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 Director of Bands and Frances Hall Hill Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he conducts the UTC Wind Ensemble and oversees the band program, including the Marching Mocs, Pep Band, and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and graduate classes in wind band literature, history, and organization. Before UTC, he served for 14 years as Associate Director of Bands at the University of Alabama, conducting the Alabama Symphonic Band and Million Dollar Band. He is also the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Alabama Winds, who performed at the 2017 Midwest Clinic.
Professor Coleman had a 25-year career as a high school band director and supervisor in metro Atlanta. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Jacksonville State University and his Master of Music Education from Georgia State University. In Georgia, he served in leadership roles with the Georgia Music Educators' Association.
At Alabama, he conducted the Alabama Symphonic Band at regional conferences and commissioned 11 new wind band pieces. He has conducted internationally in Italy and led the Alabama Winds on a 12-day tour. Coleman has been published six times in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.
Coleman is an elected member in the American Bandmasters Association and is currently serving as Immediate Past-President of the National Band Association. He holds membership in CBDNA, NAfME, TMEA, GMEA, AMEA, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity.