An Honest Conversation With Minority Directors in a Majority World!
Clinic Synopsis:
This session will feature unique perspectives from minority directors, & provide insight to help others understand experiences & challenges encountered in the profession. Panelists will have a candid conversation about their experiences in the profession. This interactive session will provide a safe space for attendees to ask questions to help achieve mutual understanding. The session’s purpose is to educate non-minority directors & provide actionable ways for them to support minority directors.
Jack Eaddy,Jr.
- Biographical Information
Jack A. Eaddy, Jr., a native of Orangeburg, SC, is the Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University, where he serves as the Director of Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and conducts the Symphonic Band. Dr. Eaddy holds degrees from the University of North Texas, University of Georgia, and the Florida State University. Dr. Eaddy taught for twelve years in Orlando, FL, where he developed a program that was recognized throughout the state for maintaining high standards despite the challenges his students experienced. Dr. Eaddy received the FMEA Tom Bishop Award recognizing a director who turned a program around, making a positive difference. Dr. Eaddy has presented at several conferences, including the Midwest Clinic and CBDNA Southern Division and Athletic Band Conferences. As a conductor, he was a selected participant in the 2018 US Pershing’s Own Army Band’s conducting workshop and received 2nd place for the 2020 American Prize in Conducting. Dr. Eaddy has earned a national reputation mentoring music directors and convenes two professional development seminars: Listen Up!!! score study sessions, and the Conductors’ reToolbox, as well as hosts a national podcast, Tales from the Band Room, that focuses on strengthening music education programs in urban communities to have a life-long impact on students.
Gregory Drane - Biographical Information
Gregory Drane, a native of Miami, Florida, earned bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance (saxophone) from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Florida as a proud member of the Marching Wildcats. Earning a master’s degree in music education and Ph.D. in Music Education, at Penn State, Dr. Drane currently serves as the director of the Marching Blue Band (320+ members) and Athletic Bands (150+ members).
As the director of the Marching Blue Band, Dr. Drane also oversees all aspects of the Athletic Bands program including the Pride of the Lions (POTL) pep bands which performs for Men’s and Women’s basketball, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Hockey. He is active as an arranger and marching band drill designer. In addition to his duties with the Athletic Bands program, he conducts the Symphonic Band, teaches marching band techniques and is an instructor for music courses offered to non-majors for general arts credit.
Dr. Drane’s research with interests include Black American contributions to American music education, leadership in the music classroom, and historical music ensembles. Dr. Drane’s dissertation is titled, The Navy Band B-1: The First All-Black Navy Band of World War II.
Julia Baumanis - Biographical Information
Dr. Julia Baumanis is the Assistant Director of Bands at Rutgers University and is the first female band director in the university’s history. Her duties include serving as the Assistant Director of the Marching Scarlet Knights, Director of Pep Bands, Conductor of the RU Symphony Band, teaching courses in instrumental music, and supervising music education students in their student-teacher semester. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Baumanis served as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Central Missouri. Dr. Baumanis has also served within the music education community as the Design Editor for The Woman Conductor, the official publication for Women Band Directors International.
A graduate of The Florida State University College of Music, Dr. Baumanis received her bachelor’s in Instrumental Music Education, her master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting, and her Ph.D. in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting. Prior to, she taught public school at J.P. Taravella High School and Ramblewood Middle School.
An active performer, educator, and researcher, Dr. Baumanis has presented her research nationally, including at the NAfME Research Symposium, the CBDNA National Conference, and the Desert Skies Music Education Research Symposium. Most recently, her research has focused on developing a conductor’s baton that records data collected from a conductor’s expressive gestures. She hopes to implement this technology in the conducting classroom as a technological tool to assist beginning conductors in developing their craft.
Kelvin Jones - Biographical Information
Dr. Kelvin Jones (he/ him) is the Assistant Director of Bands at LSU. His responsibilities include conducting the LSU Symphonic Band, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level conducting, and leading the award-winning, 325-member Golden Band from Tigerland.
As a conductor, Jones has conducted ensembles international and nationally, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has worked on new music commissioning projects and has received praise on his interpretations from composers Steven Bryant, Alex Shapiro, Omar Thomas, John Mackey, Anthony Barfield, Ayatey Shabazz, Joshua Hobbs, among others.
Jones has also served as a consultant for school districts & music programs throughout the country along with presenting at international, national, and state music conferences across the US. He’s an active clinician, published writer, motivational speaker, and has traveled internationally working with music programs. He also serves as a clinician/instructor at the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinic, along with serving in numerous capacities within the College Band Directors National Association. .
He is the former band director at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, LA. At WFHS, he led an active, comprehensive music program that produced numerous award-winning performances, including the 2013 United States National Presidential Inauguration Music Festival in Washington DC. He holds degrees in Music from Jackson State & Louisiana State Universities. He resides in Zachary, LA with his wife Felicia, a nurse practitioner, and son Samuel aka "BJ.”
Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin - Biographical Information
Dr.
Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is
Director of Wind Band Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Penn State
University. In addition to conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, overseeing
the graduate wind conducting program, teaching courses in wind band literature
and wind conducting, she oversees all aspects of the concert band programs at
Penn State. Her appointment at PSU follows three years as Assistant Director of
Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South
Carolina. Prior to her tenure at UofSC, Mitchell-Spradlin taught at Valdosta
State University as Director of Athletic Bands, and was Director of Bands at
Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia.
Mitchell-Spradlin has a diverse background as a conductor,
clinician, adjudicator, educator, and speaker. She is a Conn Selmer educator
and frequent guest conductor with performances for several regional honor
bands, Allstate bands, summer camps and clinics, and residencies at public
schools and collegiate institutions. In the summer she conducts the wind
ensemble at Penn State’s Honors Music Institute. She is active in the teaching
of conducting, recently serving as clinician for the UMKC Conducting Symposium
and the President’s Own Marine Band Conductor Training Program.
As a presenter, Mitchell-Spradlin speaks often about programming,
forming a connection with musicians, building culture, musical leadership, and
inclusivity in the band medium. She has shared musical and pedagogical ideas on
several music podcasts including Everything Band, Conn Selmer’s Backstage with
Dr. Tim, The Bandroom, and the Ictus Podcast. Presentations include
invited sessions at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, College Music
Society, the College Band Directors National Association, keynote presenter for
the NAfME Northwest conference, and the South Carolina Music Educators
Association Conference. Her international speaking engagements include presenting
the keynote for the Maryborough Music Conference in Australia and a session on
Joan Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman for the International Society for
the Advancement and Promotion of Wind Band Society (IGEB) in Oberwölz,
Austria.
A proponent for advancing the wind ensemble medium, she led the
consortium and premiere of Aaron Perrine’s Beneath a Canvas of Green for
wind ensemble and percussion quartet which was also the source of her doctoral
dissertation. Additionally, she is active in a number of premieres and
consortiums for new music.
Mitchell-Spradlin served as the National Vice President of
Professional Relations for Tau Beta Sigma: National Honorary Band Sorority for
two years. She also holds memberships in the College Band Directors National
Association, College Music Society, PMEA, National Association for Music
Education, Black Women Band Directors Association, and Women Band Directors
International.
Albert Nguyen - Biographical Information
Albert Nguyen is the Director of Bands and Head of the
Conducting Area at the University of Memphis. He holds the First Tennessee
Professorship for his contribution to the University’s educational, research,
outreach, and service missions. His responsibilities include overseeing all
aspects of the University Bands program, conducting the Wind Ensemble, leading
the Graduate Wind Conducting program, and serving as the Director of the University
of Memphis Summer at the Scheidt Program. Ensembles under Dr. Nguyen’s
direction have performed at the CBDNA Southern Regional Conference, the TNMEA
All-State Conference, and Internationally in Austria and Italy. As a conductor
and clinician, he has worked with ensembles and students throughout the United
States, including the Mid-South as well as California, Florida, New York, North
Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas.
Dr. Nguyen began his professional teaching career as the
Director of Bands at Morrilton High School in Morrilton, AR. He holds the
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University and
the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from The
University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Nguyen is a member of Kappa Kappa, Psi, Tau
Beta Sigma, and serves the College Band Directors National Association as a
member of its Diversity Committee.
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