News Release
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May 3, 2005
RETIRED BOISE STATE EDUCATOR MEL SHELTON TO RECEIVE ‘SPIRIT
OF IDAHO’ AWARD
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| Mel Shelton |
Sen.
Mike Crapo will present Mel Shelton, a retired Boise State University music
professor, with the “Spirit of Idaho” award during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m.
Friday in the Morrison Center Recital Hall.
Sen. Crapo praised Shelton in the Congressional Record, the official record
of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
“Many possess remarkable talents, but this individual stands out because he
has used his gifts to enrich the lives of others, educate young people,
inspire creativity and provide beauty and drama that resides in the music of
the heart,”he said.
Shelton, who retired in 1991, was band director at Boise High School for
nine years before coming to Boise State in 1968, where he taught until his
retirement. He held the position of principal trumpet with the Boise
Philharmonic and the Brass Ensemble for many years, was solo cornetist and
conductor of the Boise Municipal Band; performed for many civic operas and
musicals; and served on the summer music faculty at the University of
Wisconsin, the University of Idaho and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). He now
devotes himself to composing music for school bands. He has won numerous
awards for his compositions, which have been performed throughout the United
States, Europe, Australia and Japan. Among his many other activities,
Shelton established the Boise State University Jazz Festival (now the Gene
Harris Jazz Festival) and the Treasure Valley Concert Band, which is made up
of adult musicians from all walks of life.
Sen. Crapo created the “Spirit of Idaho” award in 2000 as a way of honoring
and thanking Idahoans who go out of their way to help others.
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Contact: Lindsay Nothern, Sen. Crapo’s office, (208) 344-1108
Media Contact: Julie Hahn, University Relations, (208) 426-5540,
juliehahn@boisestate.edu
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Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005