Elementary/Middle School/Junior High School Representatives

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES

AMANDA ALLEN (IL)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

AMANDA J. ALLEN is the Director of Bands at Monticello Middle School and Assistant Marching Band Director at Monticello High School. Located in Central Illinois about 30 minutes outside of Champaign-Urbana, the Monticello School district is in a rural setting and has about 1700 students enrolled in the entire K-12 district.

Under the direction of Amanda Allen, the Monticello Middle School Band program has flourished and boasts three grade level concert bands with additional auditioned extra curricular symphonic band and jazz band. In the spring of 2020, the Symphonic Band participated in the International Music Education Summit Virtual Band Festival. The MMS Symphonic Band has performed numerous times at the prestigious University of Illinois SuperState Band Festival, Metro East Concert Band Festival in O’Fallon, IL, the Prairie State Middle School Concert Band Festival in Naperville, IL, and the Illinois State University Concert Band Festival. The Monticello Middle School Symphonic Band was designated a 2018 State Level Winner in the National Wind Band Honors Competition from the Foundation for Music Education.

Mrs. Allen and the Monticello Middle School Band program were awarded the Women Band Directors International Magna Cum Laude Award as an outstanding middle school band program in a small-sized school setting. Additionally, during Mrs. Allen's tenure at Monticello, her ensembles have performed twice at the Illinois Music Educators Convention (2012 Jazz Ensemble,and 2015 Eighth Grade Band). The Monticello Middle School Jazz Band regularly performs at jazz festivals throughout Illinois and has also performed at the Illinois School Board Association Conference in Chicago, IL. Monticello Middle School Bands consistently receive “Best of Day” honors at the Illinois Elementary School Association Organizational Band Contest. Mrs. Allen enjoys the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of her former middle school students as an assistant director of the Monticello Marching Sages. The Marching Sages were class AA Champions of the University of Illinois Marching Band Invitational in both 2016 and 2017, and were awarded the Governor’s trophy for top band in class A-AAA in 2017 and 2019. The Marching Sages have regularly placed in class A competition in the Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional for the past several years. From 2018-2020, Mrs. Allen served on the National Band Association Board of Directors as a middle school representative. Mrs. Allen has presented on topics related to middle school band pedagogy at the Illinois Music Education Association Convention and has served as a guest speaker at the University of Illinois National Band Association Student Organization meetings. Mrs. Allen has been a guest conductor at both concert band and jazz festivals throughout Illinois and also at Illinois Summer Youth Music Concert Band camps at the University of Illinois. Amanda Allen received both Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a saxophone student of Debra Richtmeyer. Mrs. Allen is a member of the American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Illinois Music Educators Association, and Women Band Directors International.

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MARY CRANDELL (IA)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

A graduate of the University of South Dakota (Bachelor of Ars and Master of Music), Mary Crandell started her instrumental music career in Le Center, Minnesota, and Clear Lake, Iowa, before her tenure began at Waukee Middle School, also in Iowa, from 2004 to present. She was the first woman to serve as Jazz Educators of Iowa President and she also created the Middle School Jazz Combo Workshop, an annual event for middle school jazz students in the state. Crandell serves in leadership roles for the Iowa Bandmasters Association, where she is currently the President-Elect and State Historian. Mary frequently guest conducts honor band festivals throughout Iowa and Nebraska.

The Waukee Middle School (WMS) Concert Bands have consistently earned first place or runner-up in the annual Adventureland Junior High Festival of Bands, Adventureland Park, Altoona, Iowa. WMS Jazz Bands have earned consistent division I or I+ ratings at district jazz festivals, and in 2011, was chosen to perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Annual Conference. Crandell co-presented sessions on “Embedding Jazz Into the Beginning Band Program” at state conferences and at the 2015 National Association for Music Education Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. An article printed in the August 2017 School Band & Orchestra Publication (SBO) featured band rehearsal techniques utilized in the WMS band program. Mary co-presented “Rehearsal Techniques for Middle School Concert Bands” at the state and national levels utilizing these rehearsal techniques. Crandell collaborated with three additional Iowa band directors on an extensive jazz education presentation, “Part One: Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Beginning Jazz Band: How to Select, Setup and Rehearse,” and “Part Two: Nuts and Bolts of Teaching Beginning Jazz Improvisation: Multiple Approaches to Fit Your Objectives,” at the 2019 Iowa Bandmasters Association Annual Conference. The WMS Jazz Combo was the demonstration group for that session and was chosen to perform a lobby concert at the conference. The WMS Jazz Combo was also featured in a session at the Talented and Gifted Annual State Conference in the fall of 2019, entitled, “Unexpected Connections: Gifted Learners and Jazz Ensemble,” which demonstrated how young jazz musicians make meaningful connections across varying approaches, while using the jazz combo format and improvisation as the vehicle.

Crandell strives to create an environment of purposeful learning in which students enhance their musical performance to the best of their capabilities while enjoying the music-making process together. She co-authored and published Building from the Ground Up: A Successful Blueprint for Band Programs (C.L. Barnhouse Company), which manifested from seventeen years of collaborative teaching incorporating the importance of what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, why. Most recently, she co-presented a teaching session at the 2021 International Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference under the same title. Crandell is a mentor teacher and a member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators of Iowa, Jazz Education Network, National Education Association, Iowa Music Education Association, Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, Women Band Directors International, International Trombone Association, Waukee Education Association, PEO, and is a ten-year Veteran of the Army National Guard.

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Crandell’s daily life thrives on her passion and drive for teaching music through the band experience. Her passion for inspiring young students to engage their creativity through the arts is exemplified through her first two published books: Little Miss Mary Discovers Music Outside Her Window (ISBN: 9781499022179) and Little Miss Mary Discovers the Piano (ISBN:9781503580008). When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys yoga, exploring eclectic venues with friends, playing trombone, and spending time with her husband, Myron Peterson, also a music educator and trombonist.

CHIP DE STEFANO (IL)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

CHIP DE STEFANO received both his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance and Master of Music Education Degrees from Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, he studied conducting with John P. Paynter, Steve Peterson, and Don Owens, trombone with Frank Crisafulli and Art Linsner, and music education with Bennett Reimer, Donald Casey, Jim Kjelland, and Peter Webster.

Mr. De Stefano is currently in his 26th 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 Educators Association (ILMEA) All-State Conference, University of Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, CBDNA-NBA North Central Division Conference, and NAfME North Central Division Conference. In 2006 and 2013 the Symphonic Band received an invitation to present a concert at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. In December of 2006, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the McCracken Symphonic Band the prestigious Sudler Silver Cup.

Mr. De Stefano has had chapters published by GIA Publications in Foundations: The Fundamental Elements for Building a Successful Middle School Band Program, Teaching Music Through Performance in Middle School Band, and Whatsoever Things... The Life and Teachings of John P. Paynter. Chorales and Beyond, co-authored with Timothy Loest and Kevin Lepper is published by FJH Music. His professional affiliations include the Illinois Music Educators Association, Illinois Grade School Music Association, the National Band Association (Board of Directors, Middle School Representative), All-Illinois Junior Band (Board of Directors), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he was recently honored with membership in the American Bandmasters Association.

Mr. De Stefano is active nationally as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. He’s conducted honor bands, festivals and camps in Singapore, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan (scheduled), Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and throughout Illinois. In addition, he has presented conference sessions at the Midwest Clinic (2008, 2021, 2022 scheduled), ILMEA All-State Conference (2003, 2005, 2008, 2016), Iowa Bandmasters Conference (2010), Nebraska Music Educators Association State Conference (2011), New England Band Director Institute (2016), Arkansas Tech University Band Director Workshop (2013), NBA/ IGSMA Band Director Workshop (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021), Illinois State University

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Band Director Workshop (2012, 2019) and DuPage County Music Clinic (2009, 2014, 2021). Mr. De Stefano is a recipient of twentytwo 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, the IGSMA Cloyd Meyers Memorial Award in 2011, and the Skokie Award for Artistic Excellence in 2016.

GREGORY DENSON (GA)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

GREGORY L. DENSON is presently the Director of Bands at East Cobb Middle School in Marietta, GA. A native of Morven, Georgia, Denson holds a Bachelor of Music from Morehouse College, a Master of Music Education with certification from The Florida State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Georgia State University. Denson has studied with David Morrow, Uzee Brown, Andre Thomas, Richard Clary, Clifford Madsen, Steve Kelly, Kimberly VanWeelden, Pat Meighan, and Gholnescar Muhammad.

Dr. Denson began his teaching career at D. M. Therrell High School in Atlanta. While at Therrell students participated in the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation, performed in numerous college homecoming parades, participated in The University of Georgia JanFest Clinic, and a host of community and civic events. Dr. Denson also served as the CoDirector of the Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Jazz Ensemble and served as the LEAD Band Teacher for the Atlanta Public Schools.

The East Cobb Middle School band program has grown from 120 students to 480+ in 3 years and is quickly establishing a reputation of musical excellence. The students at East Cobb MS participate in 5 large ensembles; 8th Grade Honors, 8th Grade Concert, 7th Grade Symphonic, 7th Grade Concert, 6th Grade Honors and Jazz Band. Students also participate in a host of student led chamber ensembles. While at East Cobb, the Honors Band has been selected as a guest band at the University of Georgia Midfest Honor Clinic. Students have been selected to participate in District XII Honor Band, Georgia AllState Band, University of Georgia MidFest Honor Band Clinic, Auburn MS Honor Band, ConnSelmer Youth Band of Atlanta, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Denson has presented clinics at the Midwest Clinic, GMEA State In-Service Conference and a host of professional development sessions in Cobb County, Fulton County, Atlanta Public Schools, and Clayton County Schools, as well as sessions in conjunction with the Woodruff Arts Center. He is a Conn Selmer VIP and currently serves as the Chair of the Georgia Music Educators Association Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee.

Dr. Denson is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician and currently plays alto saxophone as a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony.

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ROBERT FOSTER (KS)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

ROBERT E. FOSTER, JR. is in his 17th year as Director of Bands at Lexington Trails Middle School in De Soto, Kansas and in his 29th year of teaching. Prior to this position, he was Associate Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music Education at Tennessee Tech University, Director of Bands at Haskell Indian Nations University, Associate Director of Bands at Texas Christian University, Interim- Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland, and was the 5th-12th band director for the Eudora, Kansas public schools.

As band director at Lexington Trails Middle School and Starside Elementary School, he directs three concert bands, two jazz bands, pep band, and the 5th grade beginner band. His bands have consistently received superior ratings throughout his career. He earned a reputation as a master teacher. His double-tonguing middle school students (Bugler’s Holiday) have performed with the Lawrence City Band and the Manhattan Municipal Band. This summer, the LTMS 8th grade euphonium students (Rolling Thunder) will be featured soloists with the Manhattan Municipal Band on one of their concerts.

Foster has served the National Band Association as the Representative for the state of Kansas and is currently on the Foster Project Southwestern Division Committee. He was recognized in 2019 by N.B.A and the Music Education Alliance, Dr. William Patrick Foster Project “Award of Excellence Division Winner” which recognizes outstanding title 1 school band programs. In 2017, Foster was selected by the School Band and Orchestra magazine as a “Top Music Educators” 50 Directors Who Make A Difference. Foster was chosen by his colleagues in 2011 as the Northeast Kansas MidLevel Band Director of the Year. He was recognized by the De Soto Unified School District #232 and was the first educator to receive the “Making a Difference Award”. He has also won the “Teacher Inspiration Award” and has twice been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” for Lexington Trails Middle School.

Foster has a number of published compositions and articles. He has recently published several middle school articles in The Instrumentalist magazine: April 2020, Building Range in Middle School Musicians and February 2022, Double Tonguing with Middle School Bands. Klavier Publishing company, has published his book on the life and career of his father, Memoirs of a Legendary Band Director based on the life of Robert E. Foster. The Bandworld magazine published his articles Revive Your Audience and “Parading Bands: First Impressions are Everything. Foster is also published with GIA Publications in the wind repertoire collection: Teaching Musicianship Through Performance in Band. He wrote the chapters on Walter Hartley’s Concerto for TwentyThree Winds; Ottorino Respighi’s Huntingtower Ballad, and Girolamo Frescobaldi’s Toccata.

As a composer, Mr. Foster has written numerous original works and arrangements for bands at all levels. He has published band compositions with Wingert-Jones Publications, Ludwig Masters, and Curnow Music. The majority of these band publications are grade .5 – 3. In addition to writing works for concert band, Foster has written over 110 pep band and marching band charts, numerous arrangements for brass bands, small ensembles and solos.

Robert E. Foster, Jr. currently serves on the Executive Board for the Kansas John Philip Sousa Mid-

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Level Honor Band. This is the “allstate” band in Kansas for students, 6th-9th grade. Over the course of ten years, Foster created and operated Foster Family Festivals. This company managed a very successful music festival at a water park in Kansas City, Kansas. He also started and oversees the USD #232 Summer Music Camp for beginner and middle school students and the district’s MidLevel Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Mr. Foster has presented clinics at the Kansas Bandmasters Association convention, Texas Music Educators Association convention, and the Maryland Music Educators conference. He also served as guest conductor or adjudicator in Kansas, Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Additionally, on multiple occasions he has appeared as a guest lecturer in music education at Kansas State University.

Mr. Foster has been involved with the “brass band movement” in Kansas and was a tutor and conductor for the Fountain City Brass Band’s Youth Academy program for many years. He is passionate about helping his students and encourages his middle school brass and percussion students to play in these wonderful ensembles. Additionally, in 2008 he founded and is the artistic director for the De Soto Brass Band which presents three programs a year and consists of professional musicians from the Kansas City area and his all-state students.

Robert E. Foster, Jr. received a bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Kansas in 1991 and was a three year letterman for the varsity Football Team. He was the deep snapper and handled all snaps for the punts and field goals. He received the University of Kansas “Special Teams Player of the Year Award” in 1986. Additional recognitions include Playboy magazine’s Anson Scholar Academic All Big-8 Football Team, Lee-Jean’s Academic All Big-8 Team, and the Philips 66 Academic All Big-8 Team. In 1988, Foster signed a free agent contract with the N.F.L’s Atlanta Falcon Football franchise.

Foster received his Masters of Science Degree from the University of Illinois in 1992. He has also completed graduate work at the University of North Texas and the University of Kansas. His mentors and conducting professors include Robert E. Foster, James F. Keene, Eugene Corporon, and Joseph W. Hermann.

TIFFANY HITZ (VA)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

TIFFANY HITZ is Director of Bands, Music Department Chair, and Co-Lead Mentor at Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, VA. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University.

Mrs. Hitz maintains an active schedule as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator throughout the United States, and has been teaching in Fairfax County, VA since 2001, where she recently completed a tenure as Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Coach for their Teacher Induction Program, Great Beginnings: The Next Generation. A member of the Virginia Music Educators Association, Mrs. Hitz is currently on the state’s New Music Grading Committee and Conference Registration Staff and

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chairs the Assessment Adjudicator Training committee for the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. She is also a member of Women Band Directors International and has been published in and served as the Elementary Editor of their official journal, Woman Conductor. Mrs. Hitz received the Outstanding Music Education Alumni Award from VCU School of the Arts in 2018. She is an inducted member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and American School Band Directors Association, and was previously recognized by the School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “Fifty Directors Who Make a Difference”. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and previous nominee for the Grammy Music Educator Award. Mrs. Hitz currently serves as the Virginia State Chair of the National Band Association and the administrator for the Dr. William P. Foster Music Education Alliance “Award of Excellence”.

Mrs. Hitz continues to teach privately and perform as a hornist, and is a regular member of the Fairfax Wind Symphony. She spends her summers teaching at music camps including UNCG’s Summer Music Camp, the University of Maine’s Summer Youth Music Camp, and the Middle School Concert Band Camp at the Music for All Summer Symposium.

TRACY LESLIE (NV)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

Dr. Tracy Leslie was invited to join the faculty, to create and build the instrumental music education program at Del Webb Middle School in Henderson, Nevada upon the school’s opening in 2005. Her work with the Del Webb Bands followed the development of highly successful music programs at Thurman White Middle School in Henderson, Nevada and Roy Martin Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada. As Director of Bands, she is responsible for an extensive instrumental program consisting of 300 plus students with five successful concert bands. Tracy Leslie was awarded an Outstanding Teaching Award in 2005-06 by The Clark County School District for her effective classroom leadership. Dr. Leslie has served as an adjunct Instructor of Music Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, teaching undergraduate classes in Instrumental Music Education Methods and Woodwind Methods.

As a recognized and respected wind band pedagogue, Dr. Leslie has been invited to conduct and perform clinics throughout numerous states in America, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Indiana, and Louisiana and internationally in Japan. During her 27-year tenure as a music educator and conductor in the Clark County School District, ensembles under the direction of Dr. Leslie have consistently received Superior ratings and critical acclaim from adjudicators and colleagues nationally.

Tracy Leslie has been highly active in commissioning new works and transcriptions for advanced middle school bands, including recent publications Piccadilly by Erik Satie, Chernomor’s March by Mikhail Glinka, and The Nightingale by Peter I. Tchaikovsky edited and orchestrated expressly for her by Col. John R. Bourgeois (RET) Director Emeritus of The United States Marine Band “The President’s Own”. Additionally, Dr. Leslie commissioned the David Holsinger composition Fanfare for the Glorious Naycart (anagram for Tracy Ann) for the Clark County School District Honor Band. Dr. Leslie is active as an adjudicator for concert and marching bands throughout the West. She serves as Assistant

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Producer for the annual Holiday Bowl National Pageant of Bands in San Diego, California. Dr. Leslie currently serves as Assistant Producer and Continuity Editor for the UNLV Wind Orchestra Recording Series published by Klavier Music Productions of Boca Raton, Florida. Her most recent publications with the UNLV Wind Orchestra series include Grammy listed recordings Concerto for Marienthal (K11178), Marquee Mojo (K11185), Lost Vegas (K11195), Ventanas (K11199), The Return (K11217), 24K Gould (K11222), Quaternity (K11223), and the soon to be released Espresso Express. Dr. Leslie was the CoFounder and Head Instructor for the UNLV Leadership Team Clinic, and she founded and administered the UNLV Desert Winds Summer Music Camp.

Tracy Leslie received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and a Master of Music Education Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1993 and 1997 respectively and graduated Cum Laude. She was awarded the Outstanding Music Education Graduate Award from the UNLV School of Music in 1993. Dr. Leslie received a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Wind Band Conducting at UNLV in 2008, having studied conducting with Thomas Leslie, Takayoshi Suzuki, and Dr. Harry Begian.

In June of 2020, Dr. Leslie was elected to a third term (20202022 biennium) on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association as a Middle School Representative. She also served as the Nevada State Representative from August 2016 until July 2020.

Dr. Leslie is an active advocate for music education maintaining current membership status in the National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Nevada Music Education Association, Southern Nevada Band Association, and the Nevada Education Association. Tracy Leslie co-hosted the 2001 National Convention of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

SUSAN WATERS (TN)

NOMINEE, ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE

A native of Nashville, Tennessee SUSAN WATERS is in her 35th year of Instrumental Music Education and is currently the Director of Bands at Oliver Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University and her professional affiliations include: Tennessee Music Educators Association, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, Delta Omicron, NAfME, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association where she currently serves as Executive Secretary.

The Oliver Middle School Band Program is in its 17th year of existence. The program has grown from a population of 1 ensemble with only 7 band students on opening day in August of 2004 to its current membership of almost 400 students which represents over 40% of the overall school population. Ms. Waters was named the first Oliver Middle School “Teacher of the Year” and received a $1000 grant to enhance her rapidly growing program. The Oliver Band Program has received nothing less than superior ratings at every regional, state and national concert festivals in which they have performed. They are a sixteen-time recipient of the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and have performed twice at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center as part of the CMA All-Stars concert. The Oliver Band program has been selected 3 times to present a concert at the Tennessee