Clinician Detail

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.

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.