Jerry Chatwin
Mr. Jerry Chatwin grew up in southern California where he earned an Associate of Arts degree from Santa Monica College. After serving an LDS mission to Germany, where he met his future wife Heidy, he finished a Bachelor of Arts degree at BYU.
After teaching in California for 11 years, he moved his family to Payson where he served as band director at the junior and senior high school. Having a great interest in British military bands, he modeled the Payson High School band after this image. After meeting Mr. David Barclay, the leader of the Utah Pipe Band, they formed a pipe band at the school which performed with the marching band.
In 1983, he and Mrs. Kathryn Pierce, the president of the band parent's club, approached the Payson City Council with the idea of an annual Scottish festival. The event has grown into a very well known and popular gathering. Mrs. Helen Scott was instrumental in the growth and success in the early years.
After a semester of teaching at Snow College, Mr. Chatwin was awarded a scholarship and assistant teaching position at BYU where he completed a Master of Music degree. In 1988 he was recruited to teach band at a small school in southern Alberta, Canada. The Spirit of Alberta Marching Band also included a bagpipe section, (again with the help of Mr. Barclay). The band performed in local events, military tattoos, and marching band field show competitions in Idaho and Utah. The band was honored to represent Canada on its 125 birthday at the Estes Park, Colorado, Scottish Festival.
In 2002, Mr. Chatwin was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal for service to Canada, the Province of Alberta, and his community.
Mr. Chatwin retired in 2004, after forty years of music teaching. He and Heidy raised six children, all of whom are married. Four live in Utah and Idaho, and two in Alberta. He lives with his wife in the community of Magrath, in Alberta, Canada.
