This session will show strategies for lone or small program directors to implement a student-to-student mentoring program in order to create additional "staff." In addition to using students to assist, we will also show how using alumni, community, and director-to-director mentoring can exponentially accelerate individual and program growth for students and directors. Whether you are a solo head director or not, making the most of peer power can take the pressure off in so many ways!
Heather Henson
- Biographical Information
Heather M. Henson has been the instrumental director at American Christian Academy since 2008. She teaches the Symphonic, Jazz, Intermediate, and Beginning Bands, Chorus, Music Theory, and is advisor for the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Under her direction, the Symphonic Band has consistently received Superior ratings at the State Music Assessment since its inaugural participation and was selected to perform at the University of Alabama Crimson Festival of Winds in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Ms. Henson’s small-school program has grown from 5 students to 51 in the top ensemble with anywhere from 6 to 12 students selected each year for the Alabama All-State Bands. Ms. Henson presented the session “Getting to the Art of it! Programming for Concert Bands with Intentionality” at the 2025 AMEA Conference with colleagues Jon Bubbett, Jarell Horton, and Michael Chambless.
Ms. Henson graduated from Samford University in 1995. She began her career as the Assistant Director of Bands at Oak Grove High School and then as Director of Bands at Pittman Middle School. She was the visual coordinator and guard director for the Brookwood High School band program for twelve years.
Ms. Henson plays clarinet and was a charter member of the Alabama Winds, performing with the group at the 2017 Midwest Conference. Ms. Henson is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Alabama Music Educators Association, the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Alabama Vocal Association, Women Band Directors International, and the International Clarinet Association.
Randall Coleman is
currently the Director of Bands and the Frances Hall Hill Professor of Music at
the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he serves as the conductor of
the UTC Wind Ensemble, teaches courses in conducting and music education and
oversees the entire band program. Prior
to his move to UTC in 2021, Professor Coleman was the Associate Director of
Bands at the University of Alabama. At
UA, he was the conductor of the Alabama Symphonic Band and was one of Directors
of the Million Dollar Band. He also taught graduate and undergraduate
conducting and wind band literature classes. Additionally, Professor Coleman
serves as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Alabama Winds, an all-adult
community wind band based in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to his appointment to
the faculty at the University of Alabama in 2007, Mr. Coleman enjoyed a
successful 25-year career as a high school band director and supervisor in
metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Music Education at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and
the Masters of Music Education degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Under his direction, the UTC Wind
Ensemble presented an invitational concert at the East Tennessee Band and
Orchestra Association’s “All-East” Clinic in 2025. Under his direction, the Alabama Symphonic
Band gave invitational performances at the Alabama Music Educators’ Association
Inservice Conference and at the 2014 and 2020 College Band Directors’ National
Association Southern Division Conference. The Alabama Winds was honored to be a
featured performer at the 2017 Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra
Clinic in Chicago, Illinois and the 2025 American Bandmasters Association
Convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Professor Coleman is an elected member in
the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and is currently serving as Immediate
Past-President of the National Band Association. Professor Coleman also holds membership in
the National Association for Music Education, the Tennessee Music Educators’
Association, the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Association, the Georgia
Music Educators’ Association (Past President), and Phi Beta Mu International
Bandmasters’ Fraternity.