When we return to our bands this fall, it will be a unique time for our ensembles and organizations. Student leaders will need to be ready to hit the ground running more than ever. Bands will have less time and will be out of practice due to the extended "no contact" rules under which they have lived. It will be easy for us to use COVID-19 as an excuse for not seeking or achieving excellence this fall. In this session, students will learn leadership ideas and concepts to re-establish our culture of excellence in a likely NEW and changing learning environment.
Sponsored by YAMAHA
Bob Medworth recently retired after serving as the band director at Northview High School (formerly Brazil HS) for 41 years. During that time his marching bands have been Indiana State Finalists 39 times and have won 10 state championships, finishing out of the top 5 only once. His drum corps involvement as a marching technician and caption supervisor has included The Star of Indiana, Carolina Crown, and the Madison Scouts and he is currently on the staff of the Bluecoats. Bob was also a member of the Brass Theater and Blast! The instructional staff as well as serving at many camps and clinics throughout the United States. He has received recognition in education including the WTHI Golden Apple, the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Outstanding High School Teacher Award, Wal-Mart Educator of the Year Award, and was a 1995 State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash presented by Governor Evan Bayh. He was also a VFW District Seven Teacher of the Year. While serving as the Girls Varsity Basketball coach at Northview from 2001 to 2007 Bob was twice named WIC Conference Coach of the Year. In the summer Bob is a Head Clinician for Smith Walbridge camps. In his free time as a Tour Director for Music Travel Consultants, he has taken groups to locations including New York City, Ireland, the Outback Bowl, and the Rose Bowl. Bob and Ruth Ann (teacher and color guard director at Northview ) reside in Brazil and their daughter Whitney works for VOX Media as an editor for the SBNation sports blog.
Michael Alsop is a Ph.D. student in music education and a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Georgia. He earned prior degrees in music education from DePauw University and the University of Louisville. While currently on staff with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, he has spent past summers teaching with the Phantom Regiment, Indiana state champion, and BOA finalist marching bands. He was a middle school band director for six years in Brazil, Indiana. 2019 will be Michael's third summer teaching at the Smith Walbridge Marching Band and Section Leader Clinic.