Time:
Thursday
December, 19, 2019
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location:
Meeting Room W187
The Band (Orchestra) Director is Your Friend: Strategies for Building a Comprehensive Instrumental Music Department
Clinic Synopsis:
Your band or orchestra director should be your biggest ally and support system for your program. This clinic will present strategies that encourages band and orchestra directors to build an environment of collaboration leading to a comprehensive instrumental music department within their schools.
Krissi Davis
- Biographical Information
Krissi Davis is in her 15th year in education as the orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta Public Schools where she is currently the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year. She previously taught at the middle and high levels in Clayton County and Fayette County. While in Clayton County, she directed the Clayton County Middle School Honor Orchestra, and founded the Fine Arts Magnet Orchestra, now Stilwell School of the Arts Orchestra. While in Fayette County, she directed the Fayette Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Ms. Davis earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Georgia State University in 2004, and Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia in 2017. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Music Education at Georgia State University.
Orchestras under her direction consistently earn superior ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations. Orchestras under her direction have traveled and presented performances in Washington, DC; Orlando, Fla; Symphony Hall in Chicago, Ill; Carnegie Hall in New York, NY; and most recently at the 2018 ASTA National Orchestra Festival. Students in her orchestras consistently participate in honor orchestras such as the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Georgia All-State Orchestra. Ms. Davis is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and currently serves as the GMEA District 5 orchestra chair. Ms. Davis has adjudicated GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations in several districts, and most recently presented a session at the 2018 GMEA In-Service Conference. Ms. Davis has also served on curriculum development committees Atlanta Public Schools and Clayton County Public Schools. She has worked as a guest clinician in various capacities and maintains a private violin studio.
Gregory Denson - Biographical Information
Gregory
L. Denson is presently the Director of Bands at East Cobb Middle School in Marietta,
GA. A native of Morven, Georgia, Denson holds a Bachelor of Music from Morehouse
College, a Master of Music Education from The Florida State University, a
Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Georgia State University. Denson
has studied with David Morrow, Uzee Brown, Andre Thomas, Richard Clary,
Clifford Madsen, Steve Kelly, Kimberly Vanweelden, Pat Meighan, Patrick Freer,
and Gholnescar Muhammad.
Dr.
Denson began his teaching career at D. M. Therrell High School in Atlanta.
While at Therrell students participated in the Georgia Music Educators Association
Large Group Performance Evaluation, performed in numerous college homecoming
parades, participated in The University of Georgia JanFest Clinic, and a host
of community and civic events. Dr. Denson also served as the Co-Director of the
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Jazz Ensemble and served as the LEAD Band
Teacher for the Atlanta Public Schools.
Currently
as the Director of Bands at East Cobb MS, the band program has grown from 120
students to 500+ in 3 years and is quickly establishing a reputation of musical
excellence. The students at East Cobb MS participate in 5 large ensembles; 8th Grade Honors, 8th Grade Concert, 7th Grade Symphonic, 7th Grade Concert, 6th Grade Honors and Jazz Band. Students also
participate in a host of student led chamber ensembles. While at East Cobb,
students have been selected to participate in District XII Honor Band, University
of Georgia MidFest Honor Band Clinic, Auburn MS Honor Band, Conn-Selmer Youth
Band of Atlanta, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Dr.
Denson has been selected to present clinics at the Midwest Clinic, GMEA State In-Service
Conference and a host of professional development sessions in Cobb County,
Fulton County, Atlanta Public Schools, and Clayton County Schools, as well as
sessions in conjunction with the Woodruff Arts Center. He is a Conn Selmer VIP
and currently serves as the GMEA District XII Secretary.
Dr.
Denson is an active as a guest conductor and clinician and currently plays
clarinet as a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony.
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