This panel will direct a discussion on how jazz ensemble directors can support their developing jazz students. We will explore fostering and maintaining a positive, gender-neutral environment; issues in improvisation anxiety and self-efficacy; lack of role models; and the effect of stereotype-threat. Attendees will have the opportunity to identify biases and areas of growth in their teaching practices. Panelists will provide solutions, recommendations, and resources.
Natalie Boeyink
- Biographical Information
Dr. Natalie Boeyink is an accomplished bassist, educator and composer. She joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2015 and is an active clinician, panelist, and adjudicator. Currently coordinator of both the Jazz and Strings Education areas, her courses include Latin American Popular Music, African American Music, Jazz Ensemble Techniques, History of Jazz, String Techniques, and conducting the Afro-Latin jazz combo.
In 2015 she received a DM in Music Education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and she holds a MM in Jazz Performance from the University of Louisville, and a BM in Jazz Studies at Indiana University.
Her research includes female jazz instrumentalists, jazz pedagogy, and Afro-Latin musical styles. She is a regular presenter and clinician at the Jazz Education Network’s annual conference, and has shared her research at the North Carolina MEA conference, Marshall University, Indiana University, UNCW’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and in a recently released documentary. As the first Chairwoman of the JEN Women in Jazz Committee, she is proud of their success in re-establishing the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition and initiatives to advocate for and support female jazz musicians. In June 2022, Natalie has a chapter on the experiences of collegiate jazzwomen being published in the forthcoming “Routledge Companion to Jazz and Gender.”
Ana Nelson is a clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer/arranger known for her multi-genre diversity in jazz, classical, and Latin jazz styles. Professionally, she has been recognized as an up-and-coming young artist with a unique musical and compositional voice. Ana has performed and recorded with artists such as Michael Spiro, the Buselli-Wallarab Ensemble, and Bootsy Collins. Ana’s current project is the NelBap Duo, a Latin jazz influenced piano/saxophone duo with Aruban pianist Jamaal Baptiste. In January of 2020, Ana was awarded the Earl Hines Outstanding Soloist Award presented by Wynton Marsalis at the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship. In 2021, Ana was awarded a Presser Graduate Award from Indiana University to record her debut album of original compositions. Ana received a master’s degree in jazz studies and clarinet performance at Indiana University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in clarinet performance at IU. As an educator, Ana runs her own private studio and is the co-founder of the Virtual Woodwind Academy, an online woodwind education program that offers affordable and high-quality instruction to participants worldwide.
Roxanne Stevenson is Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands, Music Ed and Gospel Music Coordinator and Woodwind Instructor at Chicago State University. Stevenson is the Jazz Coordinator of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities-National Band Director’s Consortium and Interim Vice-President of the African American Jazz Caucus. She serves as a panelist for the Illinois Arts Council, director and master class teacher for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Fine Arts Camp. Stevenson is an adjudicator, panelist and guest director for numerous marching, concert and jazz festivals and competitions and has worked as band/choral director and classroom/music teacher in Illinois and Indiana elementary schools and high schools.