Rural and small school band programs continue to navigate the long-term effects of pandemic disruption. Using a small secondary school band from Northern California as a live demonstration ensemble and short student and alumni video reflections, this clinic provides insight into how their program grew from 19 members to 84 members in a school of less than 450 people, and how they are rebuilding their band culture from a loss of 63% of band enrollment in 2020.
Roxanne Winslow
- Biographical Information
Roxanne Winslow (b. 1994) is a band director, composer, and performer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University, Chico and a Master of Music in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A lifelong trumpet player, Winslow has frequently performed with the California North State Symphony and various jazz and commercial ensembles. As a composer, she has received over fifteen world premieres of her works. Raised in a multigenerational band family, Winslow grew up immersed in instrumental music education. Her grandfather was inducted into the John Philip Sousa Band Director Hall of Fame in Texas, and her father directs the jazz program at California State University, Chico. These early influences shaped her belief that strong band programs transform both students and communities. After teaching privately in the Bay Area and on faculty at Butte College, Winslow received a phone call from a school principal asking her to apply for a recently vacated band director position. She applied and was accepted, beginning her journey of leading the band program in the Willows Unified School District in 2023. Since then, she has focused on fostering student ownership, strengthening retention, and building a band culture of pride and passion. Winslow’s work centers on practical and sustainable strategies that help directors cultivate belonging, musical excellence, and long-term commitment in small-school band communities.