E.L. Lancaster

E. L. Lancaster was destined to become a teacher.  His mother was a school teacher, and his years of piano lessons led him to major in music education in college.  He continued his studies, receiving his masters and doctoral degrees, and began teaching at the college level.  He taught at the University of Oklahoma for 18 years where he established the masters and doctoral degree programs in piano pedagogy.  During that time, he and his wife, Gayle Kowalchyk, ran a successful piano studio.  When he was approached by Morty Manus, president of Alfred Music Publishing, to work part-time as an editor for the Masterworks catalog, he was excited to be involved with the company.  Eventually, he resigned from his university position, and he and Gayle moved to Los Angeles where he began working full-time for Alfred as a Senior Vice President and Keyboard-Editor-in-Chief.  He and his wife continue to work and write together for the company, co-authoring publications such as Alfred’s Premier Piano Course and Piano for Busy Teens.