Clinician Detail

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.

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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