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, and 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, D.C. 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
Johnnie
Bankens, Assistant Professor of Voice, serves as the Voice Area
Coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University, where he teaches Applied
Voice, Song Literature, Opera Literature, Voice Pedagogy, and Opera Theatre.
Bankens has performed over forty leading opera and music theatre roles regionally,
nationally, and internationally. He has made professional solo appearances with
San Diego Opera, Mobile Opera, Nevada Opera, Shreveport Opera, Opéra
Louisiane, Opera Mississippi, Natchez Festival of Music, among others. Dr.
Bankens received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in
Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University.
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