2013 VMEA Conference Clinicians

2013 VMEA Conference Clinicians PETER & MARY ALICE AMIDON Peter and Mary Alice Amidon are versatile and widely respected as performers and teachers who have dedicated their careers as artists to traditional song, dance, and storytelling. They are equally at home performing a concert of stories and songs, calling a community dance, leading harmony singing, and leading workshops of dancing, singing, and storytelling to children and teachers. They are in demand throughout the United States as clinicians leading Orff and Kodaly music teacher workshops, and have been headliners at several AOSA and OAKE national conferences. They are founding members of New England Dancing Masters, publishers of dance materials for children and teachers. Thousands of elementary school music teachers use these dance materials with their students. The Amidons find storytelling to be a powerful teaching tool; traditional folktales help guide children safely through the emotional jungle of growing up. The Amidons are both former elementary school music teachers. KRISTIN CIMONETTI Kristin Cimonetti is the choral music teacher at Mill River Union High School where she conducts the 7th and 8th Grade Junior Chorus and the 9th-­‐12th Grade Senior Chorus. She also conducts five auditioned ensembles, which include Vivace, Men's Vocal Lab, Women’s Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, and the Chamber Singers. Her students have been placed in District, All-­‐State, New England, ACDA, and All-­‐Eastern choral festivals. Kristin also enjoys serving as an adjudicator, accompanist and guest conductor at choral festivals. JAMES FRANKEL Dr. James Frankel is the Head of Digital Education for the Music Sales Group, and Director of MusicFirst. Previously, he was the Managing Director of SoundTree, the Educational Division of Korg USA, and before that he was the instrumental and general music teacher at the Franklin Avenue Middle School in Franklin Lakes, NJ for 11 of his nearly 15 years in the New Jersey Public Schools. Dr. Frankel earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Montclair State University in 1993, where he studied the tuba as well as composition. In 1996, Dr. Frankel completed his Masters Degree in Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University where he completed his doctoral studies in 2002. Dr Frankel is an Adjunct Faculty member at Teachers College, Columbia University where he teaches courses on music technology. Dr. Frankel is a widely published author in various state, national and international journals of music education. He is the author of: Teaching Classroom Music in the Keyboard Lab, published by SoundTree, as well as The Teachers Guide to Music, Media & Copyright Law, published by Hal Leonard. He is also co-­‐author of YouTube in Music Education published by Hal Leonard, contributing author for Critical Issues in Music Education published by Oxford University Press and co-­‐author of Making Music with GarageBand & Mixcraft published by Cengage. In addition to his writing, Dr. Frankel is a highly sought-­‐after clinician in the local, national and international music education communities. He is on the Board of Directors for TI:ME and is the past president of ATMI. MELISSA GREENWOOD Melissa Greenwood has been teaching music for the past 17 years. She received her Bachelors in Music Education from Keene State College in 1996 and a Masters in Education from Union Institute and University in 2007. This summer Melissa completed Orff Schulwerk Training at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She currently teaches General Music for grades Pre-­‐
School to Six and Instrumental Music at Johnson Elementary School. GLENDON INGALLS Glendon Ingalls is Director of Instrumental Music at Rutland Town Elementary/Middle School in Rutland, Vermont where he directs a program with 120 students involved in 3 concert bands, a marching band and 3 jazz ensembles. Rutland Town School, a school of 350 students consistently places a very high number of students in district groups, and performing ensembles attain Excellent and Superior festival ratings. A multi instrumentalist, Mr. Ingalls is string bass, electric bass, and trumpet instructor at Middlebury College. He has been invited to conduct wind and jazz ensembles at numerous festivals in northern New England and in upstate New York. He is also staff bassist and nonet director at summer adult jazz camp, Jazz Vermont. Ingalls is founder of the Rutland Town Friends of Music summer jazz camp for youth. A past president of the VT chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators he has recorded with a wide variety of groups including the VT Jazz Ensemble and Onion River Jazz Band and performs in settings ranging from orchestral, to jazz, and rock. In 2001 he appeared with Burlington singer Jenni Johnson at the Jaroslavl International Jazz Festival in Russia. He resides in Rutland with his wife Dinah Stafford. BEAR IRWIN Bear Irwin began teaching instrumental music in 1970. Currently on the faculty at Mill River Union High School, Mr. Irwin has taught vocal and/or instrumental music at Enosburg Falls Junior–Senior High School & Elementary School, Bakersfield Middle School, Montgomery Elementary School, Middlebury Union Junior and Senior High School and Rutland Town School. Bear also taught Senior High Methods and Brass Methods on the Adjunct Faculty of Johnson State College and Castleton State College, and presently teaches trombone at Middlebury College. Bear has done graduate work at UVM, Central Connecticut State University, and Plymouth State College, studying with James Swearingen, Robert W. Smith, Anne McGinty, Jack Stamp, Richard Derosa, Craig Kirchoff, and H. Robert Reynolds. Mr. Irwin has served on the Vermont Music Educators Association Executive Board as District Divisions Coordinator and as President. Bear served as Vice President and President of the International Association of Jazz Educators Vermont Unit. Between 2000 and 2004, Bear was the Manager of the Vermont All State Music Festival Jazz Ensemble and has been a Staff Member/Clinician/Conductor at Jazz Vermont since 1984. Bear has been Director of the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra Concert Band since 2000 and a coach of Shrewsbury Chamber Music Society Brass and Jazz Ensembles since 1998. Mr. Irwin organized, manages and plays Lead Trombone for the Vermont Jazz Ensemble (since 1976), and he also performs with Satin ‘n’ Steel, Stolen Moments, Moments Notice, Doctor Burma, Catamount Brass, and other ensembles throughout Vermont, while guest conducting or doing workshops and clinics several times per year. Mr. Irwin has been presented the Outstanding Vermont Teacher Award by the University of Vermont three times over twenty-­‐two years. He was named Vermont Educator of the Year by the Vermont VFW Auxiliary in 2000, and in May of 2009, Mr. Irwin was inducted into the Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame. KAREN JAMES Karen James, Pittsford, VT, began ringing bells when her church acquired a three octave set in 1983 and she became the director a year later. Under her direction, the Bells of Joy, now ringing five octaves, have performed locally, at Area and National Festivals, and toured the Atlantic States. Since 1986, Karen has helped organize and direct the annual Vermont Spring Rings and has taught numerous handbell workshops throughout New England. Karen holds a BM in Music Education from the University of Lowell, Mass., with further studies from Hartt School of Music, the University of Vermont and Orff-­‐Schulwerk in England. In addition to her love of handbells, she enjoys accompanying recitals, and directing musicals. Karen has been teaching music over 30 years in the public schools and in her home studio. She rings with the New England Ringers and Northern Bronze, and is adjunct piano instructor at Castleton State College. TIM LAUTZENHEISER Tim Lautzenheiser is a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in developing a desire for excellence and a passion for high level achievement. His career involves ten years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. Following his tenure at the university level, 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 workshops, seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training. Over two million students have experienced his acclaimed student leadership workshops over the last three decades. He presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-­‐Selmer, Inc. In addition, he continues his rigorous travel schedule 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 world. He is also co-­‐author of popular band method, Essential Elements, and is the Senior Educational Consultant for Hal Leonard, Inc. Tim is the Senior Educational Advisor for Music for All, and NAMM (The International Music Products Association). Tim 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 is presently an adjunct faculty member at: Ball State University (Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer), Indiana-­‐Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he serves on the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and the Western International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors. ELIZABETH LEBEAU Elizabeth LeBeau has been teaching Vocal Music for fifteen years. She has been teaching Vocal Music at Middlebury Union High School for the past eleven years. Mrs. LeBeau's duties include Middle School and High School Concert Choir, Men's Ensemble, Women's Ensemble, Beginning Guitar, Beginning Piano, and Individual Vocal lessons. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont, and lives in Panton, Vermont with her husband, and two daughters. MARTIE MUTZ Martie Mutz teaches K-­‐2 music in Colchester, Vermont. Her school district has made a big push to get technology into the schools. Although they are not yet 1:1 with iPads, the iPad cart and sign-­‐up calendar seems to work well for now. Time will tell as the demand increases. Martie has taken several courses re: integrating technology into the music classroom. The one course that really shed a lot of light on what's out there was presented by Katie Wardrobe of Midnight Music entitled: "iPads in the Music Classroom.” Martie has tried several of Katie's app suggestions in the classroom and will continue to add to that list. TONY PIETRICOLA Tony Pietricola graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Music Degree with a major in Music Education and received his Masters of Music Degree in clarinet performance Northern Illinois University. He has earned additional credits from Arizona State University, the Eastman School of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Vermont and So. New Hampshire University.
Tony taught music at Charlotte Central School, grades 5 -­‐ 8, from 1985 to 2009. Before that he taught in Grand Isle County, VT, Southeastern Mass. and Ithaca, New York. He was voted "Vermont Music Educator of the Year" for 2003-­‐2004 and is in his 43rd year of teaching. Tony is a past president of VMEA and has also served the organization as instrumental chair. A regular saxophone and clarinet member of the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, he also has performed with the Vermont Symphony, Lyric Theatre Orchestra, Vermont Winds, Vermont Saxophone Ensemble, Jenni Johnson, St. Michael’s Summer Theater, Bach Winds, Swinging Vermont Big Band, the Cape Cod Symphony and various small ensembles around the State of Vermont. Nationally, Tony participated in the S.C.A.S.S. Arts Assessment Project, overseen by the Chief Council of State School Officers in Washington D.C. and has been a presenter at national and regional music education conferences. Within Vermont, Tony helped draft and coordinate revisions of the standards in the Vermont Framework and the Vermont Grade Cluster Expectations for the Arts. Tony was a member of the Vermont Arts Assessment Design Team, Chair of the Vermont Alliance for Arts Education, member of the Education Advisory Committee for the Vermont Arts Council and a founding member of the Vermont Midi Project. Tony is presently the Dean of the Islands Arts Academy, a part of Island Arts, which makes Arts courses available in Grand Isle County, VT. He also is a teacher with the Flynn Arts jazz program and an instructor with the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Winds Program. Work as an Arts Consultant in three Vermont School Districts occupies some of his time as well as serving VMEA as Advocacy Chair. Tony lives in Grand Isle, VT with his wife Susan. JON RANNEY Jonathan Ranney is a graduate of the Minnesota Southeast Technical Band Instrument Program and has been repairing and restoring band instruments for almost 19 years. He is a member of the National Association of Band Instrument Repair Technicians, has presented workshops for the Vermont and New Hampshire Music Educators Associations as well as the New England Band Directors Institute. Jon has been sought out as the repair technician for many of the professional musicians in New England including members of the Vermont, Springfield, MA and Portland, ME Symphony Orchestras. In his position of shop supervisor, Jon has been the guiding force for the high standards and excellent reputation of the Ellis Music Repair Department. GLORY REINSTEIN Glory (Douglass) Reinstein received her B.S. in Music Education from the University of Vermont and her Master’s Degree in Music Education at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. She has taught at Lamoille Union High School, North Country Union High School, and presently teaches Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Guitar, Theory, and Piano Lab at Essex High School. Glory has been an adjudicator and guest conductor throughout Vermont and Northern New York as well as Co-­‐Manager for the All State Festival Choir. She is a Past-­‐President for the Vermont Chapter of ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and VMEA (Vermont Music Educators Association) and presently serves as the chair for choral sessions at the VMEA conference. She is the recipient of four awards including “Vermont Music Educator of the Year” in 1997-­‐98. Glory presently serves as Assistant Conductor for Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont. PATRICIA RILEY
Patricia Riley (priley@uvm.edu), D.M.A. is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Music Education Program at the University of Vermont. Prior to this, she taught at The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam. Previously, Dr. Riley taught instrumental, general, and choral music for twenty years in the public schools of New Jersey and Vermont; and for five years maintained a woodwind and brass studio at Green Mountain College. She has published in Music Education Research, Research and Issues in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Visions of Research in Music Education, Journal of Technology in Music Learning, College Music Symposium, Music Educators Journal, Teaching Music, and The Vermont Music Educator; and has contributed numerous chapters to edited books and symposium proceedings. Dr. Riley is a frequent presenter of sessions at international, national, regional, and state conferences. Her research interests include student music composition, cultural studies, technology, and assessment. CHRIS RIVERS A native of Vermont and a graduate of South Burlington High School, Chris attended The Crane School of Music and The Florida State University earning degrees in Music Education. His teachers include Anthony Maiello and James Croft. Chris is currently in his 23rd year as Band Director at Harwood Union High School in Moretown, Vermont where the program was awarded a 2003 Grammy Signature School Award. He is also adjunct part-­‐time faculty at The University of Vermont. The Harwood Music Program will be completing its 10th Recording Project in May of 2014. Chris has earned honors as Teacher of the Year, and has served as District IV Chair. He is an active performer, conductor, and educator -­‐ performing throughout Vermont with many organizations including trumpet with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and the Constitution Brass Quintet. ANNE SEVERY Anne Allison Severy has been teaching Instrumental Music for 32 years. She has been teaching Instrumental Music at Middlebury Union High School for the past 27 years. Mrs. Severy’s duties include Concert/Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Music Theory and Composition, Music History and Composition 2, String Ensemble and Instrumental Lessons. Mrs. Severy received a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminister College and a Masters of Music Education from Boston University. She lives in Cornwall with her husband, a native Vermont dairy farmer. They have four children. LAUREN SEVIAN Grammy award winning saxophonist Lauren Sevian has been performing professionally since the age of 12, first on the piano, then on the saxophone. At the age of 16 she won the Count Basie Invitational soloing competition, which led to a feature performance with the Basie Band. By the age of 17 she had already performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, & the Village Vanguard. In the fall of 1997, Lauren came to NYC to attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music where she studied privately with Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin, Steve Slagle, Joe Temperley, and Mike Abene. Upon entering her senior year of college, Lauren was given the chance to go on tour with the critically acclaimed big band Diva. After returning from the Diva tour, Lauren returned to MSM and graduated in the spring of 2001 with a bachelor of music degree. Some highlights of Sevian’s career: In 2003 she became a regular member of the Mingus Big Band and has performed with them throughout the US and internationally; She was in the movie “Mona Lisa Smile” which starred Julia Roberts; In 2006 she recorded with Greg Osby for Joan Osbourne’s “Breakfast in Bed;” In 2007 she performed Charles Mingus’ “Epitaph” with the Mingus Epitaph Orchestra in several concert halls across the US; In the summer of 2007, she joined the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty as a teaching artist; In 2008 she was invited to adjudicate & perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s “Next Generation” Festival, where she performed with Christian McBride, Terry-­‐Lynn Carrington, George Duke, Billy Harper, Ron Westray, and many others. In 2009, 2010, & 2011 she toured with the Rescue Me Comedy Tour featuring Dennis Leary and appears in the Comedy Central special “Douchebags & Donuts.” In October 2009 she was invited to perform as a special guest in Ireland and with the Nikki Iles Quintet at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. In 2009 & 2010 she toured France with the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra led by songstress Tamar-­‐kali. In 2012 she had the pleasure of performing with vocalist Jane Monheit as part of the group “Jane Monheit and the Ladies of Jazz” assembled by promoter Mike Gow, and performed with Christian McBride’s Big Band, backing up artists such as Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. She has received numerous awards throughout the years, nominated from 2008-­‐present for the Downbeat Critics Poll “rising star” baritone saxophone, a SESAC jazz award for “Blueprint,” and is now a Grammy award winner for the Mingus Big Band’s “Live at the Jazz Standard.” (2011) Lauren has two quartets, the “LSQ” (bari, piano, bass & drums) & the “Eb Quartet” (bari, alto, bass, & drums). Musicians that have performed in either group include: George Colligan, Helen Sung, Adam Burnbaum, Boris Kozlov, Brad Jones, Marcos Varela, Johnathan Blake, Jeff Davis, E.J. Strickland, Curtis Torian, & Mike DiRubbo. Another recent project is the “Buffet Sax trio” which was put together by Buffet-­‐Crampon USA, featuring Lauren, Jacob Yoffee (tenor), and Russell Kirk (alto) as the front line. She has performed as a leader at clubs such as the Kitano, Smoke, Jazz Gallery, Mattatuck Museum, and Fat Cat. The “LSQ” released “Blueprint” in December 2008 on Greg Osby’s label Inner Circle Music. “Blueprint” spent many weeks in the top 20 on the Jazzweek chart, and has also been included in numerous best of 2009 lists, receiving a national performance activity award from SESAC in 2010, “best of 2009” list by All About Jazz, and received rave reviews by DownBeat, Cadence Magazine, Amazon, and All About Jazz. She has also done countless radio interviews following the release of Blueprint. Other publications she has been featured in: Saxophone Journal, The Sax (Japan), Hothouse, Jazz Inside, Boston Globe, Newsday, allaboutjazz.com, bestsaxophonewebsiteever.com, montereyjazzfest.org, soufflez.net, and George Colligan’s “Jazz Truth.” In addition to performing, Ms. Sevian is a teacher, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator. Highlights include: The summer of 2007 she joined the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty as a teaching artist. In April 2008 she was invited to adjudicate & perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s “Next Generation” Festival. In 2011 she was the guest artist/conductor for the Westchester All-­‐County Jazz Ensemble. In 2012, she was a featured artist & adjudicator with the UMSL (University of Missouri St. Louis) jazz ensemble as part of the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, and at Utah State University as a guest artist and instructor. As an artist for Buffet-­‐Crampon she has given numerous clinics & performances around the country, most recently at the JEN conference in New Orleans, and at Saxquest in St. Louis, MO. She has also taught at New School and teaches for the Brooklyn Conservatory’s “Music Partners.” Lauren Sevian endorses Buffet-­‐Crampon saxophones, RPC mouthpieces, and Rico Reeds. DAN SIGNOR Dan earned his B.M.E. in Vocal Music Education in 1995 from The University of Maine, graduating with Highest Distinction. He has served as a vocal judge for the Maine All State Music Festival and as guest clinician for numerous youth festivals. A classically trained tenor, Dan performed with the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre and can be heard on a CD performing sacred music with a Boston-­‐based professional choir and orchestra. A long-­‐time member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, Dan has stayed busy as a certified Singing Judge, a certified Singing A's coach and a certified Barbershop Chorus Director. He has been on faculty at a number of barbershop schools: Harmony College Northeast (Massachusetts), Harmony College Northwest (Washington), IDA (Illinois), Mountain School (Montreal) and HITS (Missouri), to name a few. He is an active voice teacher, quartet and chorus coach for both the BHS and Harmony, Inc., arranger and works with a wide variety of musical ensembles and genres. Dan has been involved with a number of choruses throughout the years. He was the assistant director for the Hillsmen in Norway/ South Paris, ME, the Coachmen in Concord, NH, and the Downeasters in Portland, ME. As the frontline director, Dan propelled the North Country Chordsmen (Hanover, NH) to the Small Chorus Championship in 2003 as they earned the Most Improved Chorus Award. Eight years ago, Dan and his talented wife, Gaye, founded a community based a cappella chorus. Their daughter Alexa (who also holds a music degree) is their assistant director. As a barbershop singer Dan has also found some success. Dan sang lead in Overdrive, the 2000 Northeastern District Quartet Champions, and sang lead with REACTION!, 2004 Northeastern District Bronze medalist quartet. (As an interesting side note, Dan has the distinction of qualifying to sing at the Northeastern District Quartet Contest on three different voice parts.) In 2001, Dan and his wife Gaye won the Bolton Landing Quartet Championship while singing in their mixed quartet, Round Midnight. Currently Dan sings baritone in the popular show quartet, The Honeymooners, with Gaye and another couple. He also sings lead in a newly formed men's quartet, Fast Track. In his 19th year of teaching, Dan currently teaches vocal music at Lebanon High School (13th year) in Lebanon, NH. In 2005, the Lebanon School Board honored him with an award as Outstanding Choral Director. Dan’s school ensembles have combined to release 6 recordings. Dan has started three new ensembles while in Lebanon: Harmony Night, an a cappella community chorus; Showtime, a select female ensemble; and Sha Na Na, a male ensemble. Outside of music, Dan enjoys riding his motorcycle and playing with power tools. DANIELLE TRASCIATTI-­‐HOLMBERG Danielle Trasciatti-­‐Holmberg lives in Williston, VT with her husband and five children. She is in her 15th year of teaching music, going into her 11th year teaching in the Williston School District. Before that, she has taught middle school instrumental and general music in Sharon, MA and elementary school general and instrumental music in Needham, MA. She currently teaches K-­‐4 general and choral music in the Williston School District. Danielle holds a B.S. in Music Education from Penn State University and is currently working on her Master's degree. Danielle began using her iPad in her teaching in fall of 2012. She has been exploring the endless possibilities in using her iPad like taking attendance, managing classroom behavior, audio/video recording, vocal and recorder skill-­‐building, and assessments. ROB WESTERBERG Rob Westerberg is Choral Director at York High School in York, Maine, and Director of the Portland Community Chorus. Mr. Westerberg holds a B.M. in Music Education from Keene State College and M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Maine. He is Past President of the Maine Music Educators Association, Vermont Music Educators Association and Vermont Choral Directors Association. He has managed District, All State and Eastern Division Choirs and served as chairman for the Maine All State Music Festival. Westerberg was the 2011 recipient of the Carol Trimble Award for Arts Advocacy by the Maine Department of Education, and was Maine ACDA’s Distinguished Choral Director for 2012. He has worked closely with the Maine Department of Education and the Arts Are Basic Coalition to strengthen the role of music education in Maine’s public schools and is a founding member of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. At York High School his choirs annually consist of one third of the student body, and he worked closely with administration to establish a graduation requirement specifically for music, ensuring that music education at York be truly “essential” for all students. Mr. Westerberg has also conducted the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Magic Of Christmas Choir, and is a frequent guest speaker, clinician and guest conductor throughout New England, including the 2010 NH All State Women’s Choir. Mr. Westerberg resides in Biddeford, Maine. CONNIE WILCOX Connie Wilcox has been the music educator in the Ludlow, VT schools for more than thirty years. She is currently serving on the executive board of VMEA, where she chairs the General Music committee. Connie is actively involved in the Vermont Chapter of ACDA and served on the Children's Choir committee for several years. Connie holds a B.M. in Music Education from Keene State College, as well as 45+ graduate credits from a variety of institutions throughout New England. She is a big fan of new technology and continuously integrates these into her teaching curriculum.