It's been quite a run, but all good things must come to an end. A special thank you to all of my listeners, all of my guests, and to my sponsors Celtic Horizons and Kaleidoscope Adventures. All of your support and belief in this show kept me going for so many episodes. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Jake Walker, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the final 50 or so episodes to create the website, change the branding, and create the amazing images we see for the final run of the s...
Jun 16, 2024•10 min
Benjamin Dean Taylor (born 1983), has been described as “elegant and energetic” ( Kenneth Thompson ) and “powerful and direct with delightful surprises in each work.” ( Marilyn Shrude ) Having grown up as a performer in jazz, rock, ska, country, and concert bands as well as in choirs and orchestras, Taylor is driven to write music that highlights the strengths of each performing ensemble. His catalog of more than 100 works covers a large range of styles and genres including music written for orc...
Jun 16, 2024•53 min
Don Stinson is a comprehensive music educator with a robust background spanning roles as an author, speaker, and clinician. He holds educational degrees from an array of prestigious institutions including Joliet Junior College, VanderCook College of Music, and Northern Illinois University. Adding to his educational background, Don also holds a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of St. Francis, bringing unparalleled expertise to his educational endeavors. Currently, Don is t...
Jun 15, 2024•1 hr 25 min
DISCLAIMER Episodes 209-2011 were recorded in 2023 and have only recently been uploaded to the internet. There are some things that have changed since their recordings, so be aware that you are not listening to the most current events. Evan VanDoren is a freelance arranger, composer, and educational consultant. As the owner of VanDoren Music, Evan is commissioned each year to create works for concert and marching ensembles. He has arranged and orchestrated award-winning marching shows for numero...
Jun 14, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Adrian Gordon is an internationally performed composer and seasoned music educator and currently serves as the director of orchestras at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. In addition to teaching, Adrian is the founder of Leap Year Music Publishing, which publishes string music for elementary, middle, and high school ensembles. His compositions appear on the Florida, Texas, Maryland, and Georgia Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessment Lists. His compositions are distributed throu...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 6Ep. 208
Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr. is assistant professor of music and head of instrumental studies at Saint Mary’s College of California in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an active Mexican-American conductor, flutist, music educator, and scholar researching new and effective ways to strengthen Mexican-American relations through the study and performance of music. These include overcoming stereotypes as well as Mexican, LGBTQ+, and LatinX representation in the field of music education, repertoire, a...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 6Ep. 207
Vu Nguyen is the Director of Wind Ensembles and Conducting at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA. Prior to his appointment at the University of Connecticut, he served as the Director of Bands at the University of Indianapolis, was a conductor of the Wind Ensemble at Washington University in St. Louis, and was a visiting conductor of the Indiana University Concert Band. He began his career teaching in the public schools of San Ramon, CA. Dr. Nguyen has conducted throughout the western Un...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 6Ep. 206
Saxophonist John Wojciechowski is originally from Detroit and has spent the last 18 years performing and teaching in Chicago. In addition to leading his own groups, he has performed or recorded with The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Clark Terry, Charlie Haden, and Kurt Elling among many others. John was also a third place finalist in the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competi...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Joshua Johnson currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands at Traughber Junior High in Oswego, Illinois. Prior to coming to Oswego, Josh served as Director of Bands at North Kirkwood Middle School and Associate Director of Bands in Kirkwood, Missouri. Joshua attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Honors. During his time at Illinois, he was a member of the Illinois Wind Symphony, the Marching Illini, the Univer...
Sep 26, 2022•56 min
Karen Fannin is Professor, Director of Bands, and Interim Director of the School of Music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, instructs courses in music education, and provides leadership for all aspects of the UNO band program. Previously, Dr. Fannin served as Director of Bands and Department Chair at Hendrix College. While in Arkansas, Dr. Fannin also held the position of Music Director and Conduc...
Sep 13, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Mary Cogswell is the current president of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association, the editor of the Beginning Band Adaptable series, and a long time beginning band teacher. If you teach beginners, this is the episode for you!
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 6Ep. 202
Biography Capt. Kenneth C. Collins, a native of Reno, Nevada, entered the Navy in 1989 and attended recruit training in San Diego, California. Upon completion of Musician "A" school, he served as a percussionist in fleet bands in Guam and Newport, Rhode Island. His first assignment upon receiving a commission as a limited duty officer bandmaster in 1998 was as the ceremonial band leader and associate conductor of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C., and shortly thereafter an assignment as the...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 38 min•Season 6Ep. 201
Matthew Maslanka is David Maslanka’s second son and the primary caretaker of David’s music. Born in New York City in 1982, he grew up listening to his father composing at the piano. From the age of 10, Matthew started helping out by making photocopies of scores and dubbing cassette tapes for David to send to conductors interested in the music. At 12, Matthew discovered the delights of engraving music with a computer. By 14, he was skilled enough to handle the preparation of his father’s music an...
Feb 27, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 6Ep. 200
Gary Green is Director of Bands Emeritus at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Florida. Prior to joining the faculty at UM, Gary served for ten years as Director of Bands at the University of Connecticut. Gary joins the show today to discuss the important life lessons that music teachers need to know to build a culture of excellence. Gary Green and was influential in commissioning and recording new works for winds and percussion which included Symphony No. 3 by David Maslanka ...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 12 min
For this episode I'm going to be sitting across from the microphone while Colin Peters interviews me. I have had pretty rough go of it during the pandemic and felt that it was the right moment to share some thoughts and encouragement from my own experience. Biography: Mark J. Connor (b. 1971) is a composer, conductor, educator, and podcaster who has a passion for everything band. His music is diverse, his interviews are inspiring, and his ability to capture the listener’s attention for both mean...
Dec 14, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Kevin Sedatole is the Director of Bands and Chair of the conducting area at Michigan State University. He has had a celebrated career in music as a conductor, clinician, teacher, and advocate for new music. Biography Kevin Sedatole serves as Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Chair of the conducting area at the Michigan State University College of Music. At MSU, Professor Sedatole serves as administrator of the entire band program totaling over 700 students that includes the Wind Symphon...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Glenn Eichelberger is the Director of Bands at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Glenn has been involved in HBCU bands for his entire career and joins the show to discuss his career and his experiences with HBCU excellence in music. Links: Glenn Eichelberger Holsinger: Prelude and Rondo Sheldon: 1,000 Cranes Nelhybel: Festivo Biography: Mr. Eichelberger currently serves the Director of Bands at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mr. Eichelberger recently completed his Masters of Art...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Cam Stasa is a well known figure in the marching arts community as the Director of Participant Relations for Music for All (Bands of America). She joins the show to discuss Music for All programs, her personal journey through music, and her prospective on winning and losing in competition. Links: Music for All Band of America Hall of Fame Biography: A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University (MI), she taught English and Communications in secondary schools prior to her a...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 56 min
Paula Crider has had an illustrious 33 year teaching career as a band director, 17 of those as the director of the University of Texas Longhorn Band. She continues to be powerful voice in the band community as a clinician and consultant. Links: Paula Crider Dahl: Sinfonietta Biography: Following a distinguished 33-year teaching career, Professor Paula A. Crider continues to share her passion for making music through an active schedule as guest conductor, lecturer, clinician, and adjudicator. She...
Jun 02, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 193
JaRod Hall is a band director in Irving, Texas and an up and coming composer at the beginning of his writing career. He is infectiously positive throughout our conversation about his creative journey, including a discussion of representation and why it matters for our students. Links: Shostakovich: Finale from Symphony no. 5 Hall: Brigid's Cross Biography: JaRod Hall (b. 1991) is a Texas-native educator, performer, and composer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education fom the University ...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Greg Bimm has been the band director at Marian Catholic in Chicago for 44 years. During his time there his bands have been consistently excellent both on the marching field and on the stage, including Bands of America's Grand National Champion seven times and a whopping 40 straight years undefeated in their class at the Illinois Superstate competition. Links: Marian Catholic High School Band Persichetti: Symphony Biography: Greg Bimm has been Director of Bands at Marian Catholic High School sinc...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 53 min
Alfred Watkins was the longtime band director at Lasseter High School in Georgia and one of the finest band directors of his generation. He joins the show to talk about his career and share the wisdom from his 37 years as an instrumental music teacher. Links: Hindemith: Symphony in B-flat Reed: Russian Christmas Music Biography: Educator, conductor, clinician, and lecturer Alfred L. Watkins, retired band director at Lassiter High School, in Marietta, Georgia, enjoyed a storied 37-year career tha...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Season 5Ep. 190
James Swearingen has composed over 700 published works and is one of the most recognizable names in the wind band community. He joins me to discuss not only his music but also the story his early career as a band director and some of the wisdom he has acquired over a stellar career. Links: Jager: Esprit de Corps Nestico: Boys of Wexford Swearingen: Into the Joy of Spring Biography: James Swearingen’s talents as a performer, composer/arranger and educator include a background of extensive trainin...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 189
Dr. Ronald Wooten is a professor of music at Northern Illinois University and has a long history of success as a band director and music educator. He joined the show to spin an entertaining story of his life and share some tremendous wisdom. Biography: Ronnie Wooten DMA, Professor of Music, believes that “It is absolutely critical for those of us who are engaged in the art and practice of musicing-- particularly in colleges and universities, to actively assist all others in their quest to find a...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 35 min•Season 5Ep. 188
In this special episode we welcome Colin Peters and Jake Walker to the podcast and interview them to learn their stories and hear their plans for the future of the podcast. Topics covered include origin stories, teaching during COVID, teaching beginners, and their answers to the big questions. Colin Peters Bio: Mr. Colin Peters has completed his fourth year of teaching public school band and is now pursuing a Masters degree in Wind Conducting at Sam Houston State University. Prior to Sam Houston...
Mar 17, 2021•51 min•Season 5Ep. 187
Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is the director of bands at Penn State University. She joined the show to share the story of her career, challenges that she has faced, and some thoughts about concert band programming. Topics: Tonya's background and education. Representation matters! Programming music. Thoughts about teaching and conducting. Links: Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin Association of Black Women Band Directors Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium Biography: Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is Director of Wind Band St...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 186
Jared Cassedy is the current band director at Lexington High School in Massachusetts, after teaching in New Hampshire for many years. He was the 2015 recipient of the Grammy Music Educator of the Year award and offers some great perspective for all band directors. Topics: Jared's background growing up in New Hampshire, his education and training and his early career. Winning the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award and being locked in a room with Kanye and Kim. Advice for band directors of al...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 5Ep. 185
Steve Danyew is a composer living in Rochester, New York. He has written several very successful for band, including Magnolia Star and Into the Silent Land. Topics: Steve's background growing up and his musical education. Steve plays saxophone and I sing a few notes! Steve's music, including Magnolia Star and the story behind Into the Silent Land. Thoughts about composing and publishing. Links: Steve Danyew - Composer Grainger - Irish Tune Pärt - Spiegel im Spiegel Danyew - Alcott Songs Biograph...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 184
Frank Troyka was a longtime band director in Richardson, Texas and now serves as an adjunct instructor at SMU, educational consultant for Conn-Selmer, and director of education for System Blue. Topics: Frank's background growing up in several different locations and the story of how he ended up in Texas. Meeting Eddie Green at Western Michigan and how that led to him moving to Texas to jumpstart his teaching career. Teaching in Texas and some insight into the methodology and structure of Frank's...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 183
Allan McMurray enjoyed a 35 year career as the Director of Bands at the University of Colorado. Over the course of his remarkable career he has earned numerous honors and awards and is a past president of CBDNA. Topics: Allan’s background in music and his early influences. The influence of H. Robert Reynolds on Allan’s career and some thoughts about the importance of finding great models to emulate. Thoughts about motivating students and showing them that you care and pursuing excellence in your...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 182
