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Bob Bailey, CLC ‘80, ‘83 BEd, began his journey in the very city where he would later shape generations of young musicians. Born and raised in Camrose, Bailey’s early years were steeped in music. His father was a trumpet player and member of a local dance band, while his grandmother served as a church organist and choir director. Music was not just a pastime — it was a way of life.

As a junior-high student, Bailey attended — the same school where he would eventually teach for over 37 years. His passion for music blossomed during high school, where a vibrant music program, jazz band and concert band sparked his interest in music education. “I was taken with the idea of putting bands together,” he recalls. “I thought that would be a good career for me, and as it happens, it has been a long one.”

That passion led Bailey to Camrose Lutheran College (CLC), now the ß÷ßäÉçÇø’s Augustana Campus, for its strong reputation in personalized instruction and a robust music department. At CLC, Bailey found a nurturing academic environment. “You weren’t just a number,” he says. “You got to know the professors well and they were always accessible.” 

After completing his education degree at the ß÷ßäÉçÇø, Bailey began his teaching career in Rocky Mountain House and Manning, where he built and revitalized music programs before returning home to Camrose in 1988. Back at École Charlie Killam School, he developed a thriving music program, teaching concert band, jazz band, choir and chamber ensembles. 

With a philosophy rooted in the belief that music is essential to a well-rounded education, Bailey’s dedication to his students extends beyond the classroom, with countless hours spent on rehearsals, band camps, concert tours and community performances.

“Imagine a world without music,” Bailey often tells his students. “It’s everywhere — in movies, in your car, in your life. And all those musicians started somewhere, usually in a school music program.”

Bailey’s ability to engage students in Grades 6 through 8 is a hallmark of his teaching. “They’re like sponges,” he says. “If you catch their interest, you can really make a difference.” Despite the distractions of modern life and many competing options available, he has maintained high participation rates in his music programs, with up to 60 students in his Grade 8 concert band alone.

His impact also reaches into the wider community. Bailey has mentored student teachers and fledgling band leaders, collaborated with Augustana’s Music Conservatory and Community Service-Learning program, acted as music festival adjudicator and brought in renowned guest clinicians to enrich his students’ experience. His contributions to music education have been recognized by prestigious organizations, including the ß÷ßäÉçÇø Band Association, the international bandmasters’ fraternity Phi Beta Mu, Battle River School Division, the ß÷ßäÉçÇø and the City of Camrose. He was even selected as for the 2024 MusiCounts Music Teacher of the Year, which was awarded at the Juno Awards held in Halifax last year.

As he transitions into a reduced teaching schedule this year, Bailey remains committed to music education. He continues to advocate for its importance, emphasizing the lifelong benefits of musical involvement — from social cooperation and mental wellness to long-lasting friendships and academic achievement. When he retires fully, he plans to take on more music festival adjudication jobs and act as a guest conductor and clinician at band camps and clinics. 

Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award is a humbling honour for Bailey. “I’ve been blessed to have a career in something I enjoy and have a passion for,” he says. He credits his success to the strong foundation he received at CLC and the unwavering support of his family, particularly his wife Val, whom he met in high school band class and who was the sole administrative assistant for Fine Arts for 26 years in Augustana’s Department of Fine Arts & Humanities.

A testament to the power of passion, perseverance and the transformative impact of music education, Bailey’s legacy resonates not only in the awards and accolades but in the lives he’s touched, the students he’s inspired and the community he’s enriched.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an alumnus/a in recognition of outstanding achievement in one’s vocation.