunlight (1977-79)
  • WSI for various pools (1980-2006)
  • President Community Concerts of the Grand Valley (1998-2004)
• Other Awards
  • Distinguised Service Award from CHSAA (2010)
  • National High School Federation Teacher of the Year (2011)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award President of USA (2016)
  • Champion of the Arts Award (2021)
  • Conductor Emeritus (2025)