So You Want To Be A Music Administrator...
Clinic Synopsis:
This clinic will discuss the avenues one might take when pursuing a position in music administration. Pros and cons will be discussed as well as considerations and preparations for making a move into this field.
Real-world examples will be given from three panelists who are current and former music administrators. Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions of the panel.
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!
James Drew - Biographical Information
Since 2011, James Drew has served as the Director of Fine Arts for the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) in Sugar Land, Texas. Prior to this appointment, James conducted bands and orchestras in the Texas public schools for 21 years. Ensembles under James’s direction have been selected as state Honor Band finalists and performed at the Midwest Clinic on four separate occasions. James was chosen as the 1997 Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year by the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. James earned a B.M.E. degree from Oral Roberts University in 1986, where he studied conducting with Franco Autori, retired associate conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Under Gary Garner’s tutelage, James received his M.M. degree in conducting from West Texas State University in 1988. As Fine Arts Director, James has worked to advance the Department’s vision of providing innovative programming led by collaborative artist-teachers in a supportive environment that values excellence in all disciplines. FBISD performing groups and individual students continue to garner state and national recognition. James is an active clinician and has guest-conducted many times at the Midwest Clinic. James was named the 2018 Music Administrator of the Year by the Texas Music Administrators Conference. James holds membership in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA), and Texas Fine Arts Administrators (TFAA). He concurrently serves as President for both TMAA and TFAA.
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