Directors Circle

Andrea Brown - Episode 40

Dr. Andrea Brown is the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. At UM, Dr. Brown conducts several ensembles including the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble and the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band.    Topics include: - Andrea discusses her experiences working as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Michigan and making the transition to leading ensembles at the University of Maryland  - Designing shows for marching band - Promoting diversity of gender in the field of music education   Links:  Andrea’s UM page: https://music.umd.edu/directory/andrea-brown UM Bands: https://music.umd.edu/ensembles/bands   Bio:  Dr. Andrea E. Brown was appointed the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland in 2018. In this position she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble and serves as the Director of Athletic Bands in which she leads the “Mighty Sound of Maryland” and all aspects of the athletic band program. Brown is formerly a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands. In this position, she was the conductor of the Campus Bands and director of the Campus Band Chamber Ensembles, associate director of the Michigan Marching and Athletic Bands, director of the Men's Basketball Band, guest conductor with the Symphony Band and Concert Band, taught conducting, and was a faculty sponsor of a College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Project team researching conducting pedagogy technology. Previously Brown was the director of orchestra and assistant director of bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where she also led research in conducting pedagogy technology and was a member of the Oxford Program faculty. She is a frequent guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in the US, Europe, and Asia.    Brown completed a DMA in instrumental conducting at UNC Greensboro where she was a student of John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. While at UNCG, she was named Outstanding Teaching Assistant and was both guest conductor and principal horn on UNCG Wind Ensemble's fireworks! and finish line! CDs released on the Equilibrium label. Brown has also had several rehearsal guides published in the popular GIA Publications series, "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" and has presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Music For All Summer Symposium, the Yamaha Bläserklasse in Schlitz, Germany, the International Computer Music Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia, and multiple times at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference.   A proponent of inclusion and equity issues in the music profession, Brown is a frequent guest speaker on these topics. She currently serves on the CBDNA Gender and Ethnic Minority Committee, and as a member of the recently formed Drum Corps International Women’s In Step Committee. Brown is also the founder of “Women Rising to the Podium” - an online group of 2300 members supporting and celebrating women band directors. She also serves the chair of the Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Music Fraternity Graduate Conducting Grant.   Brown currently serves as a brass consultant for Phantom Regiment and Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. She has been on the brass and conducting instructional staff of the DCI World Champion Phantom Regiment since 2004. Other marching organizations with which she has instructed are the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, Carolina Crown, Kennesaw Mountain High School (GA), Father Ryan High School (TN), and McGavock High School (TN).   As a performer, Brown was a member of the AA Brass Quintet, which won the International Brass Quintet Competition hosted by Fred Mills at the University of Georgia. She performed with the horn sections of the Boston Brass All Stars Big Band, North Carolina Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra. Brown has studied brass performance and pedagogy with Abigail Pack, Jack Masarie, Freddy Martin, J.D. Shaw, Dottie Bennett, Randy Kohlenberg, Richard Steffen, and Ed Bach.   Originally from Milan, Tennessee, she is a graduate of Austin Peay State University where she was named "Outstanding Student in Music." Brown earned a master of music degree in horn performance and a master of music education degree with a cognate in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, Brown was the assistant director of bands at Austin Peay State University and taught public school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Dallas, Texas. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and CBDNA. She was awarded the Rose of Honor as a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.    

Timothy Holtan - Episode 39

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Colonel Timothy Holtan. Col. Holtan holds the distinction of being the first officer to command all three of the U.S. Army’s premier bands. Since retiring in 2017, he currently serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Maryland Winds.    Topics include: - Colonel Holtan shares lessons learned from his time in the Army Band  - Differences between studying at the Army School of Music and a four-year university - Selecting repertoire for diverse ensembles  - Motivating musicians in your ensemble   Links:  Maryland Winds: https://marylandwinds.com   Bio:  Colonel Timothy J. Holtan retired in 2017 as the senior military musician in the Department of Defense. Col. Holtan’s final command was as the 10th Leader and Commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He holds the distinction of being the only officer to command all three of the Army’s premier bands, which include the U.S. Army Field Band and the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point. Col. Holtan received numerous military awards and honors during his 28½-year career, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Col. Holtan is a graduate of Bismarck (ND) High School and is a former school music educator in Montana. A clinician for Conn-Selmer, Inc. and Artistic Director of the newly formed professional wind band The Maryland Winds, he is a strong advocate for music education, enjoys substitute teaching, and is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. Col. Holtan has presented concerts and clinics in all 50 states, Canada, Japan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and across Europe. In 2000, Col. Holtan was selected for the Army’s “Training with Industry” program. He served as the Director of Operations and Associate Conductor of the Dallas Winds, while concurrently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of North Texas. Col. Holtan holds music education degrees from Montana State University and the University of Montana, and has pursued additional conducting studies with Elizabeth Green, H. Robert Reynolds, John Paynter, Larry Rachleff, Jerry Junkin and Eugene Corporon. Col. Holtan’s ensembles have been seen on many nationally televised broadcasts and diverse stages such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, DAR Constitution Hall, Mormon Tabernacle, Myerson Symphony Center, and Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, as well as for the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Under his leadership and after a 44-year absence, the West Point Band reestablished a partnership with the New York Philharmonic, which resulted in five Lincoln Center joint concert performances. Col. Holtan also led the West Point Band in the Emmy-nominated “Marina at West Point” PBS television production that has reached over 180 million viewers. Col. Holtan has been honored as Alumnus of the Year by Bismarck State College and was inducted into the Bismarck High School Hall of Fame. Col. Holtan served for twelve years on the National Band Association Board of Directors and has received multiple Citations of Excellence. In 2011, he was the University of Montana’s School of Visual and Performing Arts “Odyssey of the Stars” honoree and was inducted into their Hall of Honor. Col. Holtan holds membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and serves on the Advisory Committee to the Midwest Clinic.  

Peter Boonshaft - Episode 38

This episode features my interview with Dr. Peter Boonshaft. Dr. Boonshaft, Director of Education for Jupiter Brand Instruments and KHS America Academic Alliance, is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. Dr. Boonshaft is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music. Dr. Boonshaft is also a Spokesperson for Alfred Music.     Topics include: - Peter’s inspiration for starting his work as an author with writing “Teaching Music With Passion”  - Creating musical “pearls” in every rehearsal  - Defining and inspiring musical excellence  - Teacher motivation and inspiration   Links:  Boonshaft’s Blog: https://academicalliance.com/boonshafts-blog/   Bio:  Called one of the most exciting and exhilarating voices in music education today, Peter Loel Boonshaft has been invited to speak and conduct in every state in the nation and around the world. Honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education," Dr. Boonshaft is Director of Education for Jupiter Band Instruments, and his weekly “Boonshaft’s Blog" for music educators continues to inspire teachers everywhere. He has received official proclamations from the Governors of five states and a Certificate of Appreciation from former President Ronald Reagan, as well as performing for former President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and for Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He has been awarded membership in Pi Kappa Lambda and Alpha Chi, as well as twice receiving the University of Hartford Regent's Award and that University's Outstanding Music Educator Award. His honors also include being selected three times as a National Endowment for the Arts "Artist in Residence" three times awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, receiving the Al G. Wright Award from the Women Band Directors International, and being selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University.   He holds Bachelor of Music (Summa Cum Laude), Master of Music Education in Conducting, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. Dr. Boonshaft was also awarded a Connecticut General Fellowship for study at the Kodály Musical Training Institute, from which he holds a Certificate. He is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Boonshaft was on the faculty of Moravian College and the University of Hartford. He was Founder and Music Director of the Pennsylvania Youth Honors Concert Band and the Connecticut Valley Youth Wind Ensemble. In addition, he held the post of Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony of Boston.   Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise, as well as his first book for teachers of other disciplines, Teaching with Passion, Purpose and Promise. He is also co-author of Alfred Music Publishing’s new beginning method book series, Sound Innovations for Band and Sound Innovations for Strings, as well as Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Young Concert Band, Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Intermediate Concert Band, and Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development for Advanced Concert Band. In addition, he is the author of Vaclav Nelhybel: His Life and Works, the only authorized biography of the composer, a contributing author of The Music Director’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program, and author of articles for Instrumentalist Magazine, the National Band Association Journal, Teaching Music, and Band Director's Guide. Dr. Boonshaft also held the post of Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for the School Music News. Active as a proponent of new literature for concert band, he has commissioned and conducted over forty world premieres by such notable composers as Eric Ewazen, W. Francis McBeth, Johan de Meij, Fisher Tull, H. Owen Reed, Vaclav Nelhybel, David Gillingham, Philip Sparke, Satoshi Yagisawa, Rossano Galante, Sam Hazo, Andrew Boysen, Brian Hogg, Robert W. Smith, David Holsinger, Stephen Melillo, Roland Barrett, and Jared Spears. Among the soloists who have appeared in performance with Dr. Boonshaft are John Marcellus, Maynard Ferguson, Harvey Phillips, The Boston Brass, Eugene Rousseau, Marianne Gedigian, Ed Shaughnessy, Lynn Klock, Don Butterfield, The Dallas Brass, We Are The Mummies, Lance LaDuke, Dave Steinmeyer and the United States Air Force "Airmen of Note," Chester Schmitz, and the Vienna Schubert Trio.   Extremely active as a guest conductor, clinician and speaker for conferences, festivals, concerts and workshops nationally and internationally, he has guest conducted the NAfME (The National Association for Music Education) National High School Honors Band, NAfME All-Eastern Band, NAfME All-Northwest Band, NAfME All-Eastern Directors Band, Goldman Memorial Band, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, U.S. Marine Band New Orleans, Western International Band Clinic, Prague Castle Guard/Czech Police Symphonic Band, U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools: Europe Honors Music Fest Band, and the Association of Concert Bands National Conference Band. In addition, he is an adjudicator and clinician for the Music For All/Bands of America National Concert Band Festival, and serves as Chief Adjudicator for the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival He has served as a speaker for the Canadian Music Educators Association National Convention, NAfME National Conference, American Band College, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music For All/Bands and Orchestras of America Symposium, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Samuel Barber Institute for Music Educators, Music Education Center of America, EARCOS Conferences in China and Thailand, Singapore Ministry of Education Band Conference, KIPP National School Summit, NESA Council of Overseas Schools Conferences in Thailand and the Philippines, and as keynote speaker for the NAfME Northwest Division Conference, NAfME Southern Division Conference, European Music Educators Convention, National Convention of the American String Teachers Association, National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association, ACDA Western Division Conference, East Asia Regional Council of Schools, Maryborough Music Conference of Australia, National Conference of the Organization of American Kodály Educators, The Sydney (Australia) Music Education Conference, and numerous international, national, state and regional music education conferences.

Ryan Nowlin - Episode 37

This episode features my interview with Mr. Ryan Nowlin who is a well-regarded composer, educator, and conductor. Ryan is the Assistant Director for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and is a co-author of the famous “Tradition Of Excellence” method series. In our conversation, Ryan talks about his work as a composer and how he approaches working with ensembles.    Ryan Nowlin’s appearance on this podcast is in an unofficial capacity and does not constitute or imply endorsement by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the U.S. Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government   Topics include: - How Ryan started his work as a composer - Ryan’s thoughts on composing music - The process involved in writing a method book - Repertoire quality and selection  Links:  Ryan’s catalogue at KJOS Music: https://kjos.com/catalog/person/view/id/1284/ Bio:  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ryan Nowlin holds both his B.M. and M.M. degrees from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). He has taught instrumental music for ten years, most recently in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District (Ohio), where he served as Director of Bands. Mr. Nowlin was also an instructor in conducting and band scoring at Bowling Green State University and has served as a staff arranger for the BGSU Falcon Marching Band.   Mr. Nowlin is an active composer and arranger, and has been commissioned to write for Grade 1 through Grade 6 concert bands, brass quintet, tuba quartet, horn ensemble, solo horn and piano, and choir. "A Christmas Fanfare" is featured as the opening piece on The Tower Brass's CD Snowed In... Again. "Elegy (for Herbert A. Spencer)" was premiered in 2005 at the 37th International Horn Society Summer Symposium by Grammy Award Winner Andrew Pelletier. Several of his works have been heard on national radio and television broadcasts, including his arrangement of “America the Beautiful” for the 2014 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular in New York City. He has co-authored a band method called Tradition of Excellence; a band director's textbook called Teaching Band with Excellence; and a series of music theory, ear training, and history workbooks called Excellence in Theory, and Excellence in Chamber Music with noted author, composer, and educator Bruce Pearson. In 2010, Mr. Nowlin joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band as staff arranger before being appointed to his current position of Assistant Director in 2014. In this role, Mr. Nowlin regularly conducts the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra in the Washington D.C. area, at the White House, and across the United States.    

Michael Haithcock - Episode 36

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Michael Haithcock who is the Director of Bands at the University of Michigan. During our conversation, Michael shares his thoughts on ways to engage students in rehearsal and leading a program to musical excellence.    Topics include: - Transitioning into a program that’s strong in tradition - Maintaining excellence in a program - Bringing music to life through score study - Repertoire quality and selection - Helping students discover expressive elements of music  Links:  Michael’s University of Michigan page: https://smtd.umich.edu/about/faculty-profiles/michael-haithcock/ University of Michigan Symphony Band YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIL7RYgu4qViyVCL69F8zTg Bio:  Michael Haithcock assumed his duties as director of bands and professor of music (conducting) at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2001 following twenty-three years on the faculty of Baylor University. Following in the footsteps of William D. Revelli and H. Robert Reynolds, Professor Haithcock conducts the internationally renowned University of Michigan Symphony Band, guides the acclaimed graduate band and wind ensemble conducting program, and provides administrative leadership for all aspects of the University of Michigan’s diverse and historic band program. Ensembles under Haithcock’s guidance have received a wide array of critical acclaim for their high artistic standards of performance and repertoire. These accolades have come through concerts at national and state conventions, performances in major concert venues, and recordings on the Albany, Arsis, and Equilibrium labels. Haithcock was selected to conduct the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s Bandanna, an opera for voice and wind band, commissioned by the College Band Directors’ National Association. He is a leader in commissioning and premiering new works for concert band. Haithcock has earned the praise of both composers and conductors for his innovative approaches to developing the wind ensemble repertoire and programming. Haithcock is in constant demand as a guest conductor and as a resource person for symposiums and workshops in a variety of instructional settings as well as festival and all-state appearances throughout the country. A graduate of East Carolina University – where he received the 1996 Outstanding Alumni Award from the School of Music – and Baylor University, Haithcock has done additional study at a variety of conducting workshops including the Herbert Blomstedt Orchestral Conducting Institute. The Instrumentalist, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, the School Musician, the Southwest Music Educator, and WINDS magazine have published his articles on conducting and wind literature.