Arts
Harley Givler, Director of Bands
Role at Shipley
Director of Bands & Private Music Lesson Program Coordinator
Director of Bands & Private Music Lesson Program Coordinator
Ensemble Director of:
- 4th Grade Band
- 5th Grade Band
- 6th Grade Band
- 7th/8th Grade Band
- US Chamber Winds
- Co-Director Full Orchestra
- Co-Director of Jazz Band
Education
BM Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
MM Yale School of Music, Yale University
DMA Stony Brook University
BM Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
MM Yale School of Music, Yale University
DMA Stony Brook University
Prior Professional Experience
Music Director and Arts Department Chair, KIPP NYC College Prep High School, Bronx, NY
Freelance Musician, New York City and Fort Worth, TX
Marcus High School, Horn Choir Director and instructor of Horn, Lewisville, TX
Outside Performance Groups or Professional Organizations
Drexel University, Assistant Conductor of Concert Band
Revolution Winds, woodwind quintet
Freelance Musician, Philadelphia region
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) since 2012
How/why did you get into music?
Listening to and making music has always been such a joyful part of my life. From the first note I played on the horn, I loved the sound and felt an immediate connection to the instrument. Beyond that, I had inspiring teachers and learned very quickly that I could go places with music.
What is your music teaching philosophy or style?
Music is life. Engage with an open mind. Work hard, be nice, and have fun.
How would your students describe you?
Energetic, sometimes silly or funny, patient, passionate about music, and process-driven.
Do you have any musical heroes or inspiration? If so, who are they and why?
Through music, I have been introduced to and gotten to work with so many amazing human beings. If I had to list just one, it would be my first horn teacher, Nicholas J. Perrini. He opened my ears to what musical expression could be, and was a role model for getting the most out of every moment. Aside from him, there are always new artists and songs that surprise and inspire me. The music of Stevie Wonder and Mozart have been lifelong loves, among many others.
What music do you listen to for fun?
I enjoy listening to my own children make music. Live shows are always fun. Recent shows include David Byrne, the Punch Brothers, and Wilco. I go to hear the Philly Orchestra whenever I can.
Fun fact about you?
I enjoy reading science fiction and would be an environmental scientist if I weren’t a musician.
Anything else you’d like people to know about you:
If you want to know something, just ask. I’m a curious person too.
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Peter Makela ’04: 2024 Alumni Artist Exhibition
This year’s alumni exhibition features work from the Sky Paintings series by Shipley alum Peter Makela ’04 and will be on display in Speer Gallery from April 9 to May 5. Celebrate the fine arts at Shipley with an artist reception in Speer Gallery on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Alumni Artist Reception is part of Alumni Reunion Weekend and is open to family and friends of the Shipley community, we ask that you please register online or contact alumni@shipleyschool.org with any questions.Read More -
Ozzie Jones Receives Barrymore Award Nomination for Outstanding Outdoor Production
Ozzie Jones earned a Barrymore Award nomination for Outstanding Outdoor Production, showcasing his transformative journey and key role in Theater in the X's acclaimed "Dreamgirls."Read More -
Phillip Brown Nominated for Barrymore Award - Outstanding Lead Performance
Read MorePhillip Brown, Upper School Theater Director at Shipley, considers his portrayal of Jay Jackson in Lantern Theater Company's "The Royale" to be the role of a lifetime.The play was nominated for seven Barrymore Awards, including Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, with Phillip himself nominated for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play. -
Contour Line Drawing: A Lesson in Concentration and Creativity
Read MoreContour line drawing is more than a classroom exercise, it demands unwavering concentration, forging connections between the artist and their subject, creating a unique interplay between the pen and paper. A poignant reminder that art isn't merely about what we see; it's about how we see it and the stories we can convey through the lines we draw. -
God Is In the Glyph: The Art of Rory McArthur
Explore the world of renowned artist Rory MacArthur at The Speer Gallery in a mesmerizing exhibition on loan from the West Collection. Discover MacArthur's journey into glyphs and abstraction, where he crafts perfect glyph-like objects using color, shape, surface, and form in an age inundated with symbols.Read More -
Enriching Shipley’s Performing Arts Program
In an effort enrich Shipley’s Theater Arts Program, significant changes are underway, touching every aspect of the program—from personnel to scheduling. Learn more about the exciting changes underway in Shipley's Theater Arts.Read More -
Protest Art in Studio Art 3H: The Art of Crafting Your Message
"How can we use the language of art to explore our feelings and beliefs? What do I care about and how can I bring that idea to life? What do I want to communicate?" These are just a few of the questions that Shipley’s Studio Art 3 Honors students grappled with as they completed their protest art assignments. Learn more about this project and how students discover their voice as artists to speak about something they care about.Read More -
Shipley Honors Combo Wins First Place at National Jazz Festival
The Shipley Honors Combo won first place in the Small Ensemble Division 2 category at the National Jazz Festival, held April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Trumpeter Aidan Peterson ‘24 won an Outstanding Musician Award and also earned the Judge’s Choice Award.Read More -
Spotlight on the Lower School Music Ensemble Program
Shipley’s Lower School music program offers a one-of-a-kind musical education to its young learners, culminating in an authentic music ensemble experience. In fourth grade, students can learn to play three different instruments. The long-term benefits and goals of the program are many, extending beyond the classroom and into the lives of students and their families.Read More -
From the Beacon: Mean Girls Will Be Totally Fetch!
This year’s Upper School Spring Musical is Mean Girls, a modern adaptation of the classic movie from 2004. Shipley theater star and Beacon writer Colin Harkins ’23 tells us why audiences should be excited to see the show March 2-4, 2023 in Riely Theatre.Read More -
From the Beacon: Shipley Theater Department Joins Broadway Green Alliance
Shipley’s theater program is excited to announce that it will partner with Broadway Green Alliance, a corporation that tries to bring more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices into theaters all around the country. Read more in this article originally published in the Beacon student newspaper.Read More -
Shipley Musicians Accepted into Auditioned Choral and Band Ensembles
After rigorous auditions, five Shipley musicians have been accepted into auditioned choral and band ensembles including the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Chorus, the American Choral Directors Association National Honors Choir, and the Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band.Read More -
Shipley Celebrates Lunar New Year with Musical Performance
Read MoreView a performance of the Lunar New Year Overture by Shipley's Chamber Orchestra, in an arrangement by Richard Liu ’25 and Bambi Tang ’23, and conducted by Mr. Jhonnatan Mata. The performance was organized by the Asian Student Alliance and the Chamber Orchestra in celebration of Lantern Festival, or the end of Lunar New Year. -
Americans Who Tell the Truth: Portraits by Robert Shetterly
"Americans Who Tell the Truth: Portraits by Robert Shetterly" is on display in Shipley's Speer Gallery from February 1 - 28, 2023.Read More -
Art Teacher Bonnie Goldstein's Work on Display
You can see Lower School Art Teacher Bonnie Goldstein's new work in "Beyond Boundaries" an exhibit on display at 705 West Printshop + Gallery in Jenkintown. An opening reception is being held on Sunday, December 4 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm.Read More -
Theater Director Phillip Brown Stars in The Royale
Catch Theater Director Phillip Brown as he stars in the Lantern Theater Company’s Philadelphia premiere production of The Royale by Marco Ramirez, onstage through December 11, 2022, at St. Stephen’s Theater.Read More -
Studio Art 2 Students Help Paint Mural in Media, PA
When Upper School Art Teacher Tania O’Donnell’s design was selected as the next traffic calming mural in Media, she knew she had to involve her art students in the process.Read More -
Carlos Casilla Wins Outstanding Young Conductor Award
Congratulations to Director of Choirs, Carlos Casilla, for receiving The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Outstanding Young Conductor Award, which recognizes the efforts of a new or aspiring choral director who, in their first 3 to 5 years of experience has already demonstrated outstanding leadership or musicianship in the field of choral music.Read More -
PUBLIC/PRIVATE: The Photography of Chris Peters
PUBLIC/PRIVATE: The Photography of Chris Peters is on display in Shipley's Speer Gallery from March 1 - April 12, 2022.Read More -
Peter Makela '04 Named Fulbright Scholar
In April 2022, artist Peter Makela ’04 will travel to Nepal as a Fulbright Scholar. He’ll spend 10 months in the Kathmandu Valley pursuing his project, “The Radiant Emptiness of Space: Madhyamaka and Contemplative Perception,” while studying Madhyamaka philosophy at Rangjung Yeshe University, the world’s preeminent English-speaking Buddhist university. Learn more about Makela and his work.Read More
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.
