David is currently an education clinician for Conn-Selmer and is involved in a number of national music education projects including All IN with NAfME and Guitar Center. He is asked to present at various universities and adjudicate competitions across the United States. With a passion for art and wellness programs, David is involved in developing a program centered in arts and wellness in conjunction with the Wyoming Symphony, Casper Medical Center and the Cast College in Casper, Wyoming.

David recently retired as the fine arts and music administrator for the Washoe County School District (WCSD) in Reno, Nevada. His duties included hiring, supervising and evaluation of all fine arts and music staff, coordination of all fine arts and music operations throughout the district and the development and coordination of all professional development training. Prior to that he taught at Clayton Middle School, Edward C. Reed High School and other elementary schools in the WCSD. During his tenure in WCSD he developed over 25 strategic partnerships with business and community groups to improve music education and access for all students. He has been called upon to speak to the Nevada Legislature committees on the benefits of arts education on student achievement. David was awarded the Administrator of the Year, and the Service to Music Education awards by the Nevada Music Education Association.

In addition to his duties with the Washoe County School District he served on the faculty at the Truckee Meadows Community College. Before moving to Reno, David served as music coordinator for the Livermore Unified school district in California as well as teaching Band, Jazz, Orchestra and Choir. Where he was also a part time instructor for Chabot College in Hayward, California. Over the past 30 years David acted as the Western Division President for NAfME; past state president in Nevada; and held various positions on state and community boards and committees.

Jim earned a BS in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Jim was Graduate Assistant Band Director at The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, earning his Masters in 1977.

Catalano taught music at the middle, high school and community college level. Jim started his music industry career in 1978 with Premier and has been on the leading edge of percussion instrument development, sales, education and marketing for Ludwig / Musser since 1983. In addition he has served on the board of directors of the Percussive Arts Society from 1999-2002 and received the 1998 PAS President's Industry Award. Jim was also the recipient of the 2010 Midwest Music Industry Award.

Catalano currently performs with the Elkhart Municipal Band in Indiana. Jim has recorded several CDs with “The “Keystone Wind Ensemble”. He plays drums with “Truth in Jazz”, “Jazz Assemblage” big bands in Indiana, vibes with his own jazz group “VibeNation” and conducts recreational percussion workshops. As an active percussion clinician Jim has recently been featured at the 2001, 2006 & 2012 Midwest Band Clinic, Pennsylvania MEA – 2005, Texas MEA – 2009 & 2014, American Band College in Ashland, OR – 2003, 2006 & 2013 and Conn-Selmer Institute from 1998 – 2014.

Erin Cole has been the band director at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia since 1995. Under her leadership, the Tapp Band honors include being selected to perform at the 58^th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December of 2004. The band has been a featured performing group at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival in 2015, 2008, 2003, and 1999. Additionally, the Flute and Percussion Ensemble have performed at the Georgia Music Educators Conference in Savannah, Georgia. The Tapp Band was also selected for the National Adjudicators Invitational Dixie Classic Festival in 2006 where they received all superior ratings. The Tapp Band continually receives superior ratings each year at the District 12 large group performance evaluation.

Ms. Cole has commissioned four pieces of music for the Tapp Band in the past 12 years. In 1999, Robert W. Smith wrote "The Great Locomotive Chase," in 2002, Frank Ticheli wrote "Simple Gifts - Four Shaker Songs;" and in 2004, Samuel R. Hazo composed “Ascend” for the Tapp M.S. Symphonic Band’s performance at The Midwest Clinic. Most recently, Ms. Cole and the Tapp Middle School Band was part of a consortium of directors to commission the Eric Whitacre piece “The Seal Lullaby.”

Erin Cole earned her bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Georgia in 1995. While at the University of Georgia, she played cello, flute, and piccolo in the University Symphony Orchestra, chamber groups, Symphonic and Concert Bands, and the Redcoat Marching Band. She studied cello with Christopher Rex, David Starkweather, and Alice Williams; and studied flute with Ronald Waln and Martha Lynn Volman.

Ms. Cole's professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, National Band Association, and the Georgia Music Educators Association.

Erin has written articles for The Instrumentalist magazine and has been a contributing editor for the publication. She has also served as a clinician for the Music for All Summer Symposium and Conn Selmer Institute (CSI). She has also presented clinics at the Midwest Clinic and several state conventions. In 2007, 2010, and 2014 Erin has written chapters for the popular GIA publication series Teaching Music Through Performance. Ms. Cole is also currently a contributing editor for Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements method book and interactive website team.

Ms. Cole has served as a guest conductor for numerous honor and all state bands, has taught several years at the "Encore" Music Camp, and is the founder and administrator of the Cobb County Summer Band Camp. She was awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence in 2015, 2008 and 2003; and is also the middle school band conductor for the newly formed Conn-Selmer Youth Band of Atlanta. Ms. Cole is very active in the McEachern High School Band program where she has been on staff with the marching band for the past 19 years as the flute instructor and conducts flute sectionals with Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands.

Dr. Dye is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Notre Dame. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, where he holds a Doctorate in Music Education and a MBA in Marketing. He has also earned degrees of Master of Arts in Music from California State University and Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California.

As a composer/arranger, Ken Dye serves as a staff writer for several publishers and served as composer/arranger for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Band and pops arranger for the Dallas Symphony. His writing activities have produced over 1800 works for Band and orchestra performed throughout the U.S. and overseas.

The Notre Dame Band has also performed Concerts in the Sydney Opera House, Beijing Concert Hall, and Carnegie Hall as well as toured Europe, Asia, and Brazil. In 2012 the Notre Dame Band performed with the Band “Chicago” at Soldier Field and performed at the 2013 National Championship. In 2011 and 2012 the Notre Dame Band was awarded the prestigious “Sudler Trophy”, considered the “Heisman Trophy of collegiate bands.

Dye also serves as a concurrent professor of Computer Applications developing the course “Music through Technology” and teaches music from a business perspective in a course entitled “The Business of Music”. Most recently Dye’s research has involved the musical history of the Olympics and is incorporated in a new course: “Music and the Olympics: A Soundtrack for Competition, Ceremony, and Celebration”.

Prior to Notre Dame, Ken Dye taught at Rice University, University of West Georgia, high school in California, and schools in Mexico City. He has also served as director of the Opening Ceremonies of the U.S. Olympic Festival and conductor of the All-American College Band at Disney World.

Jeremy Earnhart is Director of Fine Arts for the Arlington, TX Independent School District. Educating 64,000 students, AISD provides world-class musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts programs. Mr. Earnhart was Director of Fine Arts for the Irving ISD from 2009-2013 and director of the state and national champion L.D. Bell High School Band serving from 1998-2009. Mr. Earnhart graduated from the University of North Texas with a BM & MME, has certifications in International Baccalaureate Music, and is currently working on his treatise in the Ed.D. program at Dallas Baptist University. At UNT he studied with Dr. Leonard Candelaria and performed with his Bach Stradivarius trumpet in top concert ensembles under Dennis Fisher and Eugene Corporon as well as the 2 o’clock Lab Band under James Riggs.

As an author, he has articles published through Praxis: The electronic journal of the Sam Houston State University Center for Music Education, Music for All, and Touchpoint: The Conn-Selmer Division of Education Newsletter. He is an active clinician, adjudicator––including Bands of America––and presenter for staff developments/conferences such as Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Administrators Conference, and The Midwest Clinic. Mr. Earnhart also serves as a consultant for groups including the 2011 National Champion Broken Arrow High School Band and as Music Coordinator for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.

Antonio J. García is a Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. An alumnus of the Eastman School of Music and of Loyola University of the South, he has received commissions for jazz, symphonic, chamber, and solo works—instrumental and vocal.

A Bach/Selmer trombone clinician, Mr. García has freelanced as trombonist, bass trombonist, and pianist, is a Research Faculty member at The University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), the Associate Jazz Editor of the International Trombone Association Journal, and a Network Expert (for Improvisation Materials) for the Jazz Education Network. His newest book, Jazz Improvisation: Practical Approaches to Grading (Meredith Music), explores avenues for creating structures that correspond to course objectives. His Cutting the Changes: Jazz Improvisation via Key Centers (Kjos Music) offers musicians of all ages the opportunity to improvise over standard tunes using just their major scales. He is Co-Editor and Contributing Author of Teaching Jazz: A Course of Study (NAfME) and authored a chapter within The Jazzer’s Cookbook (Meredith Music).

A member of the board of The Midwest Clinic, Mr. García previously served as Coordinator of Combos and directed the Vocal Jazz Ensemble at Northwestern University. Formerly the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University, there he received the 1992 “Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching” award and was nominated for 1992 CASE “U.S. Professor of the Year” (one of 434 nationwide). He was recipient of the VCU School of the Arts' 2015 Faculty Award of Excellence for his teaching, research, and service.

For more than two decades, Randy Gilmore has devoted his professional life to helping thousands of America’s high school and college bands design and perform the highest quality field show productions. He exemplifies an expertise and standard of excellence that is well known and respected throughout the music industry.

Sought after field shows have thrust his company, Marching Show Concepts (MSC) into the forefront of the marching band arena. MSC uses the best arrangers and designers from across the nation — and Gilmore has created more than a few himself — to make MSC every band director’s one-stop resource.

In addition to his business acumen, Gilmore has served as assistant marching band director at West Chester University, as well as ten years as a nationally recognized high school band director, taking his groups to state championships over and over again. He obtained a masters degree in Conducting and Music Education from Michigan State University and has acquired years of experience in the trenches of the music industry. Gilmore has built up a wealth of wisdom and effective resources, which he continues to regularly present in magazine articles and band clinics across the nation.

A native of Greeley, Colorado, Lowell E. Graham is the Director of Orchestral Activities and Professor of Conducting at the University of Texas at El Paso and is the recipient of the “Abraham Chavez” Professorship in Music. In 2006, he was named the “Director Honorifico Anual" for the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Paraguay. He has held numerous conducting positions to include that of the Commander and Conductor of the The United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. Graham has released recordings on six labels: Naxos, Telarc, Klavier, Mark, Altissimo and Wilson -- that have been recognized for both their artistic and sonic excellence. These recordings have been recognized in Stereophile's “Records to Die-For" list, The Absolute Sound's “The Super Disc List," as well as one having won a Grammy. In 2014, he was named as the President and CEO of the John Philip Sousa Foundation and in 2016 was named Vice President of the American Bandmasters Association.

Ron Hufstader retired from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2016 and was granted Professor Emeritus status. He served as Director of Bands at the UTEP since 1976 and served as Chairman of the Music Department from 1990 to 2002. He served as a member of the Conducting & Ensemble area, conducted the UTEP Symphonic Winds and taught undergraduate and graduate conducting. It is under his direction that the Symphonic Winds was selected on several occasions to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association and the College Band Directors National Association conventions. Over the past several years, the UTEP Symphonic Winds has coupled with Mark Records to record “composer CDs” which include the music of David Holsinger, Roger Cichy, Frank Ticheli, Andrew Boysen, Jr., Julie Giroux, David Gillingham and James Barnes, Mark Camphouse and Robert W. Smith.

In 1995, Dr. Hufstader established the El Paso Wind Symphony, a professional concert band composed of music teachers and business people from the El Paso area. In 2006, the ensemble was invited to perform for the Texas Bandmasters Association Band Symposium and in 2015 for the Texas Bandmasters Association convention.

Dr. Hufstader has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Dr. Hufstader’s professional activities include coordination of halftime shows for some of the major bowl games including the Sun, Alamo, Liberty, Gator and Sugar bowls. Dr. Hufstader is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda and is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.

Lynne Jackson is currently in her 48^th year as a music educator. She has degrees from the University of Michigan and Vandercook College of Music. Jackson is an adjunct assistant professor of music education at Southern Methodist University and also teaches at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas.

After beginning her career in southwestern Michigan, Jackson moved to Texas and spent 26 years teaching in Richardson as a member of the J.J. Pearce staff. In 1983, Jackson was selected as a Richardson ISD Teacher of the Year. In 1995, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded Jackson a grant to study Mozart in Vienna, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic. Since that time, Ms. Jackson has traveled and taught extensively throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Canada. Ms. Jackson has also established a relationship with the state of Singapore where she has worked closely with music educators and students on two separate occasions.

In 2010, Jackson was awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award by the Texas Bandmaster’s Association and this past summer, Lynne was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmaster's Hall of Fame. In addition to her membership in the Texas Bandmaster's Association, Jackson’s professional affiliations include the honorary fraternity, Phi Beta Mu, and the Texas Music Educators Association. Lynne is the founder of Young Educator Seminars, YES, which offers continuing professional development to North Texas music educators. Lynne is widely known throughout Texas as a clinician and mentor to young students and teachers.

Tim Lautzenheiser began his teaching career at Northern Michigan University. He then moved to the University of Missouri, and from there to New Mexico State University. During that time, Tim developed highly acclaimed groups in both instrumental and vocal music.

Following his tenure in the college band directing world, he spent three years with McCormick’s Enterprises working as Executive Director of Bands of America. In 1981, Tim created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to manage the many requests for teacher inservice workshops, student leadership seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of effective leadership training. After thirty-plus years of clinic presentations, some three million students have experienced one of his popular sessions.

Tim presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He is a nationally recognized voice touting the importance of arts education for every child.

His books, produced by G.I.A. Publications, Inc., continue to be bestsellers in the educational community. He is also co-author of popular band method, Essential Elements, as well as the Senior Educational Consultant for Hal Leonard, Inc. Tim is also the Senior Educational Advisor for Music for All, and NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants).

He holds degrees from Ball State University and the University of Alabama; in 1995 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music. He continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at: Ball State University, Indiana-Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he is a member of the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and the Western International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors. He is presently the Chair of the National Association for Music Education Music Honor Society (Tri-M).

Larry Livingston has appeared with the Houston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella Series at the Festival de Musique in France, the Stockholm Wind Orchestra, the Leopoldinum Orchestra in Poland, the Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Rumania, and the Pan Pacific Festival Orchestras in Sydney. As the lead jurist for the Besancon International Conducting Competition in France and the Winnipeg Symphony International Conducting Symposium, Maestro Livingston is also the Music Director of the Festival Orchestra at Idyllwild Arts.

Since 2004, Mr. Livingston has served as guest conductor at the College Band Directors National Conference in Alice Tully Hall, led All-State Ensembles across the United States, including Texas where he appeared for a record ninth time. From 2004 to 2012 Mr. Livingston was Music Director of Thornton School Orchestras (USC). In 2012-16, Maestro Livingston will conduct the All-State Ensembles of Arizona, New Mexico, Kentucky, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, and California, as well as the Katowice Academy Orchestra in Poland.

Mr. Livingston has held positions as Vice President of the New England Conservatory of Music, Dean of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and Dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, where he is currently Chair of the Conducting Department. Mr. Livingston leads the national educational quest, ALL IN, and heads the Education Committee of the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium.

In 2013, Mr. Livingston appeared in the “Lights Out” episode of Glee and was featured as a mentor in the USA Cable Network Television series, “The Moment.”

Mr. Markham is currently Retired Supervisor of Instrumental Music for the Cobb County School District in Marietta, GA. He is the former Director of Bands at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia. He has over four decades of experience in music education, and serves internationally as clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and consultant. The Cobb County Music program has been named one of the “BEST Communities for Music Education in America, 11 times.

Mr. Markham received his B. S. degree from Mansfield State University, M. Ed. degree from Penn State University, and studied for Ph. D (ABD) in conducting and music supervision at George Mason University with Tony Maiello and Arnald Gabriel. His leadership experience includes membership on several state and national music education executive boards including the Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee. He is currently the Senior Education Consultant and Chief Judge for Bands of America, Executive Director of the Music Administration Collaborative, Judge Education Director for Drum Corps International, and an author of “Band Expressions” published by Alfred Music. He is a 1992 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation's "Sudler Order of Merit" and the Robinson Symphonic Band is the 1992 recipient of the "Sudler Flag of Honor.”

In 2006, Mr. Markham was presented with the Georgia Music Educators Administrative Leadership award and was inducted into the Bands of America “Hall of Fame.” In 2007, Mr. Markham received the DCI & Coltrin & Associates “Excellence in Music Education Award.” In 2009, MENC presented the first “Excellence in Marching Music Education” to Mr. Markham for serving as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission for writing National Standards and a lifetime devoted to marching music excellence.

Charles T. Menghini is President, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to his appointment as President in August of 2004, Charlie served as Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Director of Bands. He began his teaching at VanderCook College in 1994 and his teaching has included conducting, organization and administration, curriculum and supervision, brass methods and rehearsal techniques classes.

Charlie brought with his appointment to VanderCook 18 years of successful high school band experience in Missouri and Kansas. Bands under his direction received consistent Division I ratings in regional, state and national music festivals, performed at various state music educator conventions and performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Orange Bowl Parade, Bands of America International Festival and the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Originally from Iron Mountain, Michigan, Menghini attended Northern Michigan University and the University of Missouri – Columbia where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. He also holds a Master degree in Education from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and a Doctorate of Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music where he studied with Gary Hill. In addition to Hill, Menghini recognizes Tim Lautzenheiser and Gary Green as being most-influential teachers in his growth and development.

Charles Menghini writes for numerous professional journals and magazines including the “Instrumentalist” where he serves as a member of the Board of Advisors. He is also co-author of the Essential Elements Band Method, published by the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Charlie frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and has actively worked with over 350 school and community ensembles from 20 states as well as Canada, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia. He has conducted all –state ensembles in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Georgia, South Carolina, Nebraska, New York, Virginia, and Minnesota, and has presented numerous clinics at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago and state and regional music educators in-services throughout the world.

Menghini is a Lowell Mason Fellow and is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Beta Mu. He was inducted into the Alpha Psi Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society for Music - the highest honor a conservatory faculty can bestow on a student in recognition of outstanding musicianship and scholarly achievement, and is an honorary member of the Xi Kappa (VanderCook College) Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Charlie is an educational consultant for the Hal Leonard Corporation of Milwaukee, WI, Conn-Selmer of Elkhart, IN and is an educational member of the Music Achievement Council of the NAMM Foundation. An active performer, Charlie played lead trumpet in the Kansas City Chiefs Professional Football Band for fifteen seasons.

Dr. Johanna J. Siebert is the recently retired Director of Fine Arts for the Webster Central School District in New York, where she supervised approximately 60 teachers in the music and visual art programs. She received a B.S. in Music Theory from Nazareth College of Rochester, School District Administrator Certificate (SDA) from the University of Rochester, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Solutions Music Group and the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards’ (NCCAS) Music Standards writing team, chair for the Preschool-Grade 2 National Core Music Standards, and past-chair of NAfME’s first Music Teacher Evaluation Task Force.

Johanna has taught at many levels, including the graduate curriculum seminar at The Eastman School of Music, as guest lecturer at Eastman and Nazareth College, and in urban and suburban school districts. She has served on the editorial boards for the national publications Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music, and was named SAANYS Director of the Year for 2015 as well as Outstanding Special Educator for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Johanna is currently part of the revision team for NAfME’s Teacher Evaluation Workbook series and designer/writer for The College Board’s Pre-AP music learning modules. She is a member of New York State’s Steering Committee for the revision of its learning standards for the arts, and this summer she will chair its revision of the state's music learning standards. She is working with various school districts on curriculum writing and program reviews, and presents regularly at state and national conferences on the topics of the National Core Arts Standards, artistic literacy, assessment, effective evaluation practices for arts teachers, and action research in school music programs.

Elizabeth Sokolowski is head of the Music Education Division of the School of Music at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Mrs. Sokolowki is responsible for the curricular components of the Music Education Program, and teaches graduate level courses in K-12 Music Curriculum Design, Assessment, and Secondary Music Pedagogy. A graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree, she earned a Master’s degree at St. Joseph’s University from the Educational Leadership and Educational Administrative and Supervisory Program. Mrs. Sokolowski holds a Pennsylvania Instructional II Teaching Certificate and a Pennsylvania Administrative and Supervisory Certificate.

She is a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). In addition to her role at the University of the Arts, Mrs. Sokolowski provides professional growth opportunities and leadership training on Current Trends in Music Education, Music Technology Integration, Curriculum Design and Development, and 21^st Century Learning and Creativity in Music Education. Mrs. Sokolowski is published in the Pennsylvania and Alabama Music Educators Association journals and the TI:ME National publications. Her first book entitled Making Musical Meaning: Unlocking the Value of Music Education in the Age of Innovation (GIA Publications, Chicago) is now available.

Michael Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, WI one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Michael is directly responsible for the development, production, recording and marketing of new publications for school bands. In addition, he contributes as a composer and arranger in all instrumental areas, and is particularly known for his writing at the younger levels for concert band and jazz. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements.

Mr. Sweeney is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington), where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education and studied composition with Bernard Heiden, John Eaton and Donald Erb. Prior to working for Hal Leonard he was a band director in Ohio and Indiana, working with successful concert, jazz and marching programs at all levels from elementary to high school.

A winner of multiple ASCAP awards, his Ancient Voices (1994) and Imperium (1992) are featured in the acclaimed Teaching Music Through Performance series by GIA Publications. Other works such as Black Forest Overture (1996), The Forge of Vulcan (1997), Distant Thunder of the Sacred Forest (2003) and Celtic Air & Dance (2007) have become staples in the repertoire for middle school bands. He has received commissions ranging from middle school and high school bands to the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Canadian Brass. His works appear on numerous state contest lists and his music is regularly performed throughout the world. Michael is also in demand as a clinician and conductor for honor bands and festivals.

Michael resides in the Milwaukee area where he enjoys fishing and playing traditional Irish music.

Nancy Taylor is the trumpet professor at University of Texas at El Paso. Before joining the music faculty at UTEP in 2008, Taylor was on the music faculty at the University of Alabama, Wright State University, Centre College, and Calhoun Community College. She earned two degrees in trumpet performance - a Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University and a Master of Music from Indiana University.

An accomplished performer, Taylor was a member of the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own” before entering the arena of academia. She holds the unique distinction of having been the first female to win a position with the cornet/trumpet section in the nearly 200-year history of the organization. Her final and most memorable performance with the Marine Band was its 200th Anniversary Celebration Concert with Frederick Fennel conducting at the newly renovated concert hall in the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts.

While on the music faculty at UTEP, Taylor earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy. In addition to teaching at UTEP, she currently works in outpatient rehabilitation facilities and is sought after by faculty, students, and area music professionals to address their playing-related issues. Taylor presented her graduate research, Successful Career Adaptations of Musicians with Focal Dystonia, at the 2011 International Conference for Medical Problems of Performing Artists in Aspen, Colorado.

Dr. Frank Tracz is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University. At K-State he coordinates undergraduate and graduate conducting activities, teaches classes in music education, and administers and guides all aspects of the K-State band program.

Under his direction the Wind Ensemble has performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference, the MENC National Conference, A CBDNA regional Conference, as well as regional and international tours. During his tenure, the “Pride of Wildcat Land” Marching Band has enjoyed the privilege of traveling to nationally acclaimed bowl games in support of the University. Dr. Tracz received the Doctor of Philosophy (music education) from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University. Dr. Tracz has several years of experience teaching in the public schools of Ohio and Wisconsin. He has also served as Assistant Director of Bands at Syracuse University and Director of Bands at Morehead State University. He has served as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor for all-state and honor bands across the nation, as well as in Canada and Singapore.

Dr. Tracz is on Faculty for the Conn-Selmer Institute (CSI), as well as a past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board and is a contributor to the series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. His Honors include Stamey Award for Outstanding Teaching, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director Award, named a Lowell Mason Fellow, Wildcat Pride Alumni Award, Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director Award and election to the Prestigious American Bandmasters Association. Dr. Tracz was also elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternity in April 2015 for academic and scholarly achievements. This past December the Kansas State University Marching band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy from the John Philip Sousa Foundation for excellence, contribution, and innovation in marching band. Most recently, Dr. Tracz was awarded the 2016 Professorial Performance Award for his outstanding achievements over a sustained period of time with the KSU Band program, and was recently inducted into the Conn-Selmer Institute Hall of Fame.

Frank Troyka is the retired Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas. A teacher of over 30 years, Frank came to Berkner in May of 2006 following seven years as Director of Bands at Cypress Falls High School in Houston. Ensembles under his director have been selected to perform at the Music For All National Festival; the Percussive Arts Society International Convention; and at the Midwest Clinic on two occasions with his symphonic band at Cypress Falls in 2004 and with the Berkner Band in 2011. Frank is an active lecturer and clinician, presenting annual student leadership workshops across Texas, throughout the United States, and internationally. He is a frequent presenter at faculty development workshops for public school music teachers as well as a guest lecturer and “hands-on” instructor for both students and teachers.

Frank is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity, and a member of the National Association for Music Education. He is an Educational Consultant with Conn-Selmer, Inc.; the Director of Education for System Blue, the educational arm of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps of Concord, California; and the coordinator of the Generation Next series of presentations for The Midwest Clinic. He was honored as the 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year at Cypress Falls High School and, while at Berkner High School, was one of fifteen recipients in the state of Texas to receive the 2010 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. In 2014, Frank was honored by the Texas Bandmasters Association as a recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award. In 2015, Frank was named to the International Board of Experts for the World Music Contest of Kerkrade, The Netherlands. In March of 2016, Frank was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame.

David W. Vandewalker is the Assistant Director of Bands at Georgia State University, where he conducts the concert band, marching band and university pep band; teaches courses in conducting, advanced instrumental conducting, wind band rehearsal techniques and pedagogy, and wind literature; mentors graduate conducting students; and serves as the faculty sponsor for the National Band Association student chapter.

Dr. Vandewalker is the founding artistic director and conductor of the professional ensemble, Cobb Chamber Winds, and the administrator, artistic director, and principal conductor of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at GSU, Vandewalker taught for many years in middle and high schools in Texas and Georgia.

Dr. Vandewalker is published in numerous volumes of the Texas Bandmaster Review, volumes of the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” book series published by GIA, “Foundations for Wind Band Clarity- Arrangements for Concert Band,” Foundations for Wind Band Clarity- Instructional DVD, “Everyday Stuff Every Director Needs to Know,” “Boosters to the Rescue,” and “Strategic Plans for a Successful Booster Club.”

As a presenter, Dr. Vandewalker has made multiple appearances for the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music for All Summer Symposium, Smith Walbridge Directors Institute, National Band Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and the Midwest Clinic.

Dr. Vandewalker earned degrees at Baylor University, Central Michigan University, and Boston University where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Additionally, his research interests include the creation of new wind band literature, refining the modern wind band clarity of sound, and developing well-prepared future music educators.

Dean Westman is the Performing Arts Department Chair and Orchestra Director at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. Dean founded the Avon Orchestra program in the fall of 2007 with 40 6^th grade beginners. Over the past 10 years, the Avon Orchestra has grown to over 700 students grades 6 through 12, and the Avon High School Symphony Orchestra placed 3^rd at the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Indiana State School Music Association State Orchestra Finals. Mr. Westman also serves as a Program Coordinator for the 3-time Bands of America Grand National Champion and 12 Time Indiana State Champion Avon High School Marching Black and Gold. Prior to coming to Avon, Dean worked as the Educational Director for Music for All. He also served as Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Westman Co-Conducted the award winning SFA Symphony Orchestra. Under Dean’s leadership, the SFA Marching Band was named Bands of America Houston Regional Champion in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The SFA Band placed 5^th at the 2002 Bands of America Grand National Championships and 4^th at the 2004 Bands of America Grand National Championships, winning both Outstanding Music Performance and the Al Castronovo Memorial Esprit de Corps Award. Dean’s concert ensembles have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Skirball Center at NYU, the Moores Opera House, the Meyerson, and the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Westman has also held positions at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas and the Indian Prairie School District in Naperville, Illinois. Dean currently serves as a member of the Music for All Educational Steering Committee and a Board Member for the Avon Education Foundation.

In 2002, Dean was named the Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year at the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Convention. He has taught the Tenrikyo Aimaichi Marching Band from Nagoya, Japan, and has served on the teaching staff for Bands of America Rose Parade Honor Band of America. He continues to present clinics throughout the United States and Japan, including presentations at the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention, the DCI Judges and Instructor Clinic, and the Texas Dance Educator’s Association Convention. He is a proud member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, the American String Teacher’s Association, the Indiana State School Music Association and proudly serves as an Educational Clinician for Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Dean has been an active designer, instructor, and arranger in the drum corps activity for 25 years. Westman served as Brass Caption Head for the ten-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets, Brass Arranger and instructor for the six-time Drum Corps International World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard, and taught on the brass staff for the seven-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cavaliers. He was a music consultant for Carolina Crown and was Brass Arranger and Program Coordinator for the Troopers, leading America’s Corps to their first DCI Finals appearance in 23 years in 2009. In 2011, Dean instructed the Yokohama Scouts from Yokohama, Japan as they became the first Japanese Drum and Bugle Corps to ever perform at a DCI World Championship. Westman is in his 7^th season as Program Coordinator for the 2016 Drum Corps International World Champion Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio.

Dean is a native of Park Ridge, Illinois and a proud alumnus of the University of Illinois. His conducting and musical mentors include James F. Keene, Gary Smith, Thomas J. Wisniewski, Mark Moore, Franz Krager, and Larry Livingston. He lives in Plainfield, Indiana with his wife Adrianna and their 18-year-old daughter Abigail, who is a senior at Avon High School and will be studying Art Education next fall at Indiana State University!