20 CLINICIANS 17 in-service conference
CHIP CROTTS
• INSIDE OUT: CREATING A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF ENSEMBLE SKILLS FROM CONCERT TO MARCHING SEASON • JAZZ READING SESSION
Dr. Chip Crotts serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Director of Bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology. A GRAMMY nominated artist, Crotts has performed and recorded for the Disney Company and has served as a first call musician for artists such as Jamie Callum, Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, Ray Charles and Maynard Ferguson. Chip has been a featured soloist in some of the world’s premier musical venues, including Blues Alley, The Blue Note and Carnegie Hall. Highly involved in the marching arts, Chip has taught on the educational staff of championship drum corps and is presently Brass Caption Manager for the Santa Clara Vanguard. Dr. Crotts is an active adjudicator for organizations such as Music For All, Drum Corps International, Drum Corps Japan and Winter Guard International. As a clinician, Crotts presents topics on brass, jazz breathing for musicians, and ensemble techniques for national and international music conferences. Dr. Crotts is a fellowship recipient from the Aspen Music Festival and Music at the Banff Centre (Canada), as well as a grant recipient from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Georgia Tech Foundation. Most recently, Chip was selected as a Georgia Tech “Class of 1969 Teaching Fellow” for excellence in teaching and instruction at the Institute of Technology. Dr. Crotts received degrees from East Carolina University, Penn State, and the DMA in Trumpet Performance with a Jazz Emphasis from the University of Texas at Austin. A Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician, Chip previously served on the faculties of Samford University and Jacksonville State University.
MELANIE DARBY
• DISTANCE LEARNING WITH THE ULTIMATE STEAM MACHINE
Education Manager Melanie Darby joined Spivey Hall in 2013 after more than a decade in education positions with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra managing the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra and creating music education and community outreach programming. She draws on her personal experience with artists, teachers, and patrons to create music opportunities and performances tailor-made for children, representing different musical traditions and cultures. Melanie is also very active as a PTA member in her children’s local public schools supporting arts education in all ways possible.
JAY DAVIS
• ”NEXT, PLEASE...” BUILDING FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION IN AN ESTABLISHED PROGRAM
Jay Davis has a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia College and a Master’s Degree from Auburn University, both in Music Education. At Auburn, he served as GTA with the marching band and the Auburn Brass, their faculty brass quintet. Jay is currently the Director of Bands at Houston County High School. Prior to coming to Houston County, he served for seven years as the Director of Bands at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy and was also Director of Bands at Eagle’s Landing Middle School and Lovejoy High School. He has also taught applied trumpet and music education courses at Georgia College. Bands under his direction consistently receive Superior ratings at adjudicated in both the concert and marching areas. Students under his direction have placed in many honor groups, including All State Band, GHP, and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. Jay serves on faculty of the GCSU Symphonic Music Camp, and has served on the staff for the Encore Music Camp and Camp ExtravaBANDza. Jay currently performs with Reunion and the Wellston Winds. He has also performed with Tara Winds, where he was on the Board of Directors. He holds or has held memberships in the ITG, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary), GMEA, NAfME, NBA, and has served as Province Governor for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Georgia College Alumni Association. Jay is married to Dr. Tina Holmes-Davis, Assistant Professor of Music Education at Georgia College and State University, and is the proud father of 11-year-old twins, Emma and Jonah.
ALEXIS DEL CASTILLO
• PROMOTING SELF-CARE IN AT-RISK STUDENTS THROUGH MUSIC
Alexis Del Castillo is a Marketing and Business Development Consultant. Alexis recently started her own consulting business offering project management, marketing, website development and social media services. A lifelong learner, Alexis focuses her academic research on real-world business and emotional cognition, emotional regulation and self-care techniques within a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) context. She has participated in ministry travel to Central America, El Salvador and Mexico. Currently, she is involved with SEL, Emotional Regulation and Music Enrichment training for the faculty and students of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home Society (FUMCH) in their SEL Alternative School, Legacy Scholar’s Academy.
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georgia music news // winter 2016