Change Is Inevitable. Success Is Optional.: Leading a District Through Four Decades of Transformation
Clinic Synopsis:
The community of Spring ISD has dramatically changed over the past 43 years, however, the students in the music programs have continued to thrive due to the laser like focus of the leadership at the helm. Listen to the three generations of music/ fine arts supervisors on what they’ve each held at the center of their core beliefs to provide the best opportunities for their teachers and their students.
Rick Ghinelli
- Biographical Information
Rick Ghinelli currently serves as the Director of Music Administration Outreach and the Educational Support Manager, South Central Region, in the Division of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. Prior to coming to Conn-Selmer, he worked in the Spring Independent School District (Houston, TX) for 31 years as a band director, an elementary and middle school assistant principal, and a middle school principal. He completed his last 13 years prior to retiring as the Director of Performing and Visual Arts. While serving in this position, fine arts programs in Spring ISD gained notoriety for their excellent work and were frequent recipients of the highest honors at the local, state, and national levels of competition.
Mr. Ghinelli has been active in many aspects of music education throughout his career, including serving as president of the Texas Music Administrators Conference. He has done presentations and staff development sessions for several conferences, universities, and school districts across Texas and the nation including the Texas Music Educators Association convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Ghinelli is the 2014 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus in Music Education from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and the 2109 recipient of the Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association. Most
recently he received the 2022 Keynote Award from the Foundation For Music
Education.
Joe Clark - Biographical Information
Dr. Joe Clark is in his 23rd year in education and his ninth year as the Director of Performing and Visual Arts for the Spring Independent School District in Houston, Texas. Prior to administration, Dr. Clark served as a band director in several schools in Spring ISD including Spring High School, Bammel Middle School, and Claughton Middle School, as well as, Industrial Jr. High and Industrial High School in Industrial ISD. While in these positions, his ensembles have placed in the State finals, received “Best-in-Class” at concert band and jazz festivals and Sweepstakes at UIL. While at Spring High School, he co-directed Midwest performances in 2008, 2009 and led the Spring High School Jazz Ensemble at the 2010 Midwest Clinic.
As a strong advocate of the fine arts and arts integration, Dr. Clark remains active as a clinician, guest lecturer and mentor for young teachers as well as an active UIL adjudicator. He is also proud to currently serve as the Past-President of the Texas Music Administrators Conference (TMAC).
Dr. Clark earned his B.M. in music and his M.M. in conducting from Sam Houston State University; and his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston. Dr. Clark is a proud member of Phi Beta Mu (Alpha Chapter), Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, TMEA, TBA, and TMAA. Joe and his wife Heather reside in Spring, Texas with their 6-year-old daughter, Darcy Anne Clark whose favorite color is pink and just put two hands together in her last piano recital!!!
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.
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