NEWSLETTER GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER
2018
"We cannot create observers by saying 'observe', but by giving them the power and the means for this observation and these means are procured through education of the senses."
Maria Montessori
Inspiring Truth for Teachers
IN THIS ISSUE SEPTEMBER NEWSLET TER
AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 8 D I S T R I C T 11 D I S T R I C T 12 D I S T R I C T 14 IN-SERVICE CONFERENCE RE TIRED MEMBERS
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Newsletter | September
AROUND THE STATE Events and News from our 14 Districts
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Newsletter | September
DISTRICT ONE
DISTRICT FOUR
• The faculty and staff of the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University Department of Music is excited to invite you and your most outstanding students to participate in the 30th Annual Winterfest Invitational Honor Band Festival on November 15-17, 2018. Our Middle School Honor Band is open to your top musicians in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and, as always, our High School Honor Band is a rewarding experience open to all advanced musicians in grades 9-12. More information is available under the concerts/ events tab at georgiasouthern.edu/music.
• Christine Kraemer has accepted a position with the City Schools of Decatur as the Director of Bands for Renfroe Middle School. She is grateful to continue to be a part of District IV, where she is currently serving as GMEA District Chair for the 2018-2020 term.
• Charles Patterson recently accepted the position of Orchestra Director/Guitar Teacher at Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill, GA. This new high school orchestra program is beginning its second year.
• Registration is open for the Oglethorpe University annual High School Choral Festival, held on Tuesday, October 30 for students in grades 9 through 12. Students will spend the day in choral rehearsals with Dr. Timothy Powell and the Oglethorpe University Singers on our beautiful, Harry Potter-esque historic campus in the heart of metro Atlanta— broomsticks not required! At the end of a fantastic day, the combined high school and collegiate choirs will present a concert in the Conant Performing Arts Center. More information on this event can be found by emailing tpowell@oglethorpe.edu.
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• District IV would like to welcome Isaac Leverett. Isaac has accepted the position of band director at Cousins Middle School in Newton County. Isaac will be in his 23rd year as an educator and he joins us from District III.
Newsletter | September
AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT FIVE • Fulton County Schools is excited to announce that the Alpharetta High School Symphony Strings and their director, Dr. Charles Laux have been invited to perform at the 2018 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. In addition to conducting the performance of the AHS Symphony Strings, Dr. Laux will also be presenting a clinic session on bow technique at the conference. • Fulton County Schools would like to introduce two new orchestra faculty members for the 2018-2019 school year. Andrew Cummings will be joining Milton High School as their Director of Orchestras. Coming to us from Tennessee, the new Director of Orchestras for North Springs Charter High School will be Michelle Clupper. Congratulations to former North Springs orchestra director, James Landreau, on his promotion to Magnet Coordinator for North Springs Charter High School.
OCT 18-20, 2018 | HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CHOIR , René Clausen, clinician Participants: male and female singers in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 in Fall 2018 Required preparatory rehearsal: Saturday, October 13, 10am-5pm NOV 8-9, 2018 | HONOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: James Palmer, clinician Participants: male and female string players grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 in Fall 2018 (nomination form coming soon!) Required preparatory rehearsal: Thursday, November 1, 2pm-8pm
DISTRICT SIX
For more information, go to: www.clayton.edu/spiveyhall/student-honor-workshops spiveyhalleducation@clayton.edu or call (678) 466-4481.
• The Sandy Creek High School Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Kelly Gallman, were selected to perform at the Kennesaw State University Orchestra Invitational on Nov 2, 2018.
• Spivey Hall is accepting registrations for groups of 10 or more to its 2018-2019 Young People’s Concerts while seats are still available. The season is filled with artists who will educate and excite students. All ages will enjoy collegiate choral and instrumental ensembles, world music artists, children’s operas and holiday programming. With online study guides, teachers can directly apply these concert experiences to classroom objectives. Tickets are $3 per person per concert; $5 at the door. Limited ticket and transportation subsidies are available with the registration into a concert. For more information and to see the concert listing, go to: www.clayton. edu/spiveyhall/Education spiveyhalleducation@clayton.edu or call (678) 466-4491.
• The Spivey Hall Student Choral and Instrumental Workshops are accepting nominations of students NOW! Begun under the artistic direction of the legendary Robert Shaw in October of 1994, the multi-day programs serve metro Atlanta music educators and their most capable students by providing them with the opportunity to work with renowned choral and instrumental directors. Scholarships are available for students that demonstrate need. Here are the particulars of each workshop: OCT 4-6, 2018 | TREBLE HONOR CHOIR, Mary Biddlecombe, clinician Participants: male and female singers in grades 6, 7, and 8 in Fall 2018 Required preparatory rehearsal: Saturday September 29, 10am-5pm 4
Newsletter | September
• The Fine Arts Department at Woodland High School in Stockbridge is pleased to announce two new hires. Alexandrea Caldwell joins Woodland HS as the orchestra director and Chandler Dickerson is the assistant band director.
music, band, and chorus in the Hogansville City Schools in Troup County Georgia, was band director at Gardner Newman Middle School in Troup County, and taught string orchestra in the Camden County Schools.
• The Fine Arts Department and the Woodland Band program are pleased to announce that the WHS Advanced Percussion Ensemble has been invited to perform at the 2019 GMEA In-Service Conference. They have also received an invitation to perform at the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis in March of 2019. The Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, part of the Music for All National Honors Festival, is a non-competitive evaluation/ performance opportunity that showcases the nation's most outstanding school concert percussion ensembles.
• Valdosta State University is hosting Band Day on September 22, 2018, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium when VSU plays Shorter at 7:00 PM. High school band directors are invited to bring their bands and chaperones to attend the game as guests of the VSU Blazin’ Brigade Marching Band, participate in a joint performance at halftime, and play your favorite stand cheers during third and fourth quarter. Discounted parent tickets are available. Visit http://blazinbrigade. org or email bgharper@valdosta.edu for more information. • The Valdosta State University Blazin’ Brigade Marching Band invites high school juniors and seniors and their families to the Game Day Experience on September 1st and October 6th. Experience a collegiate marching band stadium rehearsal, attend the game as guests of the band, with one-on-one time with drum majors and section leaders and enjoy sideline access at both pregame and halftime performances. Visit http://blazinbrigade.org for more information.
DISTRICT EIGHT • The Lowndes High School (Valdosta, GA) Steel Band, Viking Steel, has accepted an invitation to perform at the 2019 GMEA In-Service in Athens, GA. Their performance will be on Friday January 25, 2019 at 11:15 am in the Oconee Ball Room of the Classic Center.
DISTRICT ELEVEN
• Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA will once again host the annual Southeastern Percussion Festival (SEPF) on Saturday March 23, 2019. More details will be announced in September. To register or for questions, please contact Dr. Jeff Grant at jeffersongrant@lowndes.k12.ga.us
• Ms. Rachael Smith has accepted the position as orchestra director at The Academy for Classical Education. Ms. Smith will be teaching 4th and 5th grade violin as well as junior high and high school orchestra at ACE. Located in north Macon, ACE is a premier charter school with a reputation for academic excellence and high student achievement. Ms. Smith was formerly employed by the Bibb County School district in Macon, Georgia.
• Thomas MacArthur has recently accepted a position as band director at Camden Middle School in Camden County. Mr. MacArthur completed his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of West Georgia, Master of Music Education from the University of West Georgia and has completed most of his Specialist degree in Music Education from Auburn University. He has previously taught K-12 general
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AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT TWELVE
While living in the Northeast she performed with the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, Wolf Trap Orchestra, National Symphony, Amato Opera, American Chamber Orchestra as was a featured performer at the White House for President Jimmy Carter. Since returning to Atlanta in 1985, Ms. Secrist has performed with the Knoxville (TN), Greenville (SC), Columbus (GA), Macon (GA), Atlanta Ballet and Columbia (SC) symphonies and was a member of the Augusta Symphony for thirteen years. Ms. Secrist holds an Education Specialist degree from Auburn University, Master of Arts degree from Florida State University and has served on the music faculties of Georgia Tech, Morris Brown College and Agnes Scott College. A published author of two books about chamber music, Ms. Secrist served on the Georgia Council for the Arts music panel for twelve years.
• The Marietta City Schools Orchestra welcomed their second orchestra director, Robbie Bowie, this school year. Christina Esposito began the orchestra program for Marietta City Schools in 2016 at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy with an enrollment of 30 students. Since then, the orchestra program has grown to include 60 new members at MSGA and 80 continuing members in 7th and 8th grade at Marietta Middle School. Ms. Bowie brings 16 years’ experience of teaching orchestra as well as her experience teaching privately on both violin and viola in the Cobb County area.
DISTRICT FOURTEEN • Kyle Bickwit is the new Director of Bands at East Hall Middle School in Gainesville. Kyle spent four years as the Director of Bands at Social Circle Middle-High School prior to his appointment at East Hall Middle. Kyle received his BA in Music Education and his BA in Music Performance from the University of Georgia, where he studied Bassoon with Dr. Amy Pollard. Kyle is excited to lead all aspects of the East Hall Middle School Viking Band Program as well as work with the East Hall High School Viking Marching Band.
• Gary Gribble, recently retired from Pope High School in the Cobb County School District, will serve as adjunct faculty at Reinhardt University beginning this Fall.
• J. Craig Cantrell, the former Director of Bands at East Hall High School, has changed positions to be the founding Director of Bands at Cherokee Bluff High School, a new high school in the Hall County school system.
• Former GMEA State Elementary Chair, Vicky Knowles, has returned to Cobb County and is teaching at Compton Elementary School.
• Ms. Lindey Foster, a first-year teacher, is beginning her career as the band director at West Hall Middle School.
• The Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra is delighted to welcome Barbera Secrist Schmedes as Executive Director. Barbera Secrist, former Director of Orchestras at Lovinggood and founder of the Pandean Players Chamber Ensemble, lived in Washington, DC and New York City for nearly a decade after completing a Bachelor of Music degree at Georgia State University.
• Geoffrey Lonberger, the former Director of Bands at East Hall Middle School, has changed positions to be the founding Director of Bands at Cherokee Bluff Middle School, which is a new school in Hall County. 6
Newsletter | September
ty of Idaho, and Omaha Conservatory of Music, among others. An acclaimed collaborative artist, Dr. Sigers has over 30 years of experience performing in chamber concerts throughout the U.S., Europe, Taiwan, and Russia. Her recordings with The Bridge Ensemble on ECM New Music, Summit Records, and St. Paul Sunday on MPR can be found on Amazon and iTunes. Dr. Sigers holds the Bachelor of Music from Brenau University and Master of Music from the University of Georgia, both summa cum laude, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano and Music Theory from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• The Piedmont College Department of Music welcomes Dr. Karen Sigers to the full time faculty as Assistant Professor. Her duties include teaching Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Piano Class, and serving as accompanist for faculty and student recitals. Dr. Sigers comes with vast teaching and performing experience, having served on the faculties of the University of North Georgia, Brenau University, Kennesaw State University, Hochstein School of Music, the Universi-
• Previously from Cherokee County, Adam Youngman has been appointed the new Director of Bands at East Hall High School.
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SUCCESS
RETIRED MEMBERS CELEBRATING THE GMEA MEMBERS WHO RETIRED AT THE CONCLUSON OF THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
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retired members
mike back Mike Back retired at the end of the 2018 school year after completing 34 years as a music educator. He has been at Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia since 1985, where he serves as the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair. Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands, Mr. Back served as the assistant director at Walton for thirteen years. Before coming to Walton, Mike was the percussion coordinator and arranger for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. As a native of Alexandria, Kentucky, Mike attended Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1981. Under Mr. Back’s leadership, the band program at Walton has 285 students performing in four concert bands, marching band, two jazz bands, full orchestra and winter guard. The band has received national recognition through performances at Bands of America Regional and Grand National competitions. The band has also marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and is a three-time participant in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. In 2010, the John Philip Sousa Foundation presented the Walton Band with the prestigious Sudler Shield, an international award recognizing marching bands of world class excellence. In 2011, the Walton Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the GMEA State In-service in Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Back is a member of the National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu and Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers. He also served on the staff of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Marching Band that performed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. Mr. Back has served as a clinician, judge and consultant throughout the United States and is an educational artist for Innovative Percussion. Mr. Back lives in Roswell, Georgia with his wife Andrea. Their daughter, Katie, is married to Brennen Salmon and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee and is a marketing entrepreneur. Their son, Connor, is a student at Middle Tennessee State University.
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retired members
gary gribble Gary D. Gribble will retire this May after 34 years of service. Mr. Gribble earned his Associate Degree in Commercial Music and his BMuEd from Georgia State University. He earned the MA in Music from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Gribble has served as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida. Under his direction, the Pope HS Band has earned over 450 awards of excellence and has been a Bands of America Region champion, a regional finalist 20 times, and a Grand National semi-finalist twice. The Pope Band received the prestigious “Sudler Shield of Marching Excellence” from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The band has marched in parades across the continental U.S., in Hawaii, and in London, England. The Pope Symphonic Bands have performed in state, regional, and national concert events, including four performances at the GMEA State Conference and four performances at the Bands of America National Concert Festival. The Pope Wind Symphony has also appeared at the President’s Cup Invitational Festival in Washington, D.C. as well as in University Festivals in Georgia and South Carolina. Mr. Gribble is a member of GMEA, NAfME, NBA, ITG, PAS, Tri-M Music Honor Society, ASBDA, and Phi Betu Mu Band Fraternity. He was cited in 1987 as an "Outstanding Young Man of America," was selected for inclusion in the 1989-1990 edition of "Who's Who in American Education," and was Pope's "STAR Teacher" in 1989-1990. Mr. Gribble was a 1994 ASBDA “Distinguished Director”. He has been named in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers twice. In 1996, Mr. Gribble choreographed a portion of the opening ceremonies for the Paralympic Games in Atlanta. Mr. Gribble has been awarded the National Band Association "Citation of Excellence" on four occasions. In 1999, Mr. Gribble was named a member of the Bandworld Legion of Honor. He was selected an “11-Alive Class Act” Teacher for 2000-2001. In May 2001, he was featured on the cover of “School Band and Orchestra Magazine.” In 2006, Mr. Gribble was nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year Honors. Mr. Gribble has served as GMEA District 12 Band Chairman on two occasions and as the State Band Chairman for 2007-2008. In 2008, Mr. Gribble was named a “Claus Nobel Educator of Distinction” by the National Society of High School Scholars. In 2009, Mr. Gribble was selected by School Band and Orchestra magazine for their “50 Directors Who Make a Difference”. In 2013, Mr. Gribble was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association. His articles have been published in "Fanfare", "Today's Music Educator", “Conn-Selmer Magazine”, and the Texas Bandmasters Association Newsletter. Mr. Gribble served on the Executive Board of the National Band Association from 2011-2014. In 2015, Mr. Gribble was named a Conn-Selmer VIP and has written articles for their "Touchpoints" publication. Mr. Gribble also serves on the Board of Directors for Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle corps. In December, 2017, Mr. Gribble guest conducted the Kell HS Wind Ensemble at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and in January 2018 he guest conducted the Hightower Trail MS Band at the Georgia Music Educators Conference. Mr. Gribble has been a marching band show designer for bands in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina. He has been a marching band and concert band adjudicator in Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, and Illinois. He has been an Honor Band Conductor for ensembles in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Maryland. Mr. Gribble has presented clinics for the Georgia Music Educators Association and the South Carolina Band Directors Association. In 1985, Mr. Gribble was a consultant for marching band scenes in the movie “Leader of the Band”. In 2007, he was a coordinator for student musicians in the stage version of Disney’s “High School Musical” for Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars. In February 2014, Mr. Gribble was an adjudicator and clinician for the Alberta International Music Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He serves on the board of Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and is coordinator of the “Spirit U” Summer Camp. He has performed with and guest conducted the Cobb Wind Symphony Community Band, and the American Patriot Winds Community Band. Mr. Gribble operates “K.E.Y. Leadership Training” seminars for student leadership development. He has worked with middle school, high school, and university groups in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida to assist in developing their leadership programs. Mr. Gribble resides in Marietta with his wife Martha. They have two daughters, Megan and Ashley.
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