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
Officers Lisa Kiener-Barnett President lisakiener@gmail.com
George Andrikokus Vice President gandrikokus@d181.org
Terrence Melbourn Executive Secretary-Treasurer tmelbourn@igsma.org
Justin Bangert, District 1 jbangert@pikeland.org
Lisa Eaton, District 4 igsmadist4@gmail.com
Kimberly Farris, District 7 igsmadistrict7@gmail.com
Linda Betzelberger, District 2 lbetzelberger@dist102.org
Calesia House, District 5 chouse@molineschools.org
Allison Reatherford, District 8 areatherford@gmail.com
Rebecca Meadows, District 3 igsmadistrict3@gmail.com
Phil Robb, District 6 igsma6@gmail.com
Deb Shofner, District 9 igsmad9@gmail.com
District Chairpersons
For information pertaining to membership and participation next school year, contact: www.igsma.com • tmelbourn@igsma.org • (815) 325-6685
Welcome!!! Whether this is the first time you’ve attended our workshop or the fifth, I truly appreciate you taking the time to be here today! This workshop, quite simply, wouldn’t be possible without the support of a large number of people. The Illinois Grade School Music Association and the National Band Association have provided generous financial support and publicity that has allowed us to bring in such a distinguished panel of clinicians. A big thank you to Skokie School District 73.5 and Kate Donegan, superintendent, for allowing us to host the workshop here again this year. Several years ago, a conversation I had with Brian Covey led to the inaugural workshop with his kids as the featured performance. I’m thrilled (and very grateful) that the fabulous Lockport Township High School Wind Symphony is joining us again this year. Since the first few days of school, I’ve been on a partial medical leave dealing with a family health issue (everything/everyone will be fine). The administration and district have been incredibly supportive during this time. I’m also extremely grateful to the many friends and colleagues that have stepped in to cover rehearsals and lessons, often at the very last minute. My tremendous colleague Cesar Mendoza has nearly doubled his workload for several weeks so that our kids didn’t miss much, if any, instruction. My kids are just the best. They have been understanding of my constantly changing schedule and elevated stress level, and I always feel better following a rehearsal than I did going into it. I love professional development events such as this. We have tough, yet vitally important jobs… and there are definitely times where it feels more like a grind than a passion. My sincerest hope is that today will help make that job a little bit easier, allowing us to leave here inspired and anxious to get back to our classrooms to make our students 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 Board of Directors - Middle School Representative, National Band Association
Workshop Program 8:00 - 9:00
WELCOME AND OPENING SESSION
Band Room
May I Have Your Attention Please?!?: How Emotion and Attention Impact Our Rehearsals Presenter: Shawn Vondran 9:10 - 9:55
LECTURE SESSION
Band Room
From the Score to the Podium Presenter: James F. Keene 10:00 - 11:15 DEMONSTRATION SESSION
Gym
From the Score to the Podium Presenter: James F. Keene Demonstration Group: Lockport Township High School Wind Symphony 11:30 - 12:30 DEMONSTRATION SESSION
Gym
How Can I Get My Band to Sound Like That?: Focus on Fundamentals Presenter: Alexander Kaminsky Demonstration Group: McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band 12:30 - 1:30 LUNCH 1:30 - 3:00
DEMONSTRATION SESSION
Off-site or Cafeteria Band Room
From the Score to the Podium Presenter: James F. Keene 3:15 - 3:45
FEATURED PERFORMANCE
McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band Chip De Stefano, conductor Cesar Mendoza, guest conductor
Gym
Save the Date!!!! BDW 2020 Tuesday, November 3, 2020
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
Teaching Rhythm Logically is a instructional method for teachers. By modeling a logical, sequential way to teach rhythm, each concept is addressed from multiple angles to reach all of your students, regardless how they learn. The lessons are designed to create an UNDERSTANDING of rhythm, not just getting your kids to count out loud. Best of all, the text provides full scripts for your classes. www.teachingrhythmlogically.com
Inappropriate pacing and expectations in beginner band classes impair our students’ growth and stifle their love of music. Whether you teach instrument-specific classes or everyone all at once, Pacing for Success provides an outline of successful beginner structure that can be tweaked to fit your program’s configuration. https://payhip.com/b/ish5
Clinician Biographies JAMES F. KEENE James F. Keene retired from the University of Illinois in 2008, where he held the titles of Director of Bands and Brownfield Distinguished Professorship in Music. Professor Keene is Past-President of The American Bandmasters Association and a Past-President of The National Band Association. In addition to many other prestigious positions, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the historic Goldman Memorial Band of New York City, is an Evans Scholar, Past-President of the Champaign Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation. In 1993, he was named honorary member of the Board of Directors of the International Percy Grainger Society and was presented with the coveted Grainger Medallion in recognition of his noted performances of Grainger’s music on four continents. In 2002, he was named Honorary Life Member of The Texas Bandmasters Association, only the fifth person so honored in their 65 year history. In December 2013, Professor Keene was presented with the International Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year by Phi Beta Mu at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In December 2016, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his contributions to Instrumental Music Education at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Currently residing in the Texas Hill Country, near San Antonio, he continues to enjoy a busy schedule as clinician, lecturer, adjudicator, and guest conductor with engagements scheduled into 2022.
ALEXANDER KAMINSKY Alexander Kaminsky was appointed Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at VanderCook College of Music in 2019 after a highly successful tenure at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. He holds degrees from the University of Florida and Indiana University, is active as an adjudicator, and is in demand as a guest conductor/clinician across the country. Throughout his 30year career as a high school band director, Kaminsky’s ensembles consistently earned Superior ratings at all levels of evaluation. In addition to earning Superior ratings at the FBA State Concert Band Assessment for an unprecedented 23 consecutive years (the last 13 of those years being with both his first and second bands), he is the only director in the history of the Florida Bandmasters Association to have had three concert bands from one school earn straight Superior ratings at State, and he achieved this three times (2009, 2018 and 2019). Kaminsky’s bands have performed at the Midwest Clinic (2005, 2009, 2014, and 2018), ABA Convention (2014), CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference (2004 and 2014), FMEA State Convention (2014), National Concert Band Festival (2002 and 2012), and the National Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall (2009 and 2018). In 2018, the Stoneman Douglas Wind Symphony was named a National Wind Band Honors winner as one of only ten 6A bands in the nation. His marching bands consistently placed in the Florida Marching Band State Championship Finals, winning consecutive FMBC State Championships (2013 and 2014, 2017 and 2018) as well as being named a finalist band at BOA regional competitions.
Kaminsky has presented his clinic “How Can I Get My Band to Sound Like That” at various conferences and workshops, and his annual “How To Fix It” series at the FMEA Convention has been received to high acclaim, with over 900 attendees in 2019. He is a ten-time recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and has been recognized with numerous achievement awards for education including Florida’s 2019 FMEA Secondary Music Educator of the Year Award, FBA Oliver Hobbs Award, FBA Andrew J. Crew Award, National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teacher, Nobel Educator of Distinction, Teacher of the Year, and is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Kaminsky is a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician and is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and the American School Band Directors’ Association. He has served on numerous state and national committees, and currently serves on the ABA Sousa/Ostwald Award Committee and the ABA School Bands Task Force. He has been featured in several periodicals including The Instrumentalist, Teaching Music, School Band & Orchestra Magazine’s “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” and Home Magazine’s “12 Exceptional Educators.”
SHAWN VONDRAN Shawn D. Vondran is Associate Director of Bands and conductor of the Northwestern University Symphonic Band. Vondran teaches conducting, wind repertoire, and other courses in the music performance and education curricula. Prior to his appointment at Northwestern, he served as the assistant director of bands at Ball State University. Recognized for his excellence in teaching and dedication to students while at Ball State, Vondran received the College of Fine Arts Dean’s Teaching Award in 2013. In addition, the Ball State University Symphony Band was selected to perform at the 2012 and 2014 Indiana Music Education Association Conference. Vondran also served on the faculties at Western Illinois University and Youngstown State University, respectively. He began his professional teaching career at Mentor High School in Ohio, where his concert, jazz, and marching bands consistently received superior ratings and accolades for their outstanding performances during his four-year tenure. Vondran maintains an active schedule with engagements throughout the United States as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. In addition to performance engagements, he is an ongoing contributor to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series published by GIA and has appeared in the National Band Association journal. During his career as a conductor, Vondran has worked with a number of notable composers in the preparation, performance, and/or recording of their works for the wind band medium. Recent artistic collaborations include John Corigliano, Christopher Rouse, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, Steven Bryant, and Joel Puckett. His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Vondran received his doctor of musical arts degree in instrumental conducting, with an emphasis in music education, from the University of Miami (FL). Vondran completed a master of music degree in instrumental conducting at Youngstown State University and earned a bachelor of music education degree (magna cum laude) at The Ohio State University.
Introducing… Chorales and Beyond Timothy Loest and Chip De Stefano with percussion by Kevin Lepper This incredible resource is an ideal way to expand or vary the daily routine of your ensemble while developing essential fundamental concepts of sound and intonation. Daily routines cover breathing, long tones, pitch matching, intervals, scales, arpeggios, chords and chorales. All chorales are written in fourpart harmony with all parts appearing in each instrument book for ultimate flexibility with instrumentation. Centered around 10 common major and minor keys, each includes a daily routine and three cycles that can be used to provide constant variety and freshness. Personal warm-ups and musical terms are also included along with vibrant and engaging percussion writing from longtime master educator and percussionist Kevin Lepper!
Flexible instrumentation Daily warm-up routines Easy to advanced chorales in 10 keys Bach harmonizations Personal (instrument-specific) warm-ups, scales, and musical terms Sample set on display in the band room throughout the workshop! Available now through your music dealer!