Bill Davern

Setnor School of Music

Instructor, Music Education

Bill Davern

301 Crouse College
Syracuse, NY 13244-1010



Mr. Bill Davern served as the Director of Fine Arts (retired) for the West Genesee School Dis-trict from 2007-2021.

He is the former director of the West Genesee High School Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles, and West Genesee Middle School Symphonic and Jazz Bands. Bill was a public-school educator and administrator for 37 years and is a proud SU alumnus!

While under his direction, his High School Symphonic Band received numerous ratings of “Gold” & “Gold with Distinction” in New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Levels 5 & 6, with the West Genesee Middle School Symphonic Band receiving ratings of "Gold" & "Gold with Distinction" in NYSSMA Levels 3 & 4, at NYSSMA Major Organization festivals. As the director of the "Wildcat" Marching Band, the group captured an unprecedented twelve consecutive New York State Field Band Conference National Class State Championship titles in 1989 - 2000. In Bands of America (BOA) regional championships his bands won numerous Class AA titles, were the Mideast Regional champion in 1994, three-time Grand National Finalists and the 1990 Class AA National Champion.

Bill was inducted into the NYS Field Band Conference “Hall of Fame” in October 2016, and received the 2017 School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) “Outstanding Educator” Award. In 2001, he was recognized by the Greater Camillus Chamber of Commerce and Eagle Newspapers as their “2001 Citizen of the Year,” and in 2002 was the first recipient of the Syracuse Area Music Awards (“Sammy”) for Lifetime Achievement in Music Education.