After 23 years of teaching at Colorado Mesa University, Dr. Calvin Hofer is announcing his retirement from teaching in a full-time capacity.

Hofer served as Director of Bands for 23 years, with 17 of those years as the department head.

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Define "retirement."

It appears Dr. Hofer is going to "retire" in pretty much the same manner as most other music educators I know. He will be vacating his teaching position but will remain on board with the music department teaching two online courses. He will also continue to assist with the department's accreditation process.

Dr. Hofer is proud of the accomplishments achieved by the excellent team of music faculty at CMU.

According to today's press release from CMU, Dr. Hofer's tenure included a number of major achievements:

  • Went from the only institution of higher education in Colorado not accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music to accreditation (twice) and being elected to two terms on the NASM Commission on Accreditation and invited to be an evaluator/consultant
  • Started Best of the West Music Festival that attracts over 260 high school students to campus each year
  • Founder and director of the Grand Junction Rockestra
  • Added two new degree programs
  • Increased the number of music majors from around 50 to its zenith of 136 majors
  • Added 16 new pieces to the wind band repertoire by commissioning new work and conducting the world premiere every year (except one) since 2005
  • Oversaw the implementation of the CMU Maverick Stampede
  • Added four new faculty positions
  • Attracted top-quality musician-teachers to the music faculty
  • Started the CMU Middle School Music Camp
  • Raised scholarship money to the highest level in the history of the music department

What's next for the CMU Music Department?

Dr. Jonathan Hinkle, Associate Director of Bands at CMU, will take over the responsibilities of Director of Bands.

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