Biography:

Gary Robert Buchanan serves with AEF & OSC as Vice President of Research, Executive Secretary, Navigator for the OSC, and sits on the following AEF & OSC Committees: Cartography, Education, Epigraphy, Motion Picture & Video, Musicology and Research. He is also the Senior Editor of the AEF & OSC's online newsletter, "The Compass Rose."

Gary Robert Buchanan assumed his position as Founding Conductor with the Foundation Orchestra in 1988 (see www.foundationorchestra.org). Since that time he has remained the Principal Conductor, Composer & Arranger, presenting concerts each year and supervising recording sessions of the FO for documentary films produced by the Andean Explorers Foundation & Ocean Sailing Club (AEF & OSC). Foundation film scores to date have included Royal Roads To Discovery, Mysteries of the Essenes of Old Israel, The Gran Vilaya Expeditions, The Feathered Serpent III-Ophir Expedition and Secrets from the High Andes of Peru.

When the Foundation Orchestra Association (FOA) was formed in the Spring of 2001, Maestro Buchanan was appointed Music Director, and he immediately began expanding the orchestra’s size, community outreach, number of concerts and production of CDs, Videos and DVDs. He was also instrumental in obtaining FO’s first Nevada Arts Council & National Endowments for the Arts grant for the 2002-2003 season and in associating FOA with the American Symphony League.

Buchanan moved to Reno in 1979, at which time he began his work with AEF & OSC. In the AEF & OSC, he also serves as Foundation Musicologist and Co-Director of the Department of Epigraphy, along with internationally celebrated explorer and author, Gene Savoy.

Buchanan has served on several expeditions and research trips to the Amazonas region of Peru, the Middle East, Britain, Oceania and Australia, recording and collecting materials in all areas. In 1989 the Foundation, under Buchanan's direction made full-size replicas of inscribed "tablets" found in the Chachapoyas area of Peru, these indicating Semitic epigraphic traces. His other contributions include editorial assistance and cartographic artwork for reports and monographs, including articles in Time-Life Books, in which the AEF & OSC was featured. In 1997-98 Buchanan helped build in Lima, Peru, the ancient replicate vessel, the Feathered Serpent III-Ophir, and served as navigator on its voyages to Hawaii and the South pacific. That last voyage made international headlines when the FS III broke up during a hurricane and left the crew ship-wrecked for almost two days in dangerous waters.

Buchanan is the recipient of the AEF & OSC's Citation of Merit (for composing the AEF & OSC's anthem, "The Spirit of Exploration"), the Seaman's Medal and the Explorer's Medal.

Activity:

Composer and Founding Conductor (1988) The Foundation Orchestra, focussing upon the creation and performance of "multi-cultural" and cross-cultural, ethnic music for full orchestra. Also premieres of new works, primarily by composers of all the Americas

Performance :

Numerous publications and performances, globally, beginning in 1965.
Since 1988 The Foundation Orchestra, and others, have premiered dozens of compositions for full orchestra.
Works are variously published:
" Sweets" for Woodwind Quintet, Galaxy Music Corp./E.C. Schirmer
Other publishers: The Music Guild, 16026 S. Virginia, Reno Nevada 89521
The International Community of Christ, 643 Ralston St., Reno, Nevada 89503

AWF Articles:

An Exclusive interview with Gary Robert Buchanan about his work and the Annual FOA Composition Competition by Leda Omran