Meet our Conn Selmer Institute Faculty
June 11-14, 2023
Learn about our world-class faculty who are certain to share priceless information in the most engaging and inspirational fashion. All the Conn Selmer Institute clinicians are headliners in the music world. Be encouraged to reach out to your colleagues and staff. You will quickly realize the time between the classes is as equally valuable as the treasury of knowledge shared in each presentation.
Keynote Speaker Alvin Law
Born with no arms as a result of the drug Thalidomide, Alvin Law was adopted by a family who taught him to use his feet for hands – and who by doing so gave him the gift of freedom. Alvin’s mission is to spark a worldwide Attitude Revolution. Attitude Revolutions happen because people are inspired, from within themselves, to practice cultivating a more proactive and effective outlook on their lives. Alvin knows, and demonstrates to his audiences, that attitude is not about touchy-feely platitudes or ‘thinking positive’ – attitude is how we look at and interpret life overall. It is a skill that can be learned, and that must be practiced. It is a tool that can be used. Most importantly, it can’t be imposed upon people – it has to come from a genuine place.
Alvin uses his story to challenge audiences to rewrite the negative stories they tell themselves about themselves; to stop feeling like victims in their lives and get proactive; to stop making excuses and start making choices. His fusion of storytelling, musical performance and down-to-earth humor connect with his audiences at an intimate, intense and individual level.
In addition to being a professional speaker, he is a trained broadcaster, fundraiser, award-winning musician and bestselling author. He has earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an honour possessed by less than ten percent of professional speakers worldwide. In 2009, Alvin was inducted into the Canadian Association of Speakers (CAPS) Hall of Fame.
CSI 2023 Faculty
Tim Lautzenheiser
Senior Vice President of Education, Senior Educational Clinician at Conn Selmer, Inc.
- Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
- Board of Directors, American Band College
- Founder, Attitude Concepts for Today
- Co-Author of “Essential Elements” band method
Dr. Paula Crider
Senior Educational Consultant, Conn Selmer Inc.
- Professor Emerita, University of Texas at Austin
- Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
- Co-Author, “Masterworks Studies” series, Hal Leonard
- Author, "The Composer's Legacy: Conductors on Conducting for Wind Band", GIA
Richard Saucedo
Senior Educational Consultant, Conn Selmer Inc.
- Indiana Bandmasters Association “Bandmaster of the Year” 1998-99
- Music for All Hall of Fame 2015
- Composer and arranger
- Chief Judge, Bands of America
Frank Troyka
Senior Educational Consultant, Conn Selmer Inc.
- Director of Bands, Coordinator of Fine Arts (retired), L.V. Berkner HS
- Bands of America Hall of Fame 2016
- Texas Bandmaster of the Year 2019
- Senior Educator and Clinician, BD Performing Arts
Alfred L. Watkins
Director of Bands, Lassiter High School GA (retired)
- Co-founder, Musical Director and Conductor of the Cobb County Wind Symphony
- Co-founder and President, Minority Band Directors National Association
- Phi Beta Mu Georgia Bandmasters Hall of Fame
Erin Cole Steele
Director of Educational Programs, Senior Educational Consultant, Conn Selmer Inc.
- Former Director of Bands, Tapp Middle School, Cobb County GA
- Contributing author, "Teaching Music Through Performance"
- National Band Association Citation of Excellence 2003, 2008, 2015
Beth A. Fabrizio
Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Retired Director of Bands, Hilton Central School District
- Fabrizio's Musical Concepts
- Artist and Educational Clinician Daddario Corporation
- Adjudicator for DCI, WGI, BOA
Frank Tracz
Director of Bands, Kansas State University
- Adjunct Faculty, American Band College
- Contributing author, “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band”, GIA Publications
- Sudler Trophy Award winner, Kansas State Marching Band 2015
Lynne Jackson
Assistant Professor of Music Education, Southern Methodist University
- Founder, Young Educator Seminars
- Texas Bandmasters Association Meritorious Achievement Award 2010
- Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame 2020
Dr. David Vandewalker
Coordinator of Performing Arts (Retired), Fulton County Board of Education
- Founder, Strategic Booster System
- Executive Director, Conn Selmer Parent Boosters Community
- Executive Director, Servant Leadership Association for Music
Dr. Gregory Drane
Director of Marching Blue Band and Athletic Bands, Penn State University
- Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Arranger and Drill Designer
- Concert Band conductor & Instructor of music courses for non- majors
Larry Livingston
Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Chair, University of Southern California, Department of Conducting
- Former Vice-President, New England Conservatory of Music
- Former Dean, Shepherd School fo Music at Rice University
- Founding Music Director, Illinois Chamber Orchestra
Dr. Matthew Arau
Associate Professor Music, Lawrence University
- Founder, Upbeat Global
- Conducting Faculty, American Band College
- Author, “Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond”, GIA Publications
Ronald Carter
Distinguished Professor Performing & Fine Arts, UNC-Fayetteville State University
- Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Former Director, Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble
- Artist, D’Addario Corporation
- Guest conductor, artist, clinician, adjudicator
Antonio J. Garcia
Founder, garciamusic.com
- Board of Directors, The Midwest Clinic
- Associate Jazz Editor, International Trombone Association Journal
- Former Director of Jazz Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Author, "Cutting the Changes: Jazz Improvisation via Key Centers" and "Jazz Improvisation: Practical Approaches to Grading"
Colonel Lowell Graham
Music Director, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra
- Former Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C.
- President and CEO of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation
- Past President of the American Bandmasters Association
- Professor Emerita, University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Myra Rhoden
Director of Bands, Fayette County High School
- Four-time recipient, National Band Association's Citation of Excellence
- 2017-18 NAfME National Band Director of the Year
- Board of Directors, Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic, Troy University
John Phillips
Adjunct Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International
- Board of Directors, Ontario Music Educators' Association and Ontario Band Association
- Senior Advisor at Music Mentors International
David Starnes
Director of Orchestras, Kennesaw Mountain High School, GA
- Assistant Professor, School of Music and Director of Athletic Bands, Western Carolina University
- Director of Bands, Kennesaw Mountain High, GA
- 2004 Bands of America Grand Nationals "AAA National Champion"
- Design Advisor for Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps
Marissa Turney
Freelance Percussion Specialist, Carmel, IN
- Percussion Educational Staff, Mount Vernon HS (Fortville, IN)
- Former Percussion Educational Staff, Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds
- MM Percussion Performance, Indiana Jacobs School of Music
- Summer Symposium Faculty, Music For All
Scott Rush
Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Director Emeritus, Wando High School
- Team Lead for the Habits Series (GIA Publications, Inc.)
- President, Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM)
- Conductor, Charleston Wind Symphony
Dr. Shelby R. Chipman
Director of Bands and Professor of Music, Florida A8M University
- Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Former band director at Miami Central High School, FL
- Music director/conductor of the Tallahassee Big Bend Community Orchestra, Florida collegiate advisor, and the Southern Division for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Dr. Kelvin D. Jones
Director of the LSU Tiger Band and Assistant Director of Bands at Louisiana State University
- Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- LSU Faculty wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mentorship award recipient, Louisiana Music Educators Association’s Young Music Educator of the Year, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Teacher of Distinction
- Former Director of Bands at West Feliciana High School, St. Francisville, LA
Dr. Shelley Jagow
Director of Bands; Wright State University, Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- Vandoren Artist Clinician
- Author “Developing the Complete Band Program”, Meredith/GIA
- Author “Tuning for Wind Instruments: A Roadmap to Successful Intonation”, Meredith/GIA
- Accompanying app to book: Apple Store, Google Play
O'Neill "Doc" Sanford
Educational Consultant and Clinician, Conn Selmer, Inc
- Retired Tenured Professor of Music and Chair, Department of Music, Norfolk State University
- Retired College/University Band Director: Mississippi Valley State, Virginia State, University of Minnesota, University of Pittsburgh, Norfolk State, and Jackson State.
- Author, "A Maestro and Trailblazer from Slaughter", to be released in November of 2022.
Robert Herrings
Director of Bands, Henry Middle School, Leander TX
- Conn Selmer Educational Clinician
- John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award recipient
- Performed at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2022.
Jonathan Glawe
Director of Orchestras, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Orchestra and Co-Curriculum Chair: Servant Leadership Association for Music
- Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician
- American String Teachers Association Former Blog Editor for Michigan
Dr. Scott Edgar
Associate Professor of Music, Lake Forest College
- Author, “Music Education and Social Emotional Learning: The Heart of Teaching Music”
- Instructor, graduate courses on Musical Social Emotional Learning at VanderCook College of Music
- Formerly held positions at Adrian College and Concordia College Ann Arbor
Join these world-class educators and clinicians
this year at Conn Selmer Institute.