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Time:

Friday
December, 20, 2013
08:30 AM - N/A

Location:

W187

Clinician(s)

Jose Diaz

Jose Diaz

[email protected]
Kevin Mixon

Kevin Mixon

Ronnie Rios

Ronnie Rios

Alexandria Hanessian

Alexandria Hanessian

Welcome to My Neighborhood

Clinic Synopsis:

This clinic presents four successful music teachers from various metropolitan areas as they discuss the challenges and advantages of working with young people in any socioeconomic demographic.

Jose Diaz - Biographical Information

José Antonio Diaz is artistic director for the Diaz Music Institute and in his 29th year as director of bands at MacArthur High School in Houston, Texas. His band has performed with such artists as Jon Faddis, Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez, Nestor Torres, and Arturo Sandoval to name just a few and performed for IAJE, JEN, TMEA, OMEA, MENC, and The Midwest Clinic. His success with the MacArthur High School Jazz Program was a featured cover story in School Band and Orchestra and Band Director’s Guide magazines. He is a published author, composer, and producer. Jose has received a Down Beat Award for Achievement in Jazz Education and FOX 26 and Univision Television stations selected him as a Hispanic Hero. Recently José was inducted into the Texas Christian University Band of Fame, and he has received the prestigious Jefferson Award for his work with Diaz Music Institute. He is a Midwest Clinic Board member and member of Jazz Education Network Board of Directors.

Kevin Mixon - Biographical Information

Kevin Mixon is a National Board Certified Teacher and instrumental music educator for the Syracuse City School District, NY. He is in frequent demand as a conductor and clinician for festivals and conferences such as the International Society for Music Education Convention, The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, National Association for Music Education events, and state and regional music conferences. He is author of Reaching and Teaching All Instrumental Music Students and co-author of Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom (both NAfME/Rowman & Littlefield Publications). Several of his articles have appeared in Music Educators Journal, Teaching Music, Education Week, The Instrumentalist, American Dalcroze Journal, and The National Band Association Journal. Mr. Mixon is also an accomplished composer and arranger with several published works for band and orchestra available through Carl Fischer Music, Kendor Music, and Alfred Publishing.

Ronnie Rios - Biographical Information

Ronnie Rios is a graduate of Alice High School under the direction of Bryce Taylor. He graduated Summa Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters in Music Education from Texas A & M - Kingsville. He began teaching in the Kingsville ISD where his middle school and high school bands received consistent Sweepstakes awards and Best in Class awards at various State and National festivals. The jazz ensemblesreceived Best in Class and numerous “Outstanding Band of the Festival” awards. He had All-State Band and Jazz band students. Currently as Director of Bands at Harlingen High School, all four concert bands have received consistent Sweepstakes awards, Best in Class, State and National awards and All-State Band and Jazz band students. The Harlingen High School Marching Band has made 8 consecutive appearances at the Texas State Marching Contest. The band has also earned positions in the finals of Bands of America Regionals, where they won the school's first Regional in 2005. The Marching Band has also won numerous festival awards and Grand Champion Marching recognitions. The Concert Band has advanced to the Texas 5A Honor Band Finals four times finishing as high as 9th. The Jazz Ensemble has received consistent Best in Class and numerous “Outstanding Band of the Festival” awards. The Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform at the IAJE convention in New York City. They also performed and produced a tribute to Duke Ellington’s music with WyntonMarsalis at Lincoln Center. The Jazz Ensemble has also performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago as well as TMEA and TBA in San Antonio. The Jazz Ensemble has shared the stage with artists such as Michael Brecker, JohnFedchock, Conrad Herwig, Mike Steinel, Woody Witt, Armin Marmolejo and Dennis DiBlisio. The Harlingen HS band was named the 2011 Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary High School Band Program of the Year. Mr. Rios has been named to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers numerous times and was named Teacher of the Year in the Harlingen CISD. He has also received the Distinguished Citizen Awardby the community of Harlingen and is also a pastTexas Young Bandmaster of the year recipient. Mr. Rios is a member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA,TJEA, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is the Past President of IAJE-Texas, TJEA, past TMAA Vice-President and is the currentTMEA State Band Chair. Mr. Rios is an active clinician and adjudicator in Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Kentucky and Indiana and also an active adjudicator for UIL, DCI, and BOA.

Alexandria Hanessian - Biographical Information

Alexandria Hanessian is currently in her eighth year as the director of concert and jazz bands at Spencer – Van Etten Middle School in the southern Finger Lakes region of Spencer, New York. In addition, she has also directed several middle school plays and musicals and is Musical Director for high school productions (including Crazy for You, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, and Seussical). As an active leader in her school and community, Ms. Hanessian recently finished tenure as President of her county music educators association and has hosted student teachers from Ithaca College for the past three years. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, New York State Band Directors Association, and New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). Passionate about building success in small school districts, she and her colleagues presented a workshop entitled “Big Things Happen in Small Schools” at the NYSSMA Conference in 2010, and again at the collegiate NAfME Conference at Nazareth College in 2012. Since beginning at Spencer – Van Etten, the instrumental program has grown by thirty-five percent and there are now active drama and jazz programs at the middle school level. Ms. Hanessian holds a BM in Clarinet Performance and Education and an MM in Music Education from Ithaca College and is a sought-after performer and a private teacher in the Ithaca/Binghamton area.

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