Conn-Selmer Institute Connect Faculty

Vice President of Education
Chief Education Officer
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Board of Directors, American Band College
• Founder, Attitude Concepts for Today
• Co-author, "Essential Elements" Band Method
• Author, GIA Publications

Senior Educational Consultant
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Director of Bands, Emeritus, Carmel High School (IN)
• Indiana Bandmasters Association “Bandmaster of the Year” 1998-99
• Music for All Hall of Fame 2015
• Freelance composer and arranger
• Composer for Hal Leonard
• Chief Judge, Bands of America

Senior Educational Consultant
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Professor Emerita, University Of Texas-Austin
• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Co-author, “Masterworks Studies” Series, Hal Leonard
• Author, “The Composer’s Legacy: Conductors on Conducting for Wind Band,” GIA
• Guest conductor and lecture in 47 states, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong, and Australia

Senior Educational Consultant
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Director of Bands, Coordinator of Fine Arts (Retired)
• L.V. Berkner High School (TX)
• Bands of America Hall of Fame 2016
• Texas Bandmaster of the Year 2019
• Music Education faculty at Southern Methodist University, Oklahoma State University, Sam Houston State University
• Guest conductor/clinician across the United States, Canada, South America, Singapore, China, South Africa, Europe, The Philippines

Senior Educational Consultant
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Chair, University of Southern California Department of Conducting
• Guest appearances and All-State ensemble conductor throughout the world
• Former Vice President, New England Conservatory of Music
• Former Dean, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University

Senior Educational Consultant
Educational Communications Specialist
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Director of Bands, Tapp Middle School (GA)
• Author and Contributing Editor, “The Instrumentalist”
• Contributing Author, “Teaching Music Through Performance”
• National Band Association Citation of Excellence 2003, 2008, 2015
• Educational Clinician/Consultant, Hal Leonard

Senior Educational Consultant
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Retired Supervisor of Instrumental Music for the Cobb County School District (GA)
• Senior Education Consultant and Chief Judge for Bands of America
• Executive Director, Music Administration Collaborative
• Judge Education Director for Drum Corps International
• Bands of America Hall of Fame 2006

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
International Music Education Summit

• Host and Producer of the Music Ed Mentor Podcast
• Specialist in delivering online instruction in music
• Columnist, SBO Magazine
• Author, “The Music Educator’s Guide to Thrive”
• K-8 Music Educator
• Nationally and internationally recognized speaker

Director of Jazz Studies
Virginia Commonwealth University

• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Associate Jazz Editor, International Trombone Association Journal
• Author, “Jazz Improvisation: Practical Approaches to Grading,” Meredith Music
• Co-Editor and Contributing Author, “Teaching Jazz: A Course of Study” (NAfME)
• Recipient, VCU Faculty Award of Excellence 2015

Director of Bands
Fayette County High School

• Four-time recipient, National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence
• 2017-2018 NAfME National Band Director of the Year
• Former board member, Alabama Bandmasters Association
• Invitational performances include Georgia Music Educators Association, Kennesaw State University Concert Band Festival
• Board of Directors, Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic, Troy University

Chief Executive Officer
Quadrant Research

• Founder and Chairman, Music For All Foundation
• Founder and CEO, VH1Save The Music
• Emmy and Peabody Awards winner for work in music advocacy
• Collaborate with Michael Kamen and Richard Dreyfus to create the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
• Governance Chair of the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership

Director of Bands
The Westminster School

• Founding Director and Director Emeritus, Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps
• Former Brass Coordinator, Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps
• Currently Pedagogy Coordinator, Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps
• Member, Drum Corps International Hall of Fame
• Frequent presenter at music conferences including the Midwest Clinic.

Professional Violinist
Faculty Member, Manhattan School of Music

• Grammy Award nominee
• Crossover artist performing jazz, R&B, Latin, classical, blues, country, pop, African
• Orchestral appearances include the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, the Atlanta Symphony, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, and the Chicago Sinfonietta
• Guest solo appearances with Mary J. Blige, the late Aretha Franklin, Joe Jackson, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton, Special EFX, among others

Chair of Music Education
Associate Director of Bands
Assistant Professor of Music
Lawrence University

• Founder, Upbeat Global
• Conducting faculty, American Band College
• Presenter on multiple topics including leadership, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive culture
• International presenter on four continents and in locations including Singapore, Malaysia, Greece, Australia, and Cyprus
• Public school music teacher of 15 years prior to collegiate appointment

Director of Orchestral Studies
Associate Professor of Conducting
Baldwin Wallace University

• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Contributing editor, “Essential Elements for Strings,” Hal Leonard
• Artist, D’Addario Orchestral Strings
• Former National American String Teachers Association's K-12 Committee Chair

Orchestra Director
Waubonsie Valley High School

• Violinist with the Krizalido Piano Trio
• Former director, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
• Current director, Kaneland Youth Orchestra
• Named one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” by SBO Magazine in 2011
• Co-author of "Rock Philharmonic: Classic Rock Songs for the String Orchestra," published by Alfred

Assistant Director of Fine Arts, Instrumental Music
Rock Round ISD

• Former Director of Bands, Cedar Ridge HS (TX)
• Adjudicator, Bands Of America
• Grammy Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist
• Director, Central Texas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
• Music For All Symposium Presenter 2016-present

Associate Director of Music Education
Western Michigan College

• Director of Instrumnetal Music Education, WMU
• Conductor, WMU Concert Band
• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Conductor, Interlochen Arts Camp
• Chair, CNAfME, Michigan Chapter
• Chair, National Band Association, Michigan Chapter

Director of Music Programs
Harlingen CISD

• Teacher Of The Year, Harlingen HS (TX)
• Listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers
• Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary High School Band Program, 2011
• Adjudicator, Bands of America and Drum Corps International
• Harlingen HS Jazz Band appearances include The Midwest Clinic (twice) and Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis

Dean, College of Arts (Retired)
University of Central Oklahoma

• Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
• Conductor of state and regional orchestras across the U.S.
• Conducting appearances throughout the world
• Honors include Oklahoma Music Educators Hall of Fame, University of Oklahoma School of Music Distinguished Alumni Fellow, Oklahoma String Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Arts Award for Arts and Education, Oklahoma Music Educators Association Administrator of the Year

Elementary Music Coach
Metro Nashville Public Schools

• 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year, Madison Middle School
• Music Teacher of Excellence Award presented by the Country Music Association Foundation, 2016, 2018, 2019
• 2016 Metro Nashville Public Schools Blue Ribbon Teacher
• Inaugural honoree, Tennessee Music Educators Association Teacher Spotlight in General Music
• Media appearances include the ABC News Special “Teachers Rock” and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt

Fine Arts Coordinator, Instructor of Music
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

• 2019 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2017 ASTA Elizabeth A. H. Green Award
• Board appointments include American String Teachers Association, El Sistema USA, and Creative Strings, Inc
• Former President, North Carolina chapter of ASTA
• Former Chair, NCMEA Orchestra Section

Director of Bands
Kansas State University

• Conductor for All-State and Honor bands in the United States, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand
• Sudler Trophy Award Winner, Kansas State Marching Band, 2015
• Adjunct Faculty, American Band College
• Former member, Music Education Journal Editorial Board
• Contributing author, Teaching Music Through performance In Band, GIA Publications

Musical Director, Co-Founder and Conductor
Cobb Wind Symphony

• Member, American Bandmasters Association
• Member, Bands of America Hall of Fame
• Midwest Music Advisory Committee, 2014
• Phi Beta Mu Georgia Bandmasters Hall of Fame
• Recipient, Edwin Franco Goldman Award, ASBDA

Founding Principal
Laurie Schell Associates/ElevateArtsEd

• Inaugural Director of Music Makes Us 2012-2017)
• Former Executive Director, California Alliance for Arts Education
• Recognized by the NAMM Foundation, California State PTA, Durfee Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Tennessee Arts
Academy, National Music Council, and Music for All
• Board Member, Save the Music Foundation
• Founding member, ArtsEd Tennessee

Director of Fine Arts
Gwinnett County Public Schools

• Administrator for largest school system in Georgia with 550 fine arts teachers and 150,000+ students involved in the arts
• Partnerships include the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, The Georgia Ballet, The Georgia Dance Conservatory, The Atlanta Shakespeare Company
• 2014 Teacher of the Year in Geogia
• 2013 Marietta High School Teacher of the Year
• Multiple board appointments that focus on program development for the advancement of arts education

Director of Bands and Performing Arts Chair (Retired)
Dobson High School

• Co-Founder, Synergy Leadership Endeavors
• Advisory Committee, Midwest Clinic
• Selection Committee, Country Music Association Music Teacher of Excellence
• Former member, Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association Board
• Recipient of the Arizona State University School of Music Alumni Award

Professor, Dept. Vice Chair
Dept. of Music, UCLA

• Head of the Music Education Department, UCLA
• Seven years in instrumental music instruction, Los Angeles and Orange County Schools
• Low Brass Instructor, Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts
• Author, Medical Problems of Performing Artists published in the Southeastern Journal of Music Education
• Editorial Board, Journal of Music Teacher Education

President / CEO
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Executive Vice President of Guitar Center
• Former President of Music & Arts and Woodwind & Brasswind
• Co-founder Music123.com
• Family business, Zapf Music, founded in 1928 in Philadelphia

Managing Director, Division of Education
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• NAMM Fly-in Delegate, Indiana/Michigan since 2014
• Appointed to Indiana Arts Education Network Steering Committee since 2015
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Elkhart Jazz Festival, 2016
• Distinguished Service Award from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Band Directors Consortium, 2016
• Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement from the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, 2018

Vice President of Sales, U.S. & Canada
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Past Director, Sales and Marketing, Strings and Accessories for Conn-Selmer, Inc.
• Former Product Manager, Eastman Music Company
• Executive MBA from Arizona State University
• Former Vice President of Sales and Marketing, JonPaul Bows

Director of Educational Programs
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
• Appearances include 38 of the United States and internationally in Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore
• Blue Ribbon Committee Member to write National Standards for Marching Band on behalf of NAfME
• Adjudicator for Winter Guard International, Bands of America, and Drum Corps International
• Member, DCI Judge Liaison Team for the music caption

Category Manager, Educational Percussion
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Director of Bands, Lake Central High School (IN)
• Percussion Arranger, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps 2011-2017
• Percussion Arranger, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps 2011-2017
• Music Instructor, Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002-2006
• Percussion Arranger, Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, 2000-2001

Educational Support Manager, Central Region
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Retired Director of Bands and Chairman of the Performing Arts Department at Lawrence Central High School (IN)
• Adjudicator for Winter Guard International, Bands of America, and Drum Corps International
• Music Director, Greenwood Community Band
• 2000 Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame Inductee, 2018
• Bands of America Hall of Fame Inductee, 2018

Educational Support Manager, West Region
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Director of Bands, Snow College (UT)
• Former Associate Director of Bands, California State University, Fresno
• Past President, NAfME Western Division
• Recipient, Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor
• Recipient, National Band Association Citation for Excellence (two occasions)

Educational Support Manager, Northeastern Region
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Former Director of Orchestras, Williamsport Area HS (PA) and Messiah College
• Kennedy Center Fellow and Finalist for Disney “Teacher of the Year”
• Former String Chairman, International Association of Jazz Educators
• Guest Conductor for All-State Orchestras in Virgina, Florida, Rhode Island, Vermond, and West Virginia
• Conducting appearances with Malaysian Philharmonic and New World Symphony

Educational Support Manager, Southwest Region
Conn-Selmer, Inc.

• Director of Performing and Visual Arts. Spring (TX) Independent School District (Retired)
• Former band director and campus administrator. Spring ISD
• Distinguished Alumnus in Music Education, Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, 2014
• Former President, Texas Music Administrators Conference
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Texas Bandmasters Association

Coordinator of Performing Arts
Fulton County Board of Education

• Artistic Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble
• Associate Director, Tara Winds
• Sudler Flag of Honor recipient
• National Band Association Citation of Excellence Award (nine occasions)
• Member, American Bandmasters Association

Director of Bands
Claudia Taylor Johnson High School

• Brass Caption Manager, Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps
• Former staff member, Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps
• Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year, 2014
• John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield recipient, 2014

Composer/Arranger
Director of Band Publications
Hal Leonard Corporation

• Winner of multiple ASCAP awards
• High demand as clinician and conductor
• Former band director

• Founder of the three-time Grammy-nominated ensemble, Mariachi Sol de Mexico®
• Performed for five US Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama
• Hispanic Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Latinos in America
• Performs to sold-out venues across the world including Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, China and North Korea
• Conn-Selmer performing artist solely responsible for developing the Bach Stradivarius LR19043B Trumpet
• Collaborates with school districts throughout the country building standards-based mariachi programs

Fine Arts Specialist
Forsyth County Schools

• Forsyth County Arts Alliance, Executive Committee
• Former Director of Bands, Otwell Middle School (GA)
• Former Adjunct Professor of Flute and Music Education, University of North Georgia
• Former Georgia Governor's Honors Program Assistant Music Director and Instructor

Adjunct Professor
Columbia College & University of South Carolina

• Co-author, “Essential Elements for Strings,” published by Hal Leonard
• Recipient, Merle J. Isaac Lifetime Achievement Award
• Recipient, Order of the Silver Crescent, presented by South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges, 1999
• South Carolina Music Educators Association Hall of Fame
• Editorial Board, Music Educators Journal

Professor of Music
Ohio State University

• Former President, American String Teachers Association
• Professional appearances 47 states, Canada, Asia, and throughout Europe
• Co-author, “Essential Elements for Strings,” published by Hal Leonard
• Co-author, “Strategies for Teaching Strings: Building A Successful School Orchestra Program”
• 2002-2003 Distinguished Scholar Award, Ohio State University

Program Director / Outreach Chair
Music Foundation of Greater Naples

• Founder and Program Director of the “MusicScores! Pre-K Literacy/Violin Program”
• Performance appearances in Australia, New Zealand, Washington, D.C. and three times in Carnegie Hall.
• Florida Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year, 1995
• Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory’s Alumni Achievement Award, 1997
• Co-author, “American String Teachers Orchestra Curriculum Guide”

Associate Professor of Music
Lake Forrest College

• Former K-12 instrumental music in Ohio and Michigan
• Author, “Music Education and Social Emotional Learning: The Heart of Teaching Music”
• Teaches graduate courses on Musical Social Emotional Learning at VanderCook College of Music
• Formerly held positions at Adrian College and Concordia College Ann Arbor
• Member, American Educational Research Association

Composer, Author, Clinician
American String Teachers Association

• University of Michigan School of Music Hall of Fame, 2013
• Founder, Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic
• Conducting appearances include Interlochen, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Orchestras, Oakland Youth Orchestra, the Georgia All-State, the Kentucky All-State, South Carolina All-State, Tennessee All-State, California All-State, and the Queensland Honour Ensemble Programs
• Resident Conductor, Wintergrass Festival, Seattle

Director
Tremper Golden Strings

• Former member of Strings Attached, featuring Ira Sullivan
• Relationship with Tremper Golden Strings includes being a member, clinician, and assistant director
• Certified Suzuki instructor
• International appearances include Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico

Supervisor, Performing Arts
Pinellas County Schools

• Past President, Florida Music Educators Association, Past President Florida School Music Association
• Clinician, Presenter, Keynote Speaker on Advocacy, Government Relations, Leadership, Innovation
• Member of NAfME Council of Program Leaders
• Past Chair of NAfME Council for Innovations
• Florida Music Education Association Hall of Fame Member

Head of Music
University of Illinois at Chicago

• Former Professor and Daniel J. Perrino Chair in Music Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Former President of the American String Teachers Association, 1998-2000
• Guest conductor for all-state and regional honors youth orchestras throughout Asia, Australia, and North America
• Contributing author, the American String Teacher, the Music Educators Journal, and the Journal of Research in Music Education
• Co-director, “Establishing Identity: LGBTQ Studies & Music Education”

Professor, Music Education
Area Coordinator, Strings
Co-Chair of Performance
Duquesne University

• Author of “Yes You Can! A Survival Guide for Teaching Strings” (Carl Fischer)
• Co-author of “Sound Innovations: Creative Warm-ups-Exercises for Intonation, Rhythm, Bowing, and Creativity” (Alfred)
• Lead author of “ASTA String Curriculum: Standards, Goals, Learning Sequences for Essential Skills and Knowledge in K-12 String Programs” (ASTA)
• Conference appearances include ASTA, NAfME, and Society for Ethnomusicology
• Contributed articles and chapters for scholarly publications, including handbooks and encyclopedias published by Oxford University Press and SAGE publications