The Mexican Repertoire Initiative
Clinic Synopsis:
Mexican students are the largest minority population in our schools and the fastest-growing population in the United States. However, this population is not reflected in our ensembles or our programming. Our panel will present on the Mexican Repertoire Initiative at Dartmouth, which will assist you in serving all of your students.
Brian Messier
- Biographical Information
Dr. Brian Messier is Director of Bands at Dartmouth College, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Band, and Youth Wind Ensemble. He also teaches courses in applied conducting, musical leadership, and entrepreneurship in the arts. After arriving at Dartmouth in 2019, Messier launched a Mexican Composition Competition, which he has since stewarded into the Mexican Repertoire Initiative at Dartmouth: an ongoing commitment to bringing Mexican repertoire to the international stage, providing opportunities for Mexican composers, and combating institutionalized racism in educational and professional performing ensembles.
In addition to his work at Dartmouth, Messier is founder and Artistic Director of the 2016 American Prize-winning Valley Winds based in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. Prior to his position at Dartmouth, Messier served as Artist in Residence and Director of the Wind Ensemble at Williams College and was Director of Bands at Belchertown High School, where his ensembles consistently received highest ratings at state and national levels, including being awarded the American Prize for High School ensembles in 2016. Lauded for his work with youth instrumental groups, Messier is in high demand as a clinician and guest conductor.
Messier received his bachelor's degree in music education from Ithaca College, his master's degree in wind conducting from the University of Massachusetts, and his doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Minnesota where he studied with Craig Kirchhoff.
Nubia Jaime-Donjuan - Biographical Information
Nubia Jaime-Donjuan began her cello studies at age 6, forming part of the Symphonic Youth Orchestra of Sonora. She then continued her professional studies in the University of Sonora.
She has studied composition with Arturo Márquez and Alexis Aranda, orchestration with David H. Bretón, and a composition master class with Brian Banks through the University of the Americas Puebla.
Proud of her roots and being raised by her musician father and historian mother, Ms. Jaime-Donjuan has adopted the artistic and cultural expressions of her surroundings to create her music, always taking inspiration from different elements of nature.
Her music has been interpreted by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sonora, Symphonic Orchestra of the National Polytechnic Institute, Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble, Valley Winds, Iberoamerican Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Tzinzuni, University of North Florida Wind Symphony, Symphonic Orchestra of the BUAP, Symphonic Band of the Faculty of Music of the UNAM, Orchestra “Nosotras Sonamos”, National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico, Smith College Wind Ensemble, Musikgesellschaft Konkordia Reinach, Municipal Symphonic Band of Botucatu, Symphonic Orchestra of Chiapas, CECAMBA, Departamental Band of the Valley of Cauca, International Camerata of Barcelona, MET Winds, University of Houston Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra of Bellas Artes, etc.
She has participated in the Music Mexico Symposium 2022/Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., Midwest Clinic 2022, Chicago IL., Meg Quigley Symposium 2023, Tucson, AZ., Texas Music Educators Association TMEA 2023 in San Antonio, Texas, Music Mexico Symposium 2023/University of Houston, and the International Saxophone Festival of Fine Arts, Cali, Colombia in 2023, as a composer.
Ms. Jaime-Donjuan is currently a resident composer for the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Tzintzuni.
Nubia navigates between two worlds as a composer and performer, being a cellist in the Pitic Quintet, a beneficiary of FONCA 2021-2022, and the founder of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sonora, where she currently serves as the co-principal cellist. As a composer and performer, she forms part of the project “Las Montoneras”, which unites the work of female composers, performers and researchers, seeking to make women’s work more recognized in the national music scene.
Nubia is the first and only woman to win the Arturo Ma´rquez Chamber Orchestra Composition Contest (2021), with her work Maso Ye’eme, which merges the popular genre danzon and the Yaqui Deer Dance.
Eric Jimenez - Biographical Information
Eric Jimenez is a music education consultant, podcaster, and Educational Support Manager for Conn Selmer, Inc. in the Southwest United States and Mexico. With over 13 years of experience, Eric has transformed band programs in Houston, achieving Division I and "Best in Class" ratings at UIL and other festivals while increasing student participation and morale.
Recognized for his exceptional contributions, Eric has received notable awards, including Teacher of the Year at Hamilton Middle School in 2012, LULAC-Educator of the Year in 2015, and a Grammy Educational Award in 2015 for his work at Davis HS. He was named one of Prairie View A&M University's top 40 under 40 in 2016 and recognized as one of Yamaha's top 40 under 40 in 2021.
As an active clinician, mentor, and speaker, Eric shares his expertise with arts education programs throughout the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.
Eric is an influential figure in the music education community, serving as a CMA Foundation board member and Advisory Board Member for the Mexican Repertoire Initiative. He is also affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc. He is also an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Sixto Montesinos - Biographical Information
Dr. Sixto F. Montesinos Jr. is assistant professor of music and head of instrumental studies at Saint Mary’s College of California in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an active Mexican-American conductor, flutist, music educator, and scholar researching new and effective ways to strengthen Mexican-American relations through the study and performance of music. These include overcoming stereotypes as well as Mexican, LGBTQ+, and LatinX representation in the field of music education, repertoire, and performance He is the artistic director of the Saint Mary's College Jazz Band as well as its Chamber Musicians program. He also oversees the instrumental private lessons faculty at The College.
Dr. Montesinos is a regular guest conductor with the Awesome Orchestra, a Bay-Area organization that amplifies voices of marginalized folk, forms deeper partnerships with communities and organizations as well as creates more equity and representation at every level. The mission of the Awesome Orchestra is also to make awesome orchestral adventures accessible to musicians and the public. He has also been a guest conductor with the Youth Musical Theater Company, most recently for their spring 2022 production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.
Cory Meals - Biographical Information
Cory Meals, Assistant Professor of Music Education, specializes in instrumental music education and research. His teaching and scholarship bridge research and practice within secondary and higher education instrumental music. His research explores connections in musical ensembles, from coordination of musical activity to influences of programming and performance. He has published in journals, including Frontiers in Psychology and Music & Science, and presented at conferences in North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Additionally, Dr. Meals serves as the Head of Analysis for the Institute for Composer Diversity and on several diversity-focused advisory boards, including the Mexican Repertoire Initiative at Dartmouth. A native of northwestern Pennsylvania, Dr. Meals earned his bachelor's degree from VanderCook College of Music, a master's degree in wind conducting from the University of Houston, and a doctorate in music education from the University of Washington. He has a successful history of teaching in Texas public schools, having served as a band director in Keller, Klein, and Waller schools. He joined the Moores School of Music in 2017 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University.
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