It’s All About Culture: Building a Music Program Through Positive Standards and Expectations
Clinic Synopsis:
This session will focus on the values, goals, shared vision, and best practices to build a positive culture in a school music program. A structured approach to culture supports growth and empowers student success. Topics include: what DEI looks like, strategies to build healthy standards/practices, importance of student-centered goals, developing meaningful relationships with students, empowering student leadership, and inclusive recruiting strategies. Prepare your students for success in life.
Cliff Croomes
- Biographical Information
Cliff Croomes serves as the Associate Director of Bands at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2019 after earning his Master of Music degree in 2017 both from LSU. Dr. Croomes is also the past music director and principal conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Baton Rouge. Prior to his time at The University of Texas at Austin Dr. Croomes was the Assistant Director of Bands at Louisiana State University. Earlier in his career Croomes taught middle school and high school band in the Austin and San Antonio areas for fourteen years, most notably at Douglas MacArthur High School and Georgetown High School where he was the director of Bands from 2011-2015. Dr. Croomes is an active adjudicator and clinician throughout Louisiana, Florida and Texas and has consulted with ensembles internationally, most notably in Europe and Japan. Dr. Croomes is a founding board member of the composer diversity initiative “And We Were Heard” as well as a member of the Dr. William P. Foster Project advisory board. Croomes is originally from the Houston area where his family still resides and he earned his Bachelor of Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin.
Jason Dimiceli - Biographical Information
Jason Dimiceli is in his 19th year at McNeil High School in
Austin, TX, serving as Director of Bands since 2015. The McNeil Wind Ensemble
consistently receives the UIL Sweepstakes Award and it was named a TMEA 6A
Honor Band Finalist in 2018. The Wind Ensemble will perform at the
2023 Music For All National Concert Band Festival in
Indianapolis. The Maverick Marching Band is a multiple-time UIL Area D and
Bands of America Regional Finalist. Mr. Dimiceli's students have earned
state and national recognition in music performance and composition, including
multiple winners of the Austin Symphony Young Composers Concert Series. Mr.
Dimiceli is an active adjudicator throughout Texas and served on the staff of
the Texas Ambassadors of Music, which is comprised
of students from central Texas who perform in several countries throughout
Europe. Before arriving at McNeil, he served as Associate Band Director at San
Marcos High School and as Assistant Band Director at Westfield High School in
Spring ISD. He is originally from Houston, Texas and he earned his Bachelor of
Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin.
Jason Younts - Biographical Information
Jason
Younts enjoying his 14th year of full-time teaching and his third as the Head
Band Director at Champion High School in Boerne, TX. While at Champion, the
Champion Charger Marching Band has been a consistent Finalist at Area UIL and
Festival events. Additionally, the Champion Wind Ensemble has been recognized
at the State and National Levels as a Mark of Excellence Commended Winner and
as an Invited Performing Ensemble at The Western International Band
Clinic 2022. Prior to coming to Champion, Mr. Younts was the Director of Bands
for Fredericksburg ISD 2018-2020 and spent seven years on the Band Staff in
Fredericksburg. Students of Mr. Younts enjoyed great success competitively
including 2019 State Winners of the ATSSB 4A Outstanding Performer Series
Concert Competition, 2019 3rd Place in the ATSSB 4A Outstanding Performer
Series March Competition, multiple appearances in the 4A UIL State Marching
Competition Finals. During his career, Mr. Younts has served on several School,
District, and State Committees in support of his students and stakeholders.
Mr. Younts is also an active Clinician, Adjudicator, and Conference Presenter.
Mr. Younts maintains professional memberships in TMEA, TMAA, TMAC, TAJE, TBA,
and Texas Exes. Mr. Younts holds degrees from UT-Austin (BS'01), UT-San Antonio
(BA'09), and Texas State University-San Marcos (MM'11). Additionally, Mr.
Younts holds Texas Grade 6-12 Music Certification and Mid-Management
Administrator Certification.
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