Walter J. Halen

Dr. Walter J. Halen is professor emeritus from Central Missouri State University and now resides in Houston, Texas. He was professor of music at CMSU for 22 years, teaching composition, violin and viola and conducting the university symphony. Prior to his CMSU appointment, he was on the staff of Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, and was concertmaster of the Springfield Symphony. He attended Miami, Ohio and Northwestern Universities before earning his doctorate from Ohio State University in 1969. Among his many awards are two teacher recognition awards from the Music Teachers National Association, the Achievement in Music Award from Ohio University, the Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award and Byler Distinguished Service Award from CMSU. In 1992, he was chosen to be the first recipient of the ‘Artist Teacher’ award from the Missouri unit of the American String Teachers Association. He was the Missouri Music Teachers Association ‘Composer of the Year’ in 1976 and was the Missouri-ASTA Commissioned Composer for a new composition for the MMEA High School String Orchestra in 1991. His compositions for young string orchestras have been acclaimed by leading string teachers and conductors for their excellence and practicality.