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Welcome!!! To say that I’m excited that you’re here is a massive understatement. It actually started as a bit of a joke. Seven observation requests for the exact same day a couple years ago had me chuckling to myself that maybe I should just throw my own conference. As I started to daydream as to what that day would look like, I also started to think “Why not?” Brian Covey and I have served together on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association for four years. We often talk about various professional development ideas that we might be able to provide for area band directors. When he offered to have his band available for the workshop, what started as a joke instantly became a no brainer. I’m very appreciative to the National Band Association for providing funds to make John Whitwell’s appearance possible, and to NBA members Scott Casagrande, Brian Covey, and David Morrison for sharing their skills and knowledge with us today. The partnership with the Illinois Grade School Music Association has been a perfect fit, and their embracing of this workshop has all but guaranteed its success. Thank you to Skokie School District 73.5 and Kate Donegan, superintendent, for allowing us to host this inaugural workshop at McCracken and for moving their own scheduled inservice to another building. What we do is vitally important. Important for our schools, communities, and especially important for the students that are entrusted to us. Regardless of where we teach, we provide for our students an experience and way of knowing that can’t be replicated in any other subject. In spite of always believing this, I was still struck last week when a former student reached out: “During that time when everything seemed dark, and horrible, and ugly, rehearsal was like a safe haven for me, a place to create something beautiful, to express in music what I couldn’t in words.” There are times that it can be difficult to quantify what we do, but we know the impact our work has on kids’ lives because it had that influence on us. We know it to the point that we’ve chosen this wonderful profession as our passion and life’s work. I sincerely hope the result of this workshop is that we’ll all be able to do this work just a little bit better. Thank you for being here. Here’s to a wonderful day of professional development!
! Chip De Stefano Director of Bands, McCracken Middle School Board of Directors - Middle School Representative, National Band Association
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Workshop Program 8:15 - 9:15
WELCOME AND OPENING SESSION
Band Room
What I Learned From: Presenter: John Whitwell
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This clinic will be a detailed discussion of some of the great icons in instrumental music education, their education, influences, teaching philosophy and techniques, personalities, and legacy, along with many personal stories. Each of us is a composite of our families, teachers and mentors, friends, and every life experience. The same is true of these exemplary iconic figures.
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I believe we all start our careers “playing the role” of the music educator, usually imitating our teachers. As we mature, we gradually discover WHO WE ARE and our teaching evolves to accommodate the greater life experience. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our profession could synthesize and assimilate what has been refined by the greatest among those earlier generations?
9:20 - 10:20 DEMONSTRATION SESSION
Gym
Molding the Ensemble’s Sound Presenters: Brian Covey and Chip De Stefano Demonstration Group: McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band
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Regardless of an ensemble’s level or experience, nothing is more important than its sound. Aural concept, individual student tone, intonation, blend, balance and instrumentation all combine to create the end result and the development of these skills must take a position of importance in our rehearsals. This clinic will be a demonstration of the various strategies and techniques we use with our own ensembles to improve these vital performance skills each day.
10:25 - 11:25 LECTURE SESSION
Band Room
The Band Whisperer Presenter: David Morrison
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Lots of small, unspectacular ideas can add up to some spectacular results. This session is designed to help teachers of all experience levels expand their “tool box” for executing efficient and productive rehearsals.
11:25 - 12:35 LUNCH
Off-site or Cafeteria
Open Rehearsal: John Whitwell with the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band (Gym)
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Workshop Program 12:40 - 1:30 LECTURE SESSION
Band Room
You Want Me to Practice? Increasing student practice effectiveness and efficiency beyond in-school rehearsal. Presenter: Scott Casagrande
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Student pressure for core-curricular academic and athletic excellence increases every year at all levels. Requiring students to commit the personal practice time for musical excellence and understanding is becoming increasingly difficult. The use of Smart Music, part testing, auditions and other means beyond the regular school rehearsal can be used to increase student practice effectiveness and efficiency. This clinic will present many options available to help teachers continue to motivate students to PRACTICE despite growing pressures in today's schools.
1:35 - 2:20
FEATURE PERFORMANCE
Gym
Lockport Township High School Wind Symphony Brian Covey, conductor
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Program to be selected from: Metal - Brian Balmages Song for Lyndsay - Andrew Boysen, Jr. Galactic Empires - David Gillingham A Longford Legend - Robert Sheldon Aurora Awakes - John Mackey Blue Ridge Reel - Brian Balmages Highland Celebration - Alan Lee Silva
2:25 - 3:25
DEMONSTRATION SESSION
Band Room
USING THE MARCH TO DEVELOP EVERY ASPECT OF MUSICIANSHIP Presenter: John Whitwell Demonstration Group: Lockport Township High School Wind Symphony
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Not only is the traditional march an important part of the history of the band, but the effective rehearsal rehearsal and performance of the march is an investment in every other piece the band will ever perform. This clinic will focus on how to interpret, rehearse, edit, and perform the traditional military march and how attention to basic musicianship, pulse, melodic shaping, balance, and dynamic and stylistic contrast will pay great dividends will contribute to the total education of our students.
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Suggested Restaurants
WALKING DISTANCE Subway 4025 W Oakton St Skokie, IL (847) 673-7827
Brown’s Chicken 3949 Oakton St. Skokie, IL (847) 674-7141
SHORT DRIVE Dengeos 3301 W. Main St. Skokie, IL (847) 677-7911
Herm’s Palace 3406 Dempster St Skokie, IL (847) 673-9757
Poochie’s 3602 Dempster St Skokie, IL (847) 673-0100
Taco Bell 8329 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL (847) 679-8980
Portillo’s 9400 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL (847) 933-0700
Jimmy John’s 9402 Skokie Blvd Skokie, IL (847) 673-5305
Panera Bread 9611 Skokie Blvd Skokie IL (847) 679-9156
LONGER DRIVE Chipotle 9408 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL (847) 679-0025
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BDW 2015 Tuesday, November 3, 2015
 
Coming 2015-2016 ! Krannert Center for the Performing Arts University of Illinois
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Bringing together the finest 7th and 8th band musicians in Illinois.
Wayne Gordon gordon.w@nb27.org 
Chip De Stefano cdestefano@sd735.org
Clinician Biographies JOHN WHITWELL John L. Whitwell is Director of Bands Emeritus at Michigan State University, where he served as Director of Bands, Conductor of the Wind Symphony, Professor of Music, Chair of the Conducting area, and guided the graduate degree programs in Wind Conducting prior to his retirement in 2006. Prior to his appointment at Michigan State University, Professor Whitwell held positions at Stephen F. Austin State University and Abilene Christian University. He also taught in the public schools of Michigan as band director at Ann Arbor Huron and Northwest Jackson high schools. His bands have performed for the College Band Directors National Association Convention, Texas Music Educators Association Clinic-Convention, Midwest Clinic, and Midwestern Conference on Vocal and Instrumental Music. He is an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest Clinic, past-president of the Big Ten Band Directors Association, and past-president of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association. Professor Whitwell maintains an active schedule and is in great demand as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and abroad. He is extremely active in the commissioning of new music and has participated in commissioning projects with composers Samuel Adler, Fred Allen, Kenneth Amis, William Averitt, Steve Barton, Susan Botti, Timothy Broege, Daryl Burghardt, Michael Colgrass, Donald Crockett, James Curnow, Richard Danielpour, Michael Daugherty, Eric Ewazen, Michael Finnissy, Michael Gandolfi, David Gillingham, Daniel Godfrey, Michael Golemo, Adam Gorb, Donald Grantham, Murray Gross, Daron Aric Hagen, Sam Hazo, David Heckendorn, Jennifer Higdon, Sydney Hodkinson, Jere Hutcheson, Robert Jager, Ian Krouse, Timothy Mahr, John Mackey, Daniel McCarthy, David Maslanka, Gregory Mertl, Cindy McTee, John Moss, Lior Navok, Ron Newman, James Niblock, Robert Xavier Rodriguez, Charles Ruggiero, Joseph Spaniola, Eric Stokes, James Syler, Frank Ticheli, Joan Tower, Joseph Turrin, Michael Weinstein, Eric Whitacre, Dana Wilson, and Charles Rochester Young. Whitwell has received many honors, including: being named the Michigan recipient of the A. R. MacAllister “Mac” Award, “Band Teacher of the Year” Award by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, “Citation of Excellence” Award by the National Band Association, Distinguished Graduate “Hall of Fame” Award by Wyandotte Roosevelt High, Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Rochester College, Kappa Kappa Psi “Distinguished Service to Music” Award, American School Band Directors National Association “Edwin Franko Goldman” Award, Michigan State University “Distinguished Professor” Award, MSU “Paul Varg” Award for teaching excellence, National Federation of High Schools “Outstanding Music Educator” Award, the Kappa Kappa Psi “Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award,” induction into the Phi Beta Mu/Texas Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame, the Phi Beta Mu “Outstanding Bandmaster Award,” Stephen F. Austin State University “Band Director Hall of Fame” Award, Honorary Doctor of Vandercook College of Music, and the “Medal of Honor” from the Midwest Clinic.
SCOTT CASAGRANDE Scott J. Casagrande has been Director of Bands at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL since 1999. He was previously Director of Bands at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, IL and Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur, IL. A native of Fairfax County, VA, Mr. Casagrande received his B.S. and M.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois at ChampaignUrbana. Ensembles under Mr. Casagrande’s direction have been selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic (concert and jazz), 17 of the last 18 Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festivals (Honor Band twice) and four National Concert Band Festivals. His bands have been consistent winners in all marching and jazz contests including the Governor’s Cup and Field Show Champion at the University of Illinois Marching Festival (45+ bands), Grand Champion at Jazz in the Meadows (90+ bands) and Honor Band at the Purdue Jazz Festival (90+ bands). In 2007, the John Hersey band program was awarded the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. His ensembles have performed at the French Reeds Festival in the French Riviera, at Orchestra Hall in the Chicago Symphony Center, at Carnegie Hall in NYC and will perform in China on a government-subsidized trip in 2016. Mr. Casagrande has received 19 Citation of Excellence Awards from the National Band Association, and he has been recognized by President Obama, the US Senate, the US House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate, School District 214, Plainfield HS, Stephen Decatur HS, Quinlan and Fabish Music and Bob Rogers Travel. He was recently elected as First Vice-President (President-Elect) of the National Band Association and has served the NBA as a High School Representative (twice) and as a member of the Revelli Composition Contest Committee for 9 years. In 2004, he was one of three conductors in the United States chosen to participate in the NBA International Conducting Symposium in Rome, Italy, conducting the Italian National Army Band. He serves Music for All/ Bands of America as a Music Education Consultant and he has served three terms as the Illinois Music Education Association District 7 Jazz Representative. Mr. Casagrande was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2009. He has been published in The Instrumentalist, The National Band Association Journal and he has presented at the Illinois Music Educators Association State Convention. Students in the John Hersey program are very active in IMEA All-District and All-State bands and most Hersey band graduates continue to perform in their college ensembles and beyond.
BRIAN COVEY Brian Covey is the Visual and Performing Arts Chairman, in addition to serving as Director of Bands at Lockport Township High School. Mr. Covey was appointed Director in 2003 after serving two years as Associate Director of Bands. While maintaining the Band Department, he conducts the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and one of two Freshman concert ensembles. His instructional roles also include overseeing the Marching Porters, Pep Band, the Jazz Program, and conducting the Pit Orchestra. Prior to joining Lockport High School, Mr. Covey attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned his Bachelors of Music Education degree, a Masters of Music Education degree at VanderCook College of Music, and his second Masters in Educational Administration from The University of St. Francis. The concert ensembles at Lockport Township High School have performed at numerous competitions and
festivals throughout the state and country, consistently receiving Division One ratings. The Wind Symphony has become a nationally respected ensemble with performance highlights including the Illinois Superstate Festival at the University of Illinois (every year since 2004), the National Association for Music Education National Conference, the Illinois Music Educators Association State Conference, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Chicago Orchestra Hall, The Music for All National Concert Band Festival (2006 and 2008), The World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Conference, recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Flag, and The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Covey has served as an adjudicator for many regional and Illinois High School Association Solo and Ensemble Contests, Ensemble Adjudicator for both the Illinois High School Association and the Illinois Grade School Music Association, and clinician to area schools in Illinois, Iowa, and Virginia. He holds ten Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, has been chosen five times as “Who’s Who Among American Teachers,” serves on the National Band Association's Selective Music Committee, been awarded the “Chicagoland Educator of the Year” from Quinlan and Fabish Music, the “Mildred Jackson Lockport Township High School Teacher of the Year Award,” and was highlighted in School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, is the Illinois Music Educator’s Association District I President, and serves on the National Band Association’s Board of Directors as one of four high school representatives.
CHIP DE STEFANO Chip De Stefano received both his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Master of Music Education Degrees from Northwestern University. Mr. De Stefano is currently in his 19th year as Director of Bands at McCracken Middle School in Skokie, Illinois. Under his direction, the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band has received first division ratings at all district and state organization contests of the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) and has made multiple appearances at the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. In 2006 and 2013 the Symphonic Band received an invitation to present at concert at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. In the Spring of 2007, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the McCracken Symphonic Band the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup. Since 2010, Mr. De Stefano has also served as Director of the Wind Ensemble at the University of Chicago, where he prepares the primarily non-music major ensemble for three performances each year. As a published arranger and composer, Mr. De Stefano has received commissions from the marching bands of Northwestern University, Samford University, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, the University of Idaho and dozens of high schools from across the United States. His works have been performed on ABC’s 1996 Rose Bowl Halftime Show, Live! with Regis and Kathy Lee, and WBBM News Radio 780. Mr. De Stefano’s works are available from FJH Music, LudwigMasters Publications, Grand Mesa Music, Kagarice Brass Editions and DeStefanoMusic.com. Mr. De Stefano’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Illinois Music Education Association, the National Band Association, the Illinois Grade School Music Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Mr. De Stefano is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. He’s conducted honor bands in Singapore, Florida, Kentucky (scheduled), Missouri, Nebraska (scheduled), New Jersey (scheduled), Ohio, Virginia (scheduled), Wisconsin and throughout Illinois. In addition, he has presented conference sessions at the Midwest Clinic (2008), ILMEA All-State Conference (2003, 2005, 2008), Iowa Bandmasters Conference (2010), Nebraska Music Educators Association State Conference (2011), Arkansas Tech University Band Director Workshop (2013), Illinois State University Band Director Workshop (2012) and DuPage County Music Clinic (2009). Mr. De Stefano is a recipient of fifteen National Band Association Citations of Excellence. He was awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2001, the IGSMA Barbara Buehlmann Young Conductor Award in 2004, and the IGSMA Cloyd Meyers Memorial Award in 2011.
DAVID MORRISON David Morrison received his formal training in music at the University of Illinois, where he earned his Music Education B.S. in 1973 and his Masters in 1977. From 1973 to 1977 he was Director of Bands at East Richland High School in Olney, Illinois. From 1977 until 2006, he was the Director of Bands at Prospect High School, in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, where he developed and maintained a nationally recognized band program for 29 years. Honors that he has received include the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association, election to the Phi Beta Mu National Band Director’s Honorary Fraternity, winner of Outstanding Contributions to Education Award at Prospect High School on two occasions, Outstanding Chicagoland Music Educator Award in 1992, the Shining Star Award 1995, nomination for the Golden Apple Award in 2001. In 2003, Mr. Morrison was honored as the Illinois State Teacher of the Year, and in 2005, he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster’s Hall of Fame at Northwestern University. In June of 2007, Mr. Morrison received the John Paynter Lifetime Achievement Award. Although recently retired, Mr. Morrison continues to guest conduct, clinic, and adjudicate music groups throughout the U.S. and the world. Most recently, Mr. Morrison served as guest conductor at the Singapore American School in the Far East and conducted the Illinois All State Band in January of 2009. Under the direction of David Morrison, the Prospect bands have been exceptionally successful. The Symphonic band has won numerous honors, including consistent first division awards from the Illinois High School Association State Band Contest, first division awards at the Chicagoland Symphonic Band Festival, and the Honor Band Award at the prestigious Superstate Band Festival. Auditioning among outstanding bands throughout the State of Illinois, the Prospect Symphonic Band was honored as a 15 time selectee to the University of Illinois Superstate Band Festival. In 2005, the Band was chosen for the second time to perform as the Superstate Honor Band, at the Foehlinger Great Hall in the Krannert Center in Champaign, IL on May 6, 2006. The Prospect Marching Knights have gained national recognition for their outstanding performances at state and national competitions, winning numerous championships at the Chicagoland Marching Festival, receiving the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association, being selected for the finals five times at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, winning the Grand Championship at the University of Illinois Marching Competition 24 times, including 23 years consecutively, winning the Grand Master Championship at the National Pageant of Bands in Phoenix, Arizona in 1995, and winning the Bands of America Toledo Regional Championship in 2001. The Prospect Bands have traveled extensively. Some of their destinations include Hawaii (King Kameamea Parade), London (Lordmayor of Westminster's Parade), Pasadena (Tournament of Roses Parade), the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona, the Citrus Bowl and Magic Kingdom Parades in Orlando, Florida, the Bank One Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, Texas, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles, CA. On January 2, 2006, the band made their second appearance in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.
A tradition of excellence for more than 75 years! Solo & Ensemble Organization Contests/Festivals The Illinois Grade School Music Association, Northern Division, is dedicated to encourage, aid, and advance music education in the elementary, middle and junior high schools of the State of Illinois. IGSMA sponsors contests among school bands, orchestras, and choruses, including solos and ensembles. The year culminates with a final organization contest/festival.
Why Become a Member? Adult professionals, dedicated to providing valuable and meaningful feedback for both students and directors, serve as adjudicators. IGSMA, Northern Division, is divided into nine districts making contest site locations convenient. Participation in IGSMA supports statewide advocacy for music education at the elementary and middle school levels. “Out of all of the activities I do with my students throughout the school year, without a doubt the most beneficial are IGSMA Solo/Ensemble Contest and Organization Contest. The students always seem a bit more “professional” after their first time being at Organization Contest - I definitely notice a change in their demeanor and attitudes. I heartily recommend all directors to join this fine organization!”
“Participating in the IGSMA Organization Contest has brought my choral program to a level of excellence that I could not have done alone. This tradition gives my students an amazing sense of accomplishment and an annual goal that we work together to achieve.” - Elena Ryan, Choral Director, Attea MS
- Carrie Provost, Orchestra Director, Franklin MS
“I have been sending students to the Illinois Grade School Music Association Organization Band Contest for almost 20 years and have found it to be an incredible place for students to achieve both individual and ensemble performance goals. IGSMA encourages a high level of musical and personal growth for each student who participates and is an integral part of our instrumental music program.” - Kimberly Farris, Band Director, Wilmette JHS
For information pertaining to membership and participation next school year, contact:
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www.igsma.com igsma@aol.com (815) 729-0575
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