Making It Their Space: Empowering Student Voice and Ownership while Building Community in Your Music Program
Clinic Synopsis:
Want to transform your program by building community and giving your students voice and ownership?
Veteran band and orchestra teachers share best practices for elevating music performance through a program-wide culture of excellence that reflects the servant leadership legacy of Tim Lautzenheiser. The panel will discuss impactful community-building along with tips and tools to implement such strategies in rehearsals and performances as well as non-musical settings.
Cecilia Clark
- Biographical Information
Cecilia Clark, Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia, is from Upper Marlboro, MD. She attended Duquesne University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education. Ms. Clark also received a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Duquesne. Ms. Clark’s professional experience includes Director of Bands at Allatoona High School and Assistant Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chair at McEachern High School in Cobb County, GA. Prior to joining the faculty at McEachern, Ms. Clark was the Director of Bands at Deer Lakes High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. She also taught beginning band in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Ms. Clark has served as a percussion consultant and technician for several schools including Norwin Senior High School in North Huntingdon, PA. She was also the Front Ensemble Instructor for the General Butler Vagabonds Drum Corps and the Pit Caption Head for Conquest Percussion and Project Percussion Independent Open and World Class WGI Finalists. Ms. Clark is an active adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. She has served on the Review Committee for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, as a member of NAfME Band Advisory Committee, and as Program Coordinator at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Her professional affiliations include the NAfME, GMEA, JEN, NBA, and ASBDA. She is currently serving on the Music for All Educational Advisory Team and as the President of the Servant Leadership Association for Music. Ms. Clark is married to Patrick Clark, Band Director at McCleskey Middle School.
Young Kim - Biographical Information
Young Kim currently serves as the Director of Orchestras at Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Under his leadership, his ensembles have performed four times at The Midwest Clinic and eight times at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Conference. Additional distinguished performances include the 58th Biennial MENC Conference and six European concert tours.
Mr. Kim is a highly regarded clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, engaging with musicians both nationally and internationally. He was a faculty member of the prestigious Georgia Governor’s Honors Program for four summers. In addition to conducting numerous All-State and Honor Orchestras, he has led summer music programs, including the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Georgia ASTA Music Camp, and the UGA Summer Music Camp.
In recognition of his contributions to music education, Mr. Kim was named “Georgia Music Educator of the Year” in 2006 and was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Georgia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). At Johns Creek High School, he was selected as Teacher of the Year and has been recognized as S.T.A.R. Teacher on three occasions. He currently holds the position of Certified Head Adjudicator for the GMEA Orchestra Large Group Performance Evaluation.
David Vandewalker - Biographical Information
Dr. David W. Vandewalker has served as the Coordinator of Performing Arts for the Fulton County Schools in Atlanta and band director at Georgia State University and Harrison High School (GA). Bands under his instruction have performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Bands of America Regional Championships, BOA Grand National Finals and at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. Dr. Vandewalker currently is the executive director for the Servant Leadership Association for Music.
Dr. Vandewalker is a recipient of the Sudler Flag of Honor, ten-NBA Citation of Excellence Awards, three National Wind Band Honors Awards, and is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. David and Pamela reside in Marietta, GA where she serves over 800 children in music each week.
Taylor Watts - Biographical Information
Taylor Watts has served as the Associate Director of Bands at Kell High School since 2013. During his tenure at Kell, the program has performed at the Midwest Clinic, MFA Southeastern Concert Band Festival, GMEA conference, University of Georgia Janfest, Troy University, and has won multiple BOA regional class championships.
In 2018, he founded Taylor Watts Leadership to share his passion for, experiences in, and insight on character development, conflict resolution, and leadership with students and teachers. He now actively works with high school, collegiate, and professional programs across the country as a clinician, speaker, consultant, and curriculum developer focusing on widening students’ situational perspective while helping them develop communication and interpretation skills to positively inspire change in others. His presentations have received strong acclaim from attendees at the Midwest Clinic and several Music Educators’ Association conferences, and he serves on the board of SLAM, the Servant Leadership Association for Music, developing curriculum for its teacher certification program.
Mr. Watts earned his Master’s in Educational Psychology and Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and currently resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with his loving wife, Caitlin, their two beautiful children, Emma and Caleb, and their adorable
troupe of animal companions.
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