During the 2018-2019 school year, we decided to catalog the journey of our Wind Ensemble performing wind chamber music. This year we created a Vlog (video blog) of our experiences and how it helped shape the students musicianship and independence to lead their own rehearsals. This clinic will give tips and insights on how to create an environment where students can experiment and become more independent musically.
Rachel Zephir
- Biographical Information
Rachel E. Zephir is currently the Director of Bands at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt Maryland. At Roosevelt, she directs four Concert Bands, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, and oversees the chamber music program. She began this position in August of 2015. During her tenure the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band have been selected to perform at the Maryland Music Educators State Conference in 2017, the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Eastern Regional Conference at Yale University in 2018, and in March 2019 they will perform at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) National Band Directors Consortium Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. She has held similar positions at Hereford High School in Parkton Maryland, and Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge Maryland. Rachel also spent three years teaching with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s El Sistema based program OrchKids. At OrchKids, she was the Brass Department Chair, and taught Musicianship and Ear Training classes. From 2007-2011 she was also the Music Director of the Westminster Symphony Orchestra; a combined effort between McDaniel College and Carroll Community College in Westminster Maryland. Members included local professional musicians, area music educators, college students, and community members. She was also an adjunct faculty member at both McDaniel College and Carroll Community College teaching studio trumpet and the Brass Ensemble. .
She has participated in several conducting workshops with renowned Wind Conductors such as Donald Hunsberger, Frederick Fennell, H. Robert Reynolds, Mark Scatterday, Michael Haithcock, Frank Battisti, Craig Kirchhoff, and Jerry Junkin.
Rachel is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She has degrees in Trumpet, Music Education, and Wind Conducting.