AMEA 2018 Clinicians · 2017. 12. 28. · AMEA 2018 Clinicians American Baritone Terrance Brown resides in Florence, Alabama. He is a native of West Blocton, Alabama. Dr. Brown was

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Deanna Bell is the music teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, conductor of the Birmingham Wind Ensemble, and an

adjunct music professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has worked in Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia

teaching elementary music, choir, and band in all grade levels from kindergarten to college. She earned her Bachelor of Science

in Music Education from The University of Alabama and her Master of Music Education from Samford University. In 2010,

Deanna was awarded National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music. Deanna received Orff Levels I, II,

and III Certification from Samford University and Kodaly Levels I and II Certification from The University of Montevallo. She

serves on the Alabama Kodaly Educators Board, the Executive Board for the Alabama Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk

Association, and is a District 3 Chair for the Alabama Music Educators Association. Deanna is the 2016-2017 Elementary

Teacher of the Year for Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Lorelei Batislaong is a 14-year veteran of the elementary music classroom. She served on the AOSA National Board of Trusteesas Region III Representative and is the State Director of NAfME - Texas. Along with presenting sessions and clinics at the local,state, and national level, she is currently working on a Ph.D. in Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas and is anadjunct professor at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. In her spare time, she gigs around Austin playing thebass ukulele in an all-girl folk band.

Dr. Travis Baird, violist, has enjoyed solo performances in England, Austria, Canada, and around the United States in a widevariety of venues. Dr. Baird is a Performance Coach and Musician Health Specialist, working with musicians through one-on-one coaching and group workshops. He holds degrees in viola performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns HopkinsUniversity, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Baird is a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and he incorporates principles of mindfulness and body awareness into his music teaching. When he’s not coaching, teaching,or performing, you can find him hiking on a mountain trail or sipping coffee at his favorite local coffee shop.

Debbie Baker is a retired band director with 30 years of teaching and travel experience. She has traveled with middle, high school,and collegiate ensembles to New York City, Hawaii, San Francisco, Orlando, Atlanta, the French Riviera, and more. She loves totravel and share travel adventures with student musicians.

Nancy H. Barry is Professor of Music Education in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Auburn University. Sheearned the Master's degree and Ph.D. in music education, and certificates in Electronic Music and Computers in Music fromFlorida State University. Barry has published in such journals as Arts and Learning, Psychology of Music, Journal of Music Teacher

Education, Contributions to Music Education, UPDATE, and Bulletin of Research in Music Education, and is a frequent presenter atnational and international professional conferences. Barry is an active member of professional organizations such as NAfMEand the College Music Society and currently serves as National College Music Society Secretary.

AMEA 2018 Clinicians

Tiffany Bostic-Brown currently serves on the faculty at the University of North Alabama as Assistant Professor of Voice andOpera Theater Stage Director. She was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and theMaster of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees with emphasis in Vocal Performance and Music History from LouisianaState University. She also serves at Vice President for the non-profit Walk with Me Foundation, Inc., and maintains an active careeras a soprano soloist throughout the region and nationally.

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Joe H. Brashier has been Director of Bands at Valdosta State University since 1998. Prior to this he taught at Rutgers University

and Appalachian State University. A native of Clinton, Mississippi, he holds degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi

and University of Kansas. At Kansas he studied conducting with Zuohuang Chen and later with Mohiro Okabe of the Toho

Gakwen School. Dr. Brashier has served as a clinician throughout the United States, Guam, Canada, Australia, Europe, and

China. His wife and daughters are all double reeds players, while Brashier’s weapon of choice is a Babolat Pure Drive tennis racket.


American Baritone Terrance Brown resides in Florence, Alabama. He is a native of West Blocton, Alabama. Dr. Brown wasawarded a Bachelor of Music degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and Master of Music and Doctor ofMusical Arts degrees from Louisiana State University. Dr. Brown has quickly made a name for himself as a versatile singer andconductor. Dr. Brown serves as Chair, Department of Music at the University of North Alabama.

Steve Campbell is a drummer, educator and musical director of Dancing Drum. For thelast 15 years, he has been leading anddeveloping drumming programs in hundreds of schools all across the country. His 20 years of world percussion studies combinedwith his education degree led him to develop a highly effective approach to successfully integrate drumming programs into K-8 music classrooms. Steve has co-authored 5 curriculum publications and presented interactive drumming sessions at numerousstate music education conferences across the United States, the NAfME In-Service Conference and at the Turnaround ArtsSummer Institute for the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities.

Shane Colquhoun is the band director at Loachoapoka High School in Loachapoka, Alabama. He is also a graduate student atAuburn University where he is pursing his PhD in music education.

Joseph Brennan is the director of the string program at Haverford Middle and High Schools, located in suburban Philadelphia;a position he has held for the past 30 years. He directs five orchestras at the secondary level and teaches general music at theMiddle School. In addition to his teaching duties, Joe is the Music Department Co-Chair for the School District of HaverfordTownship. While at Haverford, Joe has brought many string chamber ensembles and orchestras to perform at PennsylvaniaMusic Educators Association (PMEA) annual state conventions. In 2006, Joe was recognized by PMEA with the Citation ofExcellence Award. The Haverford High School Orchestra has participated in a “Side- by-Side” rehearsal and performance withthe Philadelphia Orchestra as well as having represented the State of Pennsylvania by performing in America’s 400th Anniversary,a national event, with President Bush in attendance, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first permanent Englishsettlement in the US, namely Jamestown. Joe received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from TempleUniversity studying violin with Julian Meyer while also playing regularly in ensembles on trumpet. Joe is currently the ImmediatePast-President of the Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). He is also thedirector of the Chamber Strings at Montgomery County Community College. He has presented sessions at ASTA nationalconferences, MidWest Clinics, NafME conferences, as well as state conferences. Joe continues to be a guest conductor andclinician for various string festivals. He has twice been chosen to attend the Juilliard School’s “Conductors Workshop for MusicEducators”. Joe lives in Hainesport, New Jersey with his wife and children and enjoys doing many DIY homeowner projects.Since being a kidney donor, Joe, has been an advocate for organ donor awareness.

David Caddell has taught middle school band in Alabama public schools for thirteen years. He is currently completing his twelfthyear of service at Echols Middle School where he teaches Beginning, Concert, and Symphonic Bands and the Echols Chorus.His bands have received superior ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment and haveperformed in Atlanta, Gatlinburg, and Orlando. Mr. Caddell serves as a mentor and cooperating teacher to undergraduate musiceducation students from The University of Alabama. Mr. Caddell holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Mastersof Arts in Music Education from The University of Alabama. His professional affiliations incude memberships in the NationalAssociation for Music Education, National Bandmasters Association, the Alabama Bandmasters Association and the AlabamaVocal Association. Mr. Caddell currently resides in his hometown, Tuscaloosa.


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All-State Jazz Band Clinician

Dr. Mark Foster is the band director at Mountain Brook Junior High School in Birmingham, Alabama and has taught band for

27 years. He previously taught in the Jefferson County School System as band director at Gardendale High School and assistant

band director at Hueytown High School. Bands under his leadership have consistently earned superior ratings and best-in-class

awards at the district, state, and regional levels. Dr. Foster holds the Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Education

degrees from The University of Alabama. He also holds National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional

Teaching Standards. He has served as guest honor band clinician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of

Montevallo, the University of Georgia, and Mobile County. As a trombone player, he has performed with the Temptations, The

O’Jays, the Alabama Ballet Orchestra, the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He is a

member of Birmingham’s Superjazz Big Band and is also a founding member of the Renaissance Trombone Ensemble in

Birmingham, Alabama.

Ellary Draper is Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at The University of Alabama. She holds degrees in music education fromWestminster Choir College (BM), music therapy from Florida State University (MM), and music and human learning from TheUniversity of Texas at Austin (PhD). Prior to attending The University of Texas, Dr. Draper worked as a music therapist witha variety of ages and populations outside of Houston. She also has experience as an elementary general music teacher. Dr.Draper’s research interests are in the areas of children with disabilities, particularly in inclusive music classrooms. Currently, sheserves as the Chair of Special Education for the Alabama Music Educators Association and Chair for the Standards of ClinicalPractice Committee for the American Music Therapy Association. A regular presenter at national and regional music therapyand music education conferences, her research is also published in the Journal of Music Therapy, Journal of Research in Music Education,

Music Educators Journal, UPDATE: applications of Research in Music Education, General Music Today, and Ala Breve.

Stacy Daniels is the choral director at Clay-Chalkville High in Clay, Alabama where he oversees a program of over 120 studentsand conducts the Chamber, Women’s, and Concert Choirs. Stacy received his Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education andVocal Performance from the University of Montevallo. During his time at Montevallo he served in multiple capacities whichincluded: Vice President and President of the Montevallo collegiate chapter of NAfME, and the Vice President/President-electof the Alabama collegiate chapter of NAfME. Stacy is also an accomplished vocalist performing in many opera and musicaltheatre productions. Stacy has been named an Alabama NATS finalist and vocal division winner of the Birmingham MusicClub Scholarship Competition.

Dan Davison is an educator, composer, adjudicator, clinician, and singer from the Pacific Northwest. He has been the choirdirector at Ballou Junior High School in Puyallup, Washington since 1979. Dan's compositions vary widely, from those suitablefor junior high voices, to those written for professional ensembles, and are primarily available from Walton Music and BriLeeMusic. Dan regularly speaks on choral music topics. In particular, his workshops on The Male Changing Voice have beenpresented in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, Alaska, and also in Chicago at the 2011 National ACDA Convention. Mr. Davison has been received numerous awards for his role in music education, including the 1996 State Of Washington ChristaMcAuliffe Educator Of The Year, The Educator Citizen Of The Year in 2010 for Communities In Schools In Puyallup,Washington, and also the "Outstanding Choral Director Award" for 2010 from the Washington chapter of The American ChoralDirector's Association.

Valerie Diaz Leroy joined QuaverMusic.com as a lead trainer in 2015. Before putting on the green Q, she served as a dedicated music

educator for 13 years at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida. She received her B.A. in Vocal Performance from

Boston College, holds Orff Level I & II Certifications and Kodaly Level I. She also has a new-found love for playing the banjo.


Catherine Dwinal taught elementary music in Laconia, New Hampshire from 2010-2014 and was named Technology in Music Education

Organization’s 2014 Teacher of the Year. In 2014, she joined the Quaver Team as Teacher Trainer and Northeast Key Accounts

Representative. A seasoned conference presenter, Catie has presented in several states across the country and is active in music education

and technology groups across the web. She's currently living in Nashville, Tennessee and pursuing her Masters in Curriculum and

Instruction with a Specialty in Digital Teaching and Learning from Kansas State University.


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Alabama Honor Choir Clinician

J.D. Frizzell, a composer, conductor, and baritone, is the Director of Fine Arts and Director of Vocal Music at Briarcrest Christian

School in Memphis, TN. He earned the double Master's in Music Theory/Composition and Conducting from The University of

Southern Mississippi, where he also earned the bachelor's degree in Music History and Literature. Frizzell is ABD as a candidate for

the DMA in Choral Conducting degree at The University of Kentucky. Frizzell, winner of the 2007 Intégrales Composition Contest,

writes music for choir, orchestra, symphonic band, voice, handbells, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. With music published

by many major publishing houses, he has had best sellers throughout the world. Frizzell was chosen by the board of the Tennessee

Music Educators Association as the 2011 Outstanding Young Music Educator. Additionally, he was awarded the Dr. Clair E. Cox Award

for Teaching Excellence. As the Director of Fine Arts at Briarcrest, Frizzell leads a faculty of twelve full time faculty-artists and is

responsible for coordinating curriculum, instruction, and budgets for all of the fine arts programs (K2-12th grade). He also serves as

an advocate and school liaison for all of the visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, dance, theatre, and technical production

programs. As the Director of Vocal Music, he teaches the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and OneVoice. Additionally, Frizzell works

with the middle and elementary school choirs when needed. A leader in the contemporary a cappella movement, Frizzell is the co-

founder and President of The A Cappella Education Association, a nonprofit dedicated to helping groups around the world. His high

school a cappella group, OneVoice, is a SONY Recording Artist. They were the winners of the Macy’s A Cappella Challenge judged

by Pentatonix and contestants on America’s Got Talent. Frizzell is also the Director of Education and Marketing for Camp A Cappella.

Frizzell is active as a presenter, adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. As an active member of TNMEA, NATS, ACDA, and

WTVMEA, he has served in multiple volunteer capacities, including two-time Chairperson of All-West Honor Choir Auditions and

Performances and Choral Festival. He is also the Southern Division ACDA R & S Chair for Men’s Choirs. The board of the Cystic

Fibrosis Foundation named him one of “Memphis’ Finest” for his philanthropic efforts. He lives in Memphis, TN with his wife, Emily,

son, Henry, and dogs, Sally and Ari.


Robert Gillespie, violinist and professor of music, is Chair of Music Education at Ohio State University where he is responsiblefor string teacher training. Ohio State has one of the largest and most extensive string pedagogy degree programs in the nation.Under Dr. Gillespie’s leadership, Ohio State University received the 2015 Institutional String Education Award as the premierstring education university in the country. Dr. Gillespie is a past national President of the American String Teachers Association.He is a frequent guest conductor of All-State, region, and festival orchestras. Dr. Gillespie has appeared in 47 states, Canada, Asia,and throughout Europe. He is co-author of the Hal Leonard string method book series, Essential Elements for Strings, the leadingstring instrument teaching series in the country with sales of over nine million copies. Also he is co-author of the college textStrategies for Teaching Strings: Building A Successful School Orchestra Program, the String Clinics to Go DVD series, and the Teaching Music

Through Performance in Orchestra texts for GIA publications. He received the Distinguished Scholar award for 2002-2003 in theSchool of Music at Ohio State University. In summers, Gillespie directs the OSU String Teacher Workshop, the largeststring/orchestra teacher-training workshop in the country. In Columbus, he conducts the Columbus Symphony Chamber StringsYouth Orchestra. He is a performing violinist in the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra. During 2017, Gillespie is giving stringpedagogy and research presentations, and conducting orchestra performances in Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois,Kansas, Wyoming, Alabama, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana, and Oregon.


Chris Gordon is a professional musician who has spent the last 40 years performing, recording, composing, arranging, producing,publishing or conducting music for advertisements for radio and television, theater productions, industrial films, recordings inthe genres of R&B, as well as jazz big band and small group. He is a four-time author of college and university textbooks andmusical biographies. His published works for jazz ensemble are in the catalog of Kendor Music Publishing and he once composedfor the Tonight Show Band, directed by Doc Severinsen, during the Johnny Carson years. He regularly performs on piano andtrumpet on stages all over the United States backing up groups in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame including: The Temptations,The O’Jays, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Franki Valli & The Four Seasons, Gregg Allman, The Impressions, Mary Wilson ofThe Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, and many more. As a co-founder of The Tuscaloosa Horns, the group withwhich he has performed live on stage those forty years, he has received a Bronze Star on The Walk of Fame at The AlabamaMusic Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia, AL. He has also performed on recordings for The Temptations, Awesome CD, MotownRecords, 2001. Blue Lou Marini’s Big Band, Lew Soloff ’s Big Band project and most recently, he has produced the Steve SampleLegacy Project for JRL-SGS Records in Los Angeles.

Becky Halliday is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Montevallo, where she teaches teacher preparation andmusic education courses. Prior to this appointment, she taught elementary general music in Georgia and Mississippi, and has ledworkshops and clinics throughout the Southeast. In addition, she has presented research findings at regional, national, andinternational conferences. Dr. Halliday earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her BMUS and MMEdfrom The University of Georgia. She is the director of the University of Montevallo Kodály Institute, and serves on the EditorialCommittee of the Music Educators Journal.


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Marvin E. Latimer Jr. is currently Associate Professor, Head of the Music Education Department, and Assistant Director of the

School of Music at the University of Alabama. He received a BME and MME from Wichita State University and a PhD in Music

Education from the University of Kansas. Dr. Latimer taught secondary choral music in Wichita, Kansas and served as Assistant

Professor of Music Education at Wichita State University prior to his appointment at Alabama. In addition to his work in

education, he has been active as Church Choir Director, Community Choir Director, Performer, Music Theater Director and

Producer, Technical Director, and Scenic Designer. He has published research in numerous journals and is a frequent presenter

at state, national, and international music conferences and symposia. Dr. Latimer is Past President of the Alabama Choral

Directors Association and Chair of the Organizational History Subcommittee of the ACDA Research and Publications

Committee.

Jane M. Kuehne, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Music Education in her 13th year at Auburn University where she teachesundergraduate and graduate music education, technology, and lab courses, and supervises graduate research. She earned bachelor’s(1992) and master’s (2000) degrees in music education (with PK-12 certification) from the University of Texas at San Antonioand taught music for 8 years in Texas, in early childhood and K-12 settings, specifically general music, choir, and band. In 2003,she earned a Ph.D. in Music Education at Florida State University. Before teaching at Auburn, she taught music education,technology, and jazz choir at Hartwick College in upstate New York.

Dr. Edward (Ted) C. Hoffman, III, is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Education at the University ofMontevallo where he coordinates the undergraduate music education programs, teaches graduate coursework in the Master ofEducation program, directs tuba/euphonium studies, administers the summer Young Musicians’ Camp, and is faculty advisor tothe University of Montevallo chapter of NAfME-Collegiate. He is a member of the Executive Governing Board of the AlabamaMusic Educators’ Association, State Advisor for AL-NAfME Collegiate, Chair of the Alabama Teacher Education Committee,and serves as the Alabama representative to the National Board of the NAfME Society for Music Education.

Jerell Horton has been the band director at Vestavia Hills since 2006. He is a graduate of Samford University. Prior to hisappointment at Vestavia Hills High School, he served as assistant director at Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School.While at Vestavia Hills, the bands have consistently earned superior rating at District and state concert band festivals as well asthe ABDA festival, the Vestavia Hills Wind Ensemble performed at the 2011 Alabama Music Educators Conference, and theNational Concert Band Festival in 2013. The Vestavia Hills High School Rebel Marching Band performed in the 2010 LondonNew Year’s Day Parade in London, England. The National Band Association recently awarded the National Program ofExcellence Southern Division Blue Ribbon Award to the Vestavia Hills High School band. Mr. Horton has served as an honorband clinician within the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. He is also on staff for the Auburn Summer Marching andLeadership camp and volunteers his service to the Music For All Summer Symposium. Mr. Horton a National Board Certifiedteacher and was recently named to SBO magazine’s 2014 list of 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. Mr. Horton was honoredto serve on 2017 Music for All Tournament of Roses teaching staff. He is married to Monica Horton (also an educator) and theyhave two children, daughter Madina Jaimes (6) and Edward Israel (9 months).

Adriana Janse van Rensburg completed her music studies at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa obtaining the degreesB. Mus (Ed), B. Mus Honors, M. Mus and a doctorate in music education. She also obtained Licentiates from UNISA and theOYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC (London) in piano performance. Her Masters dissertation focused on guided composition forteens that included extensive research and practical application in the teaching field. Her doctoral dissertation focused onSongwriting in Adolescence. She continued her studies at Georgia State University where she obtained a second Masters degreein music education. After 26 years in the classroom teaching elementary, middle, high school and college level students in variouscapacities, she served as Program Manager for a.r.t.s.APS, an initiative in the Fine Arts of Atlanta Public Schools. She formerlyserved on the adjunct faculty of Georgia State University teaching Arts Integration, served on the Education Board of SpiveyHall at Clayton State University and is a member of GMTA, GMEA and The Piano Guild of America. Ongoing activities includefurther research in Critical Thinking in Music and Music Composition in the Classroom. She is the author of several publicationson teaching music composition, currently available on amazon.com. She has also composed several piano solo pieces for beginnerand intermediate students focusing on percussion elements in the piece, coined Snap-Tap-Clap. She presents workshops, lecturesand in-service professional development nationwide. Recent presentations include the Music Teachers Association's (NAfME)Statewide Conferences for Arizona, Hawaii, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Nevada, Kansas, South Carolina and Wisconsin.Several workshops are presented in ongoing collaboration with Arts Access for the State University of Utah.



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Dr. Gregory W. LeFils Jr. is a visiting assistant professor of choral music education at Stetson University. His duties includeteaching music education classes and supervising student teachers. Dr. LeFils holds a Ph.D. in music education from The FloridaState University.


Ian Loeppky has been Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Alabama since the fall of 2003; here,he directs UNA’s two elite choral ensembles and teaches choral conducting, choral techniques, graduate choral literature, and worldmusic. His compositions have been published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing and UNC Jazz Press. He is the founder of theFlorence Camerata, Associate Artistic Director of the Huntsville Community Chorus Association, Artistic Director of KIConcertsbiennial Voices United international festival, and is a frequent contributor to the ACDA Choral Journal and Anacrusis. Under hisdirection, the UNA Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble sing at regularly at local and regional concerts, festivals, andconferences, including AMEA’s.

Darla Meek serves as Music Education Coordinator at Texas A&M University-Commerce, teaching undergraduate and graduateelementary music education classes and supervising student teachers. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education from DallasBaptist University, and a Master of Music (summa cum laude) at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Certified in both OrffSchulwerk and Kodály, Ms Meek presents sessions for teachers at conferences and workshops at the district, state, and nationallevels. Her most recent publication is Journey Around the Globe with Recorder!, published by Sweet Pipes, Inc.

Patrick Moore is the Director of Bands at Houston Baptist University in Houston Texas. At HBU Patrick directs the AthleticBands, percussion and oversees the instrumental department. Patrick is an education endorser of Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets,and Majestic percussion. Patrick Moore is an active percussion performer, educator, arranger, adjudicator and clinician. He is aversatile percussionist with experience in many areas of percussion, from concert to marching to world and many others. He hasperformed at various state Day of Percussion events, and other education conferences. Patrick has done special performanceswith Jeff Queen, Robert W. Smith, The United States Army and Field Band, and at the International Society of Music Educationin Beijing China. Patrick has worked many summer music camps and adjudicated many marching contests and state and solo andensemble festivals. Patrick is affiliated with Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Texas Music Education Association (TMEA), andNational Association for Music Education (NAFME)

Dr. Jamila McWhirter is Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Middle Tennessee State University. She is active as apresenter, clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator throughout the United States. Her music education research has beenpresented nationally on numerous occasions for the NAfME, SMTE, and MTNA. She serves the profession on the nationallevel as a member of the ACDA Education and Communication Committee as well as the NAfME Music Educators Journal AdvisoryCommittee. Her latest publication “A Creative Duet: Mentoring for Emerging Music Educators” is now available through OxfordPublishing.

Joshua Meyer is the K-2 elementary music teacher at Auburn Early Education Center and freelance trumpet instructor in theMontgomery-Auburn area. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he was the recipient of the Henry BarrettMemorial Outstanding Senior Award. While in college, he served the Collegiate Division of AMEA as both Vice-President andPresident, and was actively involved in conducting research on statewide collegiate involvement. Additionally, Mr. Meyer is adrum corps and marching band visual specialist. He has extensive drum corps experience, and currently works as Visual CaptionHead for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to becoming a staff member, he marched five seasons with the BluecoatsDrum & Bugle Corps, winning the DCI World Championships in 2016.


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Brandon Peters is currently in his tenth year as Director of Bands at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, and his eleventh year of

teaching. In 2013, he was named Teacher of the Year for Trussville City Schools. The Trussville City School District has been

named a Best Community for Music Education in America by the NAMM Foundation for the past two years. Mr. Peters is a native

of Jasper, Alabama. Prior to his time in Trussville, Mr. Peters began his teaching career at Tuscaloosa Middle School. His bands

have consistently received superior ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Music Performance Assessment. His bands have

performed in Atlanta, Gatlinburg, and Orlando at both Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. The Honors Band was a guest

ensemble at the 2016 University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival and performed at the 2017 Alabama Music

Educators Association Conference. At HTMS Mr. Peters oversees the entire band program of over 450 students. He conducts

the Honors Band and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginner clarinet, trumpet, trombone,

and tuba. He served on the staff of the Crimson Music Camp at the University of Alabama from 2005 to 2014 and also assists

with the Hewitt-Trussville High School Marching Husky Band. He has guest conducted honor bands throughout the region. Mr.

Peters holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance, and a Master of Arts in

Music Education from the University of Alabama. At UA he was a member of the performing wind bands as well as the “Million

Dollar Band” and studied horn with Skip Snead. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music

Education, National Band Association, Alabama Music Educators Association, and the Alabama Bandmasters Association.

He currently resides in Trussville with his wife, Jenni, who is a District Literacy Coach.


Dr. Michael Pendowski is the Director of the Jazz and Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Auburn University. Previously hehas taught at Eastman School of Music, VanderCook College of Music, Northwestern University, DePaul University, and HarperCommunity College. His professional career has included composing movie scores, industrial and commercial music, video gamemusic tracks and has numerous published compositions. He has appeared as a performer and composer throughout North andSouth America, Europe, and Japan, and has collaborated on over twenty albums. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Musicwith a doctorate in Jazz and Contemporary Media, and also holds degrees in Conducting and Music Education fromNorthwestern University. Mr. Pendowski has worked extensively as a freelance performer, appearing with Natalie Cole, JohnnyMathis, Aretha Franklin, Carol Lawrence, George Shearing, Ray Charles, the Four Freshmen, and The Jazz Orchestra of America.In addition to these professional activities, he is also a member of N.A.R.A.S, and has served on its board of governors. Lastsummer he was the featured jazz artist and conductor at the Campina Music Festival in Brazil.

Dr. Sean P. Murray is an Associate Professor of Music and director of bands at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Hisresponsibilities include directing the UAB “Marching Blazers”, University Wind Symphony, teaching undergraduate classes inconducting and music education, and coordinating all aspects of UAB’s comprehensive university bands program. Dr. Murrayearned a Ph.D. in music education from The Florida State University. He also earned his Master of Music Education and Bachelorof Music Education degree from The Florida State University College of Music. He was appointed to the faculty at UAB in 2017.

Patty Nelson is a life long music teacher. She has taught elementary music in the public school system, taught private piano andorgan lessons, and is proud of the over 30 years she has served several churches leading and teaching children’s choirs. She hasalso taught teacher certification and classroom excellence at the college level for education majors, and also supervised studentteachers in the school of music. Patty holds a BA in Piano from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX., Master of Church Musicfrom Southwestern Theological Seminary, and an Education Doctorate, in Curriculum and Instruction, from Baylor University.She holds a current Music Education Teacher Certificate in Texas and is Orff Certified. Patty has been scoring edTPA forPearson since spring 2014 and has successfully scored over 100 portfolios.

Dr. Andy Nevala, Director of Jazz Studies at JSU, directs the Downbeat Award Winning Jazz Ensemble I (2015), Jazz EnsembleIII, Jazz Ensemble IV, The Latin Ensemble, oversees the Jazz Combo program, produces the annual Jazz Festival (in it's 7th year),and teaches several private jazz students. Dr. Nevala has been recognized by Downbeat magazine on 10 different occasions,winning individual Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2001,2002, 2015). He is widely in demand as guest conductor and clinician, conducting the 2010 Campbell Union District MusicFestival Jazz Ensemble in San Jose, CA, serving as a clinician at the Delta College Jazz Festival (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), theFolsom High School Jazz Festival (2008, 2010), the CMEA Hanford Jazz Festival (2009), the Sacramento State University JazzFestival (2008, 2009), the Manteca High School Combo Festival (2010), The Boise State University Gene Harris Jazz Festival(2003, 2008), the Casper College Jazz Festival (2007), the Rome, GA District 7 Jazz Festival (2012,2013), and was the 2013Alabama Music Educators Association Gold All-State Jazz Ensemble Director.



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David Pryor began his 29th year of teaching during 2017-2018 school year. He is presently the Director of Music at St. Michael Catholic

High School in Fairhope. He has taught in Louisiana, Missouri and Alabama and is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, La.

He studied conducting under Dr. Lacey Powell, Dr. Joseph Hebert and the Dr. Joe Barry Mullins. He served as Director of Bands at

McGill-Toolen Catholic High School from 1989-1994, Music Director at St. Dominic High School in O’Fallon, MO from 1994-97 and

in the spring of 1997 was named Music Director at Faith Academy in Mobile. He directed all choral ensembles and began what was

recognized as one of the top band programs in the state of Alabama. The program added ensembles and was awarded the first Superior

Rating ever awarded to the group at the Alabama Vocal Association under his direction. The choral program grew from 70 to nearly 150

students in just three years. In the fall 0f 2000 Mr. Pryor was officially named Director of Instrumental Music and Music Department

Chairman. In August of 2016, Mr. Pryor became the Director of Music at the new Catholic High School, St. Michael in Fairhope. Under

his leadership, the Catholic Middle School Band Program grew from 15 to 51 band members in just the first year. The high school wind

ensemble performed for the first time at the District VII Music Performance Assessment and received unanimous superior ratings. Mr.

Pryor has been guest conductor for many district and state honor bands and currently serves as ABA District VII Chairman. Mr. Pryor

is a member of ABA, AMEA, NAfME, NBA and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He was awarded the “Citation of Honor” in 2005 and 2015

from the NBA. He was Faith Academy “Teacher of the Year” in 1998. In April of 2013 Mr. Pryor was awarded the “Award of

Distinction” by the “Fiesta-val” Invitational Music Festivals in Atlanta, GA. In 2016, he was awarded the AMEA Leadership Service

Award. In June 2013 Mr. Pryor and the Faith Academy Band Program were featured in The Instrumentalist Magazine. Mr. Pryor also

served as band chairman for the AISA Band Directors Association from 1998 – 2007. He is happily married to Caroline Pryor and they

have one daughter, Virginia, who attends St. Michael Catholic High School and a member of the St. Michael Band.


Roger Sams retired from the music classroom in 2013 after 31 years of teaching music in public and private schools. He hasserved as adjunct faculty, teaching methods courses and supervising student teachers at Cleveland State University and has beenon the faculty in teacher education programs at the University of St. Thomas, Cleveland State University, Akron University, theUniversity of Montana, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and other venues throughout the US. Roger is a regular presenter atstate, regional, and national conferences, has served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees, and has worked with teachers inCanada, China, Indonesia and India. He currently serves as Director of Publications and Music Education Consultant at Musicis Elementary (www.MusicIsElementary.com). Trained in Gestalt therapy, Roger is interested in the power of choice in the artisticprocess, teaching, and life. He is the co-author of “Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom”with Beth Ann Hepburn. He has published works for children’s choirs in the “Crooked River Choral Project” series and a collectionof rounds and partner songs entitled, “A Round My Heart.”

Leah Seng is in her seventh year as assistant band director at Pizitz Middle School, and her fifteenth year of teaching. A pianistand clarinetist, Mrs. Seng is a native of Chelsea, Alabama. Prior to coming to Pizitz, Mrs. Seng established the band program atColumbiana Middle School (AL). Her bands have been consistently recognized with superior ratings at Alabama’s MusicPerformance Assessment. She served on the staff of the University of Alabama Crimson Music Camp from 2001-2013, and isactive as a guest clinician and conductor for middle school bands throughout the region. Mrs. Seng is also a board member andclarinetist for the Alabama Winds community band. Mrs. Seng holds the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Music Educationfrom the University of Alabama, Master of Music Education from the University of Georgia, and Educational Specialist inMusic Education from the University of Alabama. Her professional affiliations include the National Band Association, NationalAssociation for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, and the Alabama Bandmasters Association.

Amanda Slay has taught choral music in the state of Alabama for 9 years and is currently in her third year serving as the AssociateChoral Director at Hoover High School. Before teaching at Hoover High School, Mrs. Slay taught at Shades Valley High Schoolin Jefferson County and Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa City. Mrs. Slay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Choral MusicEducation from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Music Education from The Florida State University. She is alsocertified to teach AP Music Theory and IB Music. Mrs. Slay is an active member of the Alabama Vocal Association, NationalAssociation for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. Mrs. Slay currently serves as the Repertoireand Resources Chair of Multicultural Music for the Alabama chapter of ACDA. Mrs. Slay lives in Homewood with her wife, twoweenie dogs, a border collie and the cutest baby girl ever born.

Jeanette Shorey is an Arts Integration Specialist who designs exciting musical lesson for children from Pre-K through 5th grade.She has her National Board Certification in Elementary Music K - 6 and her Masters of Science in Elementary Education witha Specialization in Literacy. Jeanette has been an elementary school music teacher for over 18 years and has also directed manychildren's choirs. She is currently living in Birmingham, AL and teaching at Oak Mountain Intermediate School and VincentElementary School. Jeanette integrates literacy skills into every lesson she teaches. She has presented at music, reading, and artsintegration conferences throughout Florida and Alabama. Jeanette is in the process of publishing a book of lesson plans withDenise Gagne entitled Stories That Sing.


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Viktoria Truesdail is currently in her fifth year teaching grades PreK- 6th in the Madison County School System. She holds

degrees from Cleveland State University and University of Florida. Prior to teaching in the elementary classroom, Mrs. Truesdail

has held various music positions including having her own private woodwind studio, Pre-K director, adjunct collegiate instructor

and Assistant Director of Continuing Education at Georgia College. She currently instructs three extra-curricular clubs at her

schools including: The Bucketing Blue Thunder, The Bucketeers and the Singing Cubs. In addition, Mrs. Truesdail shares her

creativity as Team Manager for her son’s Destination Imagination team.


Gordon Towell is the coordinator of jazz studies at Loyola University New Orleans. In this capacity he directs the award winningjazz ensemble, teaches improvisation, arranging, composition, jazz combos and jazz history. Before this position Gordon wasthe director of jazz studies at Morehead State University. Gordon, who holds a BEd in music education from the University ofAlberta, an MM in jazz studies from Indiana University and a DME with a cognate in jazz studies from the College Conservatoryof Music at the University of Cincinnati, has shared his expertise with students at the Morehead State University, University ofCincinnati, Indiana University, Keyano College, Grant MacEwan College, and numerous public schools. He also finds time toadjudicate, guest solo and perform with national and international artists, and conduct throughout Canada and the U.S. Hissaxophone performance can be heard on Outlier, Sketch Pad, Ask Me Now, Blue Duck Suit, and Still Friends, which are all availablethrough cdbaby.com. These CDs have been featured on NPR, CBC, and CKUA radio stations. Gordon is a recipient of the 2001Morehead State University’s Distinguished Creative Productions Award. He is a Conn Selmer clinician and plays Selmersaxophones.

Mike Steinel is a jazz trumpeter, pianist, composer and arranger. An internationally recognized jazz educator, Mike is the authorthe highly acclaimed Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble and Building a Jazz Vocabulary. He has performed throughout the US,Canada and in Europe, appearing as soloist at the MENC, IAJE, and JEN international conventions; and at the Midwest Bandand Orchestra Clinic. He has recorded with the Rosewood Trio, the Frank Mantooth Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Quintet andis a featured soloist on recent release by the Mike Waldrop Big Band (2015). He has performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry,Don Ellis, Bill Evans, Zoot Sims, Jerry Bergonzi, and others. Mike has served as Professor of Jazz Studies at the University ofNorth Texas since 1987. He is the founder and director of the UNT Jazz Combo Workshop, the UNT Jazz Trumpet Workshop,and the UNT Jazz Winds Workshop. Mr. Steinel has served as Co-Chair of the Jazz Advisory Panel for the National Endowmentfor the Arts and holds a BME degree from Emporia State University and a MME degree from the University of North Texas.

Brian Stith has worked in the professional audio industry for over 25 years. During this period Brian has represented numerouscompanies including JBL, Shure, and Anchor Audio. He has designed and installed hundreds of systems for churches, schoolauditoriums, sports venues, and even a military tank range. He is the National Sales Manager for Sound Projections, aCalifornia‐based portable sound system company. Since coming to Sound Projections, Brian has grown to thoroughly understandthe needs of school music directors. He works one on one with directors from junior high through university level all over thecountry. He has written articles for multiple magazines including Christian School Products Magazine and School Band &Orchestra Magazine. When he is not traveling the country, Brian keeps busy at home with his wife of 27 years and his 3 children.Brian is always willing to answer any question or concern a director may have. Brian’s goal is to share his vast sound knowledgewith you to make sure you are making an educated decision when it comes to purchasing any small portable, or large competition,sound system. This seminar will enhance your understanding of portable sound systems, wireless microphone issues, anddifferences between watts versus decibels. You can reach him via email at [email protected].


David W. Vandewalker is the Coordinator of Performing Arts for the Fulton County Schools supporting the music education and music

therapy faculty who serve 96,000 students in Atlanta. David is the artistic director and conductor of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind

Ensemble and associate director of the Tara Winds (Sudler Silver Scroll award-winning community band). Additionally, he served as the

assistant director of bands at Georgia State University (2012-2016) and Director of Bands at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia

(2000-2012). Dr. Vandewalker earned degrees at Baylor University, Central Michigan University, and Boston University where he received

the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education. A Conn-Selmer Artist/Educator, he has led concerts before esteemed audiences

such as the CBDNA/NBA, Music for All National Concert Festival, and the Midwest Clinic. Marching Bands under his direction received

honors including participation in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade, 2009 & 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ranked top-ten

nationally by the 2013 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and Bands of America Grand National Finalist. Dr.

Vandewalker is a recipient of the Sudler Flag of Honor, nine-NBA Citation of Excellence Awards, three National Wind Band Honors

Awards, is recognized in multiple editions of Who's Who Among American Teachers, and is an elected member of the American

Bandmasters Association. David and his wife, Pamela, reside in Marietta where she is Minister of Creativity and Worship Programming

at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church with over 900 children actively involved in music making each week.


Michael S. Zelenak, Ph.D., is the Assistant Professor of Music Education at Alabama State University where he teaches graduate and

undergraduate methods courses and supervises students as they matriculate through the music education programs. He received a

bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and completed the masters and doctoral programs in music education at the University

of South Florida. He earned National Board Certification while teaching chorus, strings, keyboard, guitar, and general music in Pinellas

County, FL. He is an active researcher with articles appearing in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Journal of Technology in Music

Learning, Music Education Research International, and others. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Association for Music

Education’s Music Educators Journal and an Editorial Board member for the Florida Music Educators Association’s Research Perspectives in

Music Education.


Dr. Damion Womack currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music, Chair of the Fine Arts Department and Director ofChoral Activities and Huntingdon College. His duties include conducting all choral ensembles, teaching choral methods,conducting, and supervising the music and art faculty. Choral ensembles under the direction of Dr. Womack have performed byjuried invitation for regional and national conventions of The American Choral Directors Association, and The NationalAssociation for Music Education. Prior to his appointment at Huntingdon College, Dr. Womack served as Director of Arts atThe Montgomery Academy where he received the McLemore Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Womack currently servesas the American Choral Director’s Association National Chairman for High School Choirs and has served on planning committeesfor the 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018 ACDA Southern Region Conventions. He is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician inthe Southeast and has served in this capacity in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, andIllinois. Dr. Womack holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina in Columbia,SC and holds Music Education degrees from Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.

Dr. Anne C. Witt teaches Music Education, String Pedagogy and String Literature at the University of Alabama. She foundedthe Adult Strings program in which she teaches classes for adult beginners, cello lessons and the annual Adult Strings Weekend.Her degrees were earned at the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Austin. She taught middle school and highschool strings/orchestra in Austin for 15 years and played cello in the Austin Symphony; she was also Director of the Universityof Texas String Project. Dr. Witt has served as President of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, President of the AlabamaASTA chapter, and National President of ASTA. Dr. Witt has presented educational sessions in many states, at all ASTA nationalconferences and at the Midwest Clinic. She enjoys guest conducting All State and regional festival orchestras, and is a frequentpresenter at AMEA. Dr. Witt is author of A Rhythm a Week, used by school band and orchestra classes nationwide. In 2005,she organized a community initiative to fund the start-up of Strings in Schools – a string program in the Tuscaloosa City Schools.After 12 years, over 850 students have participated, and groups have won top honors in competitions. Six graduates of theprogram are now studying Music Education. She further served the community as President of the Tuscaloosa String QuartetSociety. She continues to play cello professionally in a quartet called “Four Strings Attached.”She was an adjudicator for the ASTANational Orchestra Festival and for the first Alabama Orchestra MPA in 2016.

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Documents

AMEA 2018 Clinicians · 2017. 12. 28. · AMEA 2018 Clinicians American Baritone Terrance Brown resides in Florence, Alabama. He is a native of West Blocton, Alabama. Dr. Brown was