Recruiting and Promoting Female Low Brass Players in Middle and High School Band
Clinic Synopsis:
This panel will explore the importance of encouraging and supporting female musicians in the world of trombone, euphonium, and tuba in the middle and high school realm. Through insightful discussion, the panel will address strategies for recruiting and promoting female low brass players. Topics will include the challenges faced by young female low brass players, a list of resources highlighting female low brass players, mentorship opportunities, and promotion materials.
Adam Frey
- Biographical Information
Adam Frey is a renowned performer, advocate for live music, and a leading figure in the international brass community. Over the years, he has traveled extensively, sharing his talent and teaching on six continents and in more than 45 countries. His current leadership roles include the President Elect of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, Head of Jury at the Jeju International Brass Competition, and Artistic Director of the International Euphonium Tuba Festival,
His musical career spans performances with notable ensembles like the world-famous Boston Pops, US Army Orchestra, and he has also been a guest soloist at prestigious festivals around the globe including four times at the Midwest Clinic (USA), the WASBE Convention (Singapore), Melbourne International Festival of Brass (Australia), Trombonanza (Argentina), Carlos Gomez Festival (Brazil), Jeju International Wind Festival (South Korea), Asia Pacific Band Directors Conference (South Korea), Peru Low Brass Festival (Peru), Colombia Festubal (Colombia), Tubamania (Thailand), and Orquesta Latinoamericana de Vientos (Colombia), to name a few.
Frey has played an influential role in the tuba euphonium world, with over 200 compositions and arrangements commissioned. He has hosted the International Euphonium Tuba (IET) Festival at Emory University for the past 20+ years, providing an enriching experience for over 150 students and teachers from around the world. As an educator, he serves as Professor of Music at the University of North Georgia.
Frey is also a Yamaha Performing Artist and Guest Clinician.
Joanna Hersey - Biographical Information
Joanna Ross Hersey (she/her) is a performing artist and composer with twenty years’ experience as a leader in higher education. An advocate for active duty and military-affiliated students, Joanna is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, beginning her career as Principal Tubist with the U.S. Coast Guard Band, stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. A champion for equity in both military and civilian settings, Dr. Hersey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in addition to her music degrees, and has written several book chapters and journal articles in the areas of gender, diversity, and belonging. She assists organizations such as the International Women’s Brass Conference, where her work as President supported strong growth of participation in events and mentoring programs, and the International Alliance for Women in Music, where she currently serves as Conference Chair and Board Member, and serves as Treasurer of the International Tuba Euphonium Association.
Megumi Kanda - Biographical Information
Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2002, is an internationally acclaimed performer, teacher, and author.
Megumi has performed as a soloist across the United States, Europe and Asia, including with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Pershing’s Own Army Band, the US Army Field Band, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. She has commissioned and/or premiered works of numerous composers, including those of Amy Riebs Mills, Bruce Stark, and Geoffrey Gordon. She has been a featured guest artist at numerous trombone workshops and festivals, including the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop.
Megumi has appeared as guest faculty at numerous music institutions, including the New World Symphony, National Youth Orchestra, and Interlochen Arts Academy, and has given master classes and recitals at many colleges and conservatories across the US and Japan.
Myra Rhoden - Biographical Information
Dr. Rhoden serves on the faculty at the University of West Georgia, where she conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Music Education. She is also the founder of the Athena Music and Leadership program (AthenaCamp.com), an all-girls music program created to promote musical excellence while emphasizing leadership skills. Recently retired after serving thirty years as a high school band director in the public schools of Alabama and Georgia, Rhoden frequently serves as a guest conductor for state, regional, and university honor bands and is honored to have presented sessions at The Midwest Clinic, various national, state and regional conferences, and for school systems and professional development events throughout North America. She is the author of Through My Music: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders, published by GIA Publications.
Jessica Leech Sneeringer - Biographical Information
Jessica Sneeringer is a graduate of The Ohio State University, earning Bachelor’s Degrees in both Music Education and Trombone Performance as well as a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Jessica is currently in her 25th year of teaching, this being her 19th year as the Director of Bands at Columbus Academy in Gahanna, Ohio, as well as the Chair of the Performing Arts Department and the Dixon Art Chair Award Recipient.
Jessica has been a clinician, judge, and coach for several outstanding student groups including the Ohio State University Marching Band, Capital University Junior Winds, The Ohio All-State Band, and The All-Ohio State Fair Band. Jessica is currently on staff at Jazz Arts Group (Columbus) as the director of the Columbus Youth Jazz Ensemble as well as the director of the Columbus Community Jazz Band.
As a conductor, Jessica has had the great fortune to conduct many wonderful ensembles. Since 2012, Jessica has been the conductor of the Athena Brass Band, having had the honor of conducting the group on several occasions. She is very appreciative and honored to have had the opportunity to conduct the Athena Brass Band at the 2021 Midwest Clinic as well as various International Women’s Brass Conferences. Jessica is a member of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity as well as the American School Band Directors Association.
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