Gary Walters

Gary Walters

(October 5, 1954 - Present)

Gary Walters, renowned jazz pianist and composer living in Indianapolis and performing throughout the United States, grew up on Indianapolis’ Eastside and has been playing piano since elementary school. He concentrated more on percussion at Howe High School in Indianapolis and Ball State University, because he wanted to play in the school bands. He received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Ball State in percussion, with a minor in classical piano. After graduation, he auditioned for several small orchestras but found too many people competing for too few percussion jobs, so he went back to piano full time. He taught middle school band and general music in the early years. He co-owned a small recording studio, but after a few years trying to make the studio part work, he sold his interest and devoted his efforts to performing and recording. 

Walters returned to teaching in 2000 at Butler University, DePauw University and Indiana-Purdue University. By 2004 he limited his teachings to Butler University as an adjunct professor of Applied Jazz Piano, leading jazz combos, the jazz band plus a couple of years teaching jazz theory and jazz history. In 2004 he also began work to complete a master’s degree in composition, studying with Dr. Michael Schelle at Butler, completing the degree in 2008.   

“I have found him to be one of the most generous and nurturing educators I have worked with,” Butler graduate Eli Uttal-Veroff said. “He treats every one of his students like family. Gary also has a special way of getting his students to find ways to answer their own question and give themselves ownership of their education.”  One of the things Walters has been able to do as a teacher is model how to conduct a career. He approaches work as a musician and not as someone who plays one particular style.!Over the years, Walters has become well known in Indiana music circles for his variety of work – with the jazz quintet Small Talk; as a sideman for jazz musician Cathy Morris and acoustic performer Carrie Newcomer; a founding member of The Icarus Ensemble; playing pops concerts with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; with the Feinstein 

Foundation’s Great American Songbook competition; and as a solo performer. He released his first solo CD Moments in Time in 2010; his second solo CD The Way Through in 2017, and his piano trio recording The Covid Sessions in 2021. He retired from teaching in May of 2019, to give himself time to practice, perform and compose, and with the outlook of many more wonderful musical experiences in the years ahead.