The Sound of Success: Building a Thriving Music Program Through Recruitment and Retention
Clinic Synopsis:
It is hard getting students to be in your program, and just as hard to keep them. Techniques for recruiting and retaining students will be shared and explored. Students are looking for a personal connection and trust when they are committing to a program. Looking at approaches to recruiting through communication, performance, clinics, and personal connections, and research from current students on why they chose to be in music and what attracted them, will be the focus of this presentation.
Robert Schwartz
- Biographical Information
Dr. Robert Schwartz is the Director of Bands at Southeastern Louisiana University. At Southeastern, he is responsible for guiding all aspects of the band program, which includes conducting the Wind Symphony as well as directing The Spirit of Southland Marching Band and Basketball Band. In addition to his responsibilities with the band program, he teaches instrumental conducting classes and Instrumental Band Methods. Schwartz is also the recipient of the NEH-Southeastern Development Foundation Endowed Professorship in Music. Additionally, he is the conductor of the Northlake Community Band. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of North Texas, and Duquesne University.
Schwartz has recently completed transcriptions of Joseph Turrin’s Hymn for Diana, Robert Kurka’s Julius Caesar, James Stephenson’s RiverField, Jessie Montgomery’s Hymn for Everyone, and collaborated with GRAMMY Award-Winning composer Michael Daugherty on a transcription of the remaining movements of his Fifteen: A Symphonic Fantasy on the art of Andy Warhol.
Frances Fonza - Biographical Information
Frances Fonza is the Director of Choral Activities at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she teaches conducting and choral methods, and conducts the Concert Choir, Bella Voce, Northshore Community Choir, and the SLU Gospel Choir. Fonza earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master’s degree in music education, and a doctorate in music education/choral conducting at Florida State University.
Most recently, Dr. Fonza served on faculty at the University of Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Fonza taught choral music at the middle school and high school levels in Kentucky and was the choir director and sight singing teacher at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. Additionally, Dr. Fonza served as Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Choral Activities at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
Fonza is an active singer, clinician, and adjudicator. A frequent guest conductor, she has conducted all state, honor, public school, and church choirs.
Johnnie Bankens - Biographical Information
Dr. Johnnie Bankens, Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Opera, joined the faculty of Southeastern Louisiana University in the Fall of 2019, where he teaches Voice Pedagogy, Song Literature, Opera Literature, Applied Voice, and Graduate Teaching Practicum. Known as an “impressive bass” and a singer of “high caliber,” Johnnie Bankens has performed a variety of opera and music theatre roles in the US and abroad. His recent and upcoming engagements include Bass Soloist in Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn by J.S. Bach with Monroe Symphony, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Mobile Opera, Featured Presenter at the National Opera Association 2024 Conference in Tempe, AZ, and Featured Presenter and Recitalist at Tulane Vocal Arts Festival in New Orleans.
He has made professional solo appearances with San Diego Opera, Nevada Opera, Mobile Opera, Opéra Louisiane, Blue Lake Opera, Salvage Art Productions, Starkville Symphony, Monroe Symphony, New Orleans Symphony Chorus, West End Collegiate Singers, Versipel New Music, The Lied Society, and Louisiana Choral Foundation. Dr. Bankens received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance with a minor in Voice Pedagogy and Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Louisiana State University. His Bachelor of Music was completed at McNeese State University. He currently serves as a faculty artist with Festival of International Opera in Urbania and Urbino, Italy. Previously, he served on the arts faculties of Stories for Strength International in Mbabane, eSwatini (Swaziland) and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.
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