Fine Tuning Ensemble Culture: Intentionally Creating a Positive Community Through Conversation and Collaboration
Clinic Synopsis:
During this presentation, we will examine pragmatic ways of building ensemble culture that focuses on intentional conversations and collaborative experiences to authentically engage your students and inspire the overarching goals of your program. Presenters will use their experience in creating a discussion-based series of lessons centered on culture to inform best practices. Directors will share how this can be transformative for your students and yourselves at every level in the program.
Jared Cassedy
- Biographical Information
Jared Cassedy is currently the K-12 Performing Arts Coordinator for Lexington Public Schools in Lexington, Massachusetts & conducts the LHS Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band. Jared is also the conductor of the Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School & serves as Chair-Elect for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association: Northeastern District. Previous to Massachusetts, he served as President-Elect for the New Hampshire Music Educators Association. In 2015 Jared was the recipient of the prestigious GRAMMY Music Educator Award furnished by the GRAMMY Foundation/The Recording Academy having been selected out of a pool of almost 10,000 nominees nationwide. Previous to his current position, Jared was the Director of K-12 Performing Arts for the Salem School District in Salem, NH & was the Director of K-12 Fine Arts for the Windham School District, in Windham, NH. Jared’s continued collaboration with his students has enabled selection to participate in a myriad of national/international performances & festivals. In 2011 the New Hampshire Band Directors Association named Jared Outstanding Young Band Director of the Year. Jared has conducted a number of regional honor bands across New England & has given a variety of lectures on leadership/best practices in teaching. He graduated Summa cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education & has a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
Allison Lacasse - Biographical Information
Allison Lacasse is the Director of Bands at Belmont High School in Belmont, Massachusetts. Allison is the Artistic Director for the University of Rhode Island Summer Music Academy Chamber Music Intensive program. Other current positions include staff appointments for the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle, Washington and the American Band College (ABC) in Ashland, Oregon. Allison serves as the Assistant Conductor of the Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble as part of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. Allison is a professional flutist and chamber musician in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a permanent member of the Cambridge Symphony and has held substitute positions with the Boston Civic Symphony, Newton Symphony, and New Hampshire Philharmonic. She has performed in notable performance spaces such as Jordan Hall and Symphony Hall. Allison maintains a private studio of intermediate and advanced level flute students in the Greater Boston area. She serves as an adjudicator and clinician for local area festivals, and has served as a guest conductor for local school band programs. Allison received Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Performance from the University of Rhode Island, a M.Ed. degree from Cambridge College, and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the American Band College of Central Washington University. Allison was a semifinalist for the 2017 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. In 2018, Allison was selected among her peers for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Advocacy Award.
Matthew Arau - Biographical Information
Dr. Matthew Arau, Founder, President, and CEO of
Upbeat Global, is an Associate Professor of Music and the Chair of the Music
Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University
Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. In addition, Dr. Arau is on the
graduate faculty of the American Band College of Central Washington University
and VanderCook College of Music. He also serves as a Conn-Selmer Education
Clinician, Member-at-Large on the NAfME Council for Band Education, and as an
Education Consultant for Connect Through Music. Dr. Arau has guest conducted
and presented on student leadership, mindfulness, growth mindset, rehearsal
techniques, and creating positive cultures in over 25 states and 4 continents.
He has presented at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the
Western International Band Clinic, the NAfME National Conference, numerous
State and Regional Music Education Association Conferences, and the Conn-Selmer
Institute. He has conducted honor bands in Australia, Greece, Cyprus, and
Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States. He is published
by GIA Publications, C. Alan Publications, Bandworld Magazine, Conn-Selmer,
SmartMusic, Alfred Publishing, and The Instrumentalist Magazine. Dr. Arau draws
on a deep reservoir of fifteen years of experience as a successful middle
school and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he led his
bands at Walt Clark Middle School and Loveland High School to numerous honor
performances and championships and pioneered the Leadership Symposium.
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