A woman who needs no introduction to the marching arts world, Amy Knopps is my guest on this week’s episode of the Global Band Room Podcast.

The Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at University of Missouri, Amy is no stranger to what it takes to become a marching band sensation.

From the pandemic affecting Marching Mizzou’s trip to Dublin for St Patricks Day to coming back swinging in the Macy’s Day Parade, the last five years has been just as wild for them as the rest of us.

We chat all about Amy’s path that led her to where she is now, what it’s like to be a part of the programme at University of Missouri, and — most importantly — the importance of creating an environment that inspires and facilitates success on an individual and group level.

Find more about Amy and her programmes at:
https://music.missouri.edu/people/knopps
https://www.instagram.com/marchingmizzou/
https://www.facebook.com/MarchingMizzou/
You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

Back in the band room once again, but this time, the episode sounds just a little bit different! This week’s guest, Kevin McKeown, is an impassioned conductor from Belfast and California who worked with me to bring his wind ensemble at Santa Monica High School to Edinburgh, Manchester, and London.

Taking this episode a little closer to home, we talk about Kevin’s unique experience being an Irish immigrant who moved to California during the Troubles in the 1980s, how music became a huge part of his new life, how the pandemic shook things up in his band room, and the tour of the United Kingdom we were on at that moment — all from the comfort of a cosy pub in London!

You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

Welcome back! I was delighted to welcome Giovanni Santos as my first guest of the new season of the Global Bandroom. We chat all about band in California, his career as a composer and conductor, and the importance of diversity at all levels of band. To find out more about Giovanni Santos head over to his website at https://giosantosmusic.com/

This is a special episode of the Global Bandoom with our friend Cathy Likhuta as we talk about the war in Ukraine, her family, and her music. Thank you so much to Cathy for the conversation and all of the updates she's been posting to help us understand the conflict a little more. Our sincere best wishes to her and her family right now. You can help Cathy support Ukraine by purchasing her music at www.catherinelikhuta.com

For the first time since the podcast started at the beginning of the pandemic, we're on the road! Over the past month, I visited San Antonio TX, and Columbia SC. On this week's episode, I'm bringing you some of the best conversations from those events with Emily Burch Williams, Adam Chitta, Patrick Moore, Paul Buyer, and Austin Armstrong.

We’re heading to Texas next week for TMEA and before we do, we had a great conversation with Amy Bovin, Associate Director of Bands at Texas A&M, Kingsville. We talked about boojie milkshakes, changing paths during covid, moving to Texas, and how we might support and encourage more women to not only join the profession, but stay!

Lori is back! Lori Schwartz Reichl was one of the first guests on the Global Bandroom back on St. Patrick's Day 2020. This week we talk all about her journey throughout the last two years, building a freelance career in music education, and how flexible approaches to the workplace may lead to a more diverse pool of great directors and a happier environment to create and learn for everyone.    Find out more about Lori at https://makingkeychanges.com/

This week the Global Bandroom visits Nakhon-Rachasima in Thailand to chat with Apivut Minali, conductor of the Suranaree Girls Wind Symphony & Marching Band. in addition to conducting in Thailand and Japan, Apivut has adjudicated in Taiwan, Malaysia, Germany, and Canada. We talked about how he started his career in music education in Thailand, his time with Aimachi in Japan, and how beginner bands have different pressures on them outside of the USA,

It was great to chat a length with Jeffrey Spenner, assistant director of the US Coast Guard Band this week. We spoke about service bands, what it takes to be a service musician, and how much of the time these world-class musicians and bands can be taken for granted and undervalued, a problem around the world.

Happy New Year! We're back and heading back to Calgary for the first episode of 2022. Chris Herard is the Head of Fine Arts at Bishop Carroll High School and an Executive Council member of the World Association of Marching Show Bands. We had a great conversation about student leadership in music education, the important relationships between school and community bands, and how Chris balances the numerous projects he's involved in.    Find out more about WAMSB at https://wamsb.org Find out more about SLAM at https://slamleadership.org

Band can be scary...and that's not just the percussion section! Pour yourself a drink and settle in for an evening of terrifying and frightening band rep! Joining Keith and Gail this month are composer Peter Sciaino and conductor Nick Efstathiou. Repertoire Happy Hour is brought to you by Kaleidoscope Adventures. Find out how you can Travel Beyond Expectations at www.mykatrip.com

All roads have led to the 50th Anniversary; to more than 90 tour stops, to a year of unforgettable new memories, to the summer of a lifetime. All roads lead to #DCI2022 — to the greatest season yet — and beyond. Keith explores the many opportunities that exist for international groups and musicians in 2022 and beyond! Find the full tour at https://dci.org/events Fin out how Kaleidoscope Adventures can make a tour like these possible over at www.mykatrip.com

You might have found me back in the day from Finding Drum Corps, and if so, then this week’s guest will need no introductions! But if this is new to you, David Eddleman is the Open Class at Soundsport and International Development Officer with Drum Corps International, among many other things.

As we move through David’s career and its many (many) fascinating branches, we discuss the transformative moments in music that captivate and make us who we are today — as well as knowing when to take up the call yourself in order to see the thing you love succeed.

Over the last five years (and, perhaps, more realistically his entire career), even though he moved off of his job with Avon Lake High School, David learned about the new ways in which we have to communicate with our students and band members.

“When you build a culture that values people first, the music naturally follows.”

Find more about what David’s up to on:
soundsport.com

You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

Director of Bands at the University of Arizona Bands, Conductor, Author, and former Stand-Up Comedian and podcast trailblazer Chad Nicholson joined me on this week's show. We spoke about how his stand-up comedy informed his work as a band director, his experiments in podcasting, and presenting musical repertoire in interesting and engaging ways. Find out more about Chad and the University of Arizona Bands at https://band.music.arizona.edu  The Global Bandroom is brought to you by Kaleidoscope Adventures. Travel Beyond Expectations at www.mykatrip.com

"Can expressiveness in music be learned, or is it an innate gift, and you either have it or you don't?" This week I sat down with a true Bandmaster, Robert Musser, former conductor of the Tacoma Concert Band, to talk about this topic which is the subject of his new book "Expression: The Essence of Music: A Guide To Expressive Performance."   Find out more about Robert's new book at https://www.expressivemusic.com

Conductor, Educator, and Advocate for many important changes in our band community, Kaitlin Bove joined me on this week's podcast to chat about her career and her work with “Girls Who Conduct,” and “And We Were Heard.” We also got the best pre-Midwest Clinic tip we’ve had yet!!   Girls Who Conduct: https://girlswhoconduct.org/  And We Were Heard: https://www.andwewereheard.org/

Mark Morette and his company Mark Custom are legendary in our band world and are responsible for some of the most well-known and important recordings at events and organizations such as WASBE, the Midwest Clinic, and Music for All. On this show, we chat about the origins of the company, how recording engineers have gained new levels of respect due the Covid Pandemic, and Mark gives us some tips for recording in our bandrooms. Find out more about Mark and his work at http://www.markcustom.com  The Global Bandroom is brought to you by Kaleidoscope Adventures. Find out how you can Travel Beyond Expectations at www.mykatrip.com

Mark Nichols is back! We talk about returning to normal band in Texas, lessons learned from Covis, and how Mark fell into Drum Corps, not once, but twice! The Global Bandroom is brought to you by Kaleidoscope Adventures. Find out how to Travel Beyond Expectations at www.mykatrip.com Santa Clara Vanguard 2021 - "Wait For Me:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKOVcUniWuc

This was a fun one! On this week's episode I spoke with David Vickerman, 2015 winner of The American Prize in Conducting, and Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at San José State University. We had a great discussion about why we do what we do, and finding the "Why" in your performances.   Find out more about David and the San Jose University Bands at https://www.sjsu.edu/music/departments-and-ensembles/ensembles/bands/index.php

This week I had the pleasure of getting to know Deborah Bradley; Educator, Conductor, and Adjudicator. We had a great chat about her "2nd Career," judging the St. Patrick's Parade in Ireland, and her interest in history and the great Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore.

We're back! And what better way to kick off season 3 than with the great British composer Philip Sparke. We chatted about his unlikely route into composing for brass bands, writing melody and music that musicians love, and his love of travel. You can find out more about Philip and his work at his site www.philipsparke.com. Head over to www.globalbandroom.com to find out where to subscribe and how you can get involved!   Find out more about Philip and his music at https://www.philipsparke.com/

Pour yourself a drink and settle in for this month's Repertoire Happy Hour! July 1st is Canada Day and we're celebrating with our guests Cait Nishimura, Dylan Rook Maddix, and John Phillips as we talk all about Canadian repertoire and composers!

This week we're paying tribute to the volunteers - the Hidden Heroes of Drum Corps. On this episode, we'll be finding out more about these priceless pillars of the activity. What drives them to give so much of themselves - what brings them back every year, and the voluntary history of the entire activity.

Delighted to welcome back friend-of-the-pod, Mark Nichols! Since 2020, Mark's made a fair few transitions, and like so many of the rest of us, started re-prioritising some things too! We chat about how sometimes "it's just band" and how life looks so much larger when you step away from the nitty-gritty of your normal routine. And, as a result of that, how much programmes benefit from that more balanced approach.

When I met Mark, he was Brass Caption Head for DCI's Santa Clara Vanguard and Director of Bands at Brazoswood High School. But these days, he finds himself on the Brass Staff at Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps and Associate Director of Bands at Clear Lake High School.

If you want to find out more about Mark's work and the projects he's involved in, find him here:

https://education.musicforall.org/clinician/4339/

https://bostoncrusaders.org/

https://www.clhsband.org/

@bostoncrusaders

You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

This week on Finding Drum Corps, we're visiting a part of the ensemble that host Keith Kelly is not the only newcomer to, as we learn about the enigmatic and the mysterious front ensemble. This week, we enter the pit.

In 2020 the marching arts world adopted the phrase, “March On,” and in 2021 DCI and its corps will do just that. This year Drum Corps International will present the DCI Celebration Tour with corps designing unique performances for this noncompetitive year. In this episode we look at the challenges facing the performers and corps—What does a non-competitive season even look like? And most importantly, what are we looking forward to seeing on the field in 2021? After a year of no live drum corps, it’s time to celebrate the past, present, and future of Marching Music’s Major League. Special guests include: Chris Holland, Geneva Le, Joshua Hecht, Dan Potter, Michael Cesario, Paul Doop, Rick Brown, Tim Hinton and Mallory Anderson.

Joining Keith and Gail this month as they chat band and sip Summer cocktails are Darcy Vogt Wiliams, Band Director and host of the fantastic After Sectionals podcast and Wesley Broadnax, Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado. The month's theme is "Songs for Summer" as we all start to wind down (or up for some!!) for the next few months.

With drum corps set to return to the field this summer for the DCI Celebration Tour, Keith returns to the microphone for this long-awaited eighth episode that explores how 2020 has impacted the drum corps activity, how it moved things online, and how the ingenuity and talent of this community will ensure that members and fans will have spectacular shows to look forward to in 2021 and beyond. Special guests include: DCI CEO Dan Acheson, River City Rhythm executive director Bojan Hoover, Crossmen CEO Natalie Steele, Bluecoats CEO Mike Scott, and Ben Schroeder, director of Varsity Performing Arts Training Education and Events at Varsity Spirit.

Joining Keith and Gail this month as they chat band and sip cocktails are John Lynch (former Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the University of Georgia) and Jason Noble (Scarsdale HS and Columbia University Wind Ensemble). The month's theme is "Wanderlust" celebrating the act of globetrotting we all hope to return to very soon!

It's the final episode of Season 2 of the Global Bandroom before we launch into our Summer shows and documentaries, and what better way to end than with a conversation with Tim Reynish himself. We chat about his career as a horn player, why conducting was easier, WASBE, and how Tim has been advocating for diversity in programming long before the current movement.

This week I brought the podcast a little closer to home to my neighbors in the UK as I chatted with John Paul Wyndham, Director of the Brentwood Youth Imperial Band. This band was established in 1990 inspired by the many great military bands of the UK. With a focus on excellence, discipline, and access to music education for children of all backgrounds, the Brentwood Youth Imperial Band has become an important part of its community in London.

This week we're visiting another Bandroom as we chat with Dylan Rook Maddix and Cait Nishimura of the Band Room Podcast. Dylan is a conductor and trumpet player, Cait is a celebrated composer, and they've recently joined forces recently on their fun and informative podcast! We chat about band, composing, repertoire in Canada, podcasting for the band world, and diversity in programming. Links: Bandroom Podcast :www.bandroompod.com Instagram: @bandroompod Facebook: @bandroompod Twitter: @bandroompod Dylan Rook Maddix Instagram: @maddmaestr0 Cait Nishimura www.caitnishimura.com Instagram: @composer_cait Twitter: @composer_cait

Every month we sit around with band directors, planning an imaginary concert and maybe (definitely) have a drink or two! This months programme is called "Mother Nature!" and I was joined by Gail Brechting of the Association of Concert Bands, Andrew Trachsel of the University of North Texas, and Irish composer Vincent Kennedy.

This week I had the opportunity to chat with Courtney Brandt, author of Confessions of a Teenage Band Geek. We discussed marching band in modern media, her journey to Dubai, how bands can best represent themselves on social media and some upcoming books and sequels. Find out more about Courtney at @courtneybrandtauthor on Facebook and @cbrandtwright on Instagram. You can purchase Confessions of a Teenage Band Geek at www.amazon.com/dp/B08N19S41C

For this week’s episode, I’m joined by world-class musician and good friend, Jason Noble. As the Associate Professor of Music at Lehman College, conductor of the Columbia University Wind Ensemble, and avid commissioner of new works, he’s a pillar of the band world.

We talk all about the massive changes of the last five years — from writing a book to Jason’s life-altering surgery to the new priorities in his life, and everything in between. And what better time to share my conversation with Jason than this March, during Essential Tremor Awareness Month?

Find more about Jason and his career at:

jasonnoble.com

@jnobleband (on Instagram and Facebook)

And have a look at this link, highlighting the difference between his conducting finesse post-procedure.

You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

This week we’re off to Kuching, Malaysia to talk with Wilson Tan, director of a number of local school concert bands as well as Vice-president of WASMB Malaysia. We talk about music education there, how they’ve managed to keep their kids engaged online, and the 2021 Malaysian International Virtual Band Championships.

This week we head to the University of Illinois and talk to Barry L. Houser, Director of the Marching Illini. We chat about his career, the history of the Marching Illini in Ireland, Marching Band v Concert Band, and how the University has adapted over the past year.

This week I was joined by Amy Knopps of the University of Missouri and Marching Mizzou. We chatted about her musical journey, the decisions to move from middle school teaching to university conducting and why she loves marching band to this day.

It's almost St. Patrick's Day! This month's imaginary concert is called "Ireland Calls!" and I'll be joined by Gail Brechting, John Carpenter, and Amy Knopps as we plan a concert to kick off St. Patrick's Festival featuring Irish song, Irish composers, and Irish inspired works.

This week I caught up with John Meehan, Arranger and Co-Brass Caption Head of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps to find out how the last 12 months have shaped him and this famous Drum Corps. we chatted about his career, his work with concert and marching bands and what the year ahead might have in store for our activity.

Such a fun episode this week as we head to Norway to chat with the guys from Blåsemafian ahead of their final round to represent Norway this year at the Eurovision Song Contest. On the episodes we chat about marching and brass bands in Norway, the let loose movement inspiring kids around Europe, and what it would be like for the first every brass lineup of this kind to perform at the Eurovision.

This week we're off to Alberta, Canada to chat with Ryan Hancock of the Calgary Stampede Showband. Ryan is the bands' Director and a product of the incredible system they've built in Calgary. We chat about the band, WAMSB, DCI, and of course the world-famous Stampede.

This week we travel to Denmark to visit Jan Ulrick Hansen to chat about bands in Denmark, the evolution of marching band in Europe, and the famous Tivoli Guards Band in Copenhagen. Jan has been a member of the WAMSB Judges Bureau since 2001. His jury experience includes marching, show and parade band assignments at several different national, international and world championships. As a member of different musical boards in Denmark, he is past chairman of the union of music schools in greater Copenhagen.

This week's show is a really uplifting and positive step into 2021 with an inspiring leader and director. Matthew Arau is Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University and Founder of Upbeat Global which focuses on leadership and professional development in our music education community!

We're back for a new year, and what better way to kick off the year than with a close friend and colleague. John DeNovi has been helping to grow the activity and Drum Corps and promote the marching arts across the world for years and has been one of the driving forces behind DCI's SoundSport and Drumline Battle programmes.   Find out more about DCI at www.dci.org

Join me back in the band room with one of my favorite guests, Gail Brechting! She's the past president of ACB, – the Association of Concert Bands – the conductor of West Michigan Concert Winds for 29 years, a leader in Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp's Lifelong Learning program, and many, many more wonderful things.

We talk all about Gail's career, the things she's learned over the last five years, and her goals for the future – both band-world-wise and personal!

Find Gail and her many projects on:

ACB - https://www.acbands.org/

Blue Lake's Fine Art Camp - https://bluelake.org/

WMCW - https://www.wmcw.org/

You can find me on theglobalbandroom.com for more information about the podcast or about this show's sponsor, Kaleidoscope Adventures.

Until next time, happy banding!

Join us as we say goodbye to 2020 with our new monthly podcast. Every month we'll be sitting around with band directors, planning an imaginary concert and maybe (definitely) have a drink or two! This months programme is called "A 2020 Christmas" and I'm joined by Gail Brechting, Mark Nichols, and Andrew Jordan as we plan the only Christmas concert most of us will be able to this year!

I really enjoyed my conversation with this weeks guest John Lynch of the Sydney Conservatorium. John is a fascinating guy having started with a successful career in the USA before moving to Australia to lead the development of wind band in Sydney!

Björn Bus is an award-winning and hugely in-demand conductor from the Netherlands and serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Contest in Kerkrade as well as a member of the WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) board of directors. Björn joined me to talk about his career, his views on conducting and commissioning, and the hard decision to postpone the WMC festival to 2022.

2020 has been a challenging season for bands across the world, but with the 2020 DCI season cancelled in the USA, Drum Corps faced a particularly difficult year. Mike Scott, CEO of the Bluecoats joined me to talk about the innovative ways that they've approached the year and the lessons that they plan to carry into 2021 and beyond.