Join Midwest Clinic Past President, Richard Crain and the Stanton HS Band, Stanton, Tx. in the inaugural “Richard Crain Small School Band Clinic”. The Stanton HS band and their director Jennifer Condon will present a step-by-step method they use for success in and out of the band hall.
Richard Crain
- Biographical Information
Richard C. Crain retired in 2000 after 44 years in public school music education. Mr. Crain was band director in Mercedes, Belton, Spring, and Westfield High Schools in Texas. In 1982, he became Director of Music Programs for the Spring Independent School District near Houston. During his tenure in Spring ISD the band programs won numerous state and national awards. Crain is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, served 32 years as Executive Secretary of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, is past president of the Texas Bandmasters Association, and is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Hall of Fame. He is also an Honorary Life Member of the Texas Bandmasters Association. He and his wife Gayle are members of the Music for All/Bands of America Hall of Fame. In May of 2017, he received the Honorary Doctorate Degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, and in April of 2017 received the A.A. Harding Award from the ASBDA. August of 2018, Crain received the “Arkansas Traveler Award” from the Arkansas Bandmasters Association. He was the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Academy of Wind and Percussion Award by the National Band Association, and in the same year he received the World Peace and Understanding Through Music Award from the Women’s Band Director International. Crain served as president of the Board of Directors of The Midwest Clinic for 12 years, retiring in 2021. He also serves as a deacon at Spring Baptist Church.
Jennifer Condon has taught for 15 years and currently serves as Director of Bands for the Stanton ISD in Stanton, Texas. Her bands have consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes Awards since 2011. The Stanton High School Band was an Area A Marching Band Finalist in 2021 and her middle school bands have been State Finalists in the Association for Texas Small School Bands Outstanding Performance Series. She has served on the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Revision Committee, been an ATSSB Region band Clinician and has served as an ATSSB Region Band Percussion Coordinator for thirteen years. Ms. Condon has a Bachelor inMusic Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University. She is grateful to her many mentors including Stazie Church, Gabe Musella, Stan Mauldin, Alan Hanna, Kenny Capshaw, Eric Allen, Albert Lo, and Rocky Harris. Ms. Condon’s professional affiliations include, TMEA, TBA, ATSSB, Women Band Directors International, and Pi Kappa Lambda. When she is not working with her students, Jennifer loves spending time in her garden with her cats, traveling, and visiting her family in San Antonio.