WomenBandDirectors International
General Meeting & Luncheon
Thursday: December 19, 2024
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Hyatt Regency McCormick Chicago, IL
WBDIGeneralMeetingAgenda
Call to Order
Approval of the Minutes
The 2024 Summer General Meeting Minutes were emailed in advance to the membership for review. You can also scan the QR code below to review the minutes
Welcome & Introductions
The Board of Directors Reports were emailed in advance to the membership for review. You can also scan the QR code below to review the reports.
WBDIWinterMeetingKeynoteSpeaker
Dr. Paula A. Crider
Following a distinguished thirty-three-year teaching career, Professor Paula A Crider continues to share her passion for making music through an active schedule as guest conductor, lecturer, clinician, and adjudicator She has enjoyed engagements in forty-six states, as well as Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, France, Italy, and Australia She is Professor Emerita at the University of Texas, where he was twice awarded the “Eyes of Texas” Award for distinguished teaching Professor Crider has taught in the public schools at all levels and holds the distinction of having been the first
female in the state of Texas to serve as director of bands at a Class 5A high school Her Crockett High School Bands in Austin, Texas, earned twelve consecutive University Interscholastic League “Sweepstakes Awards” for musical excellence, received national recognition on the concert stage, and were twice named Texas 5A State Marching Champions Professor Crider was the recipient of the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence,” presented by Dr William D Revelli, for her band’s performance at the NBA National Convention
During her tenure at the University of Texas, Professor Crider conducted the Symphony Band, the Longhorn Marching and Concert Bands, and served as Instructor for Undergraduate Conducting, Brass Methods, and Graduate Wind Literature She supervised student teachers and served as administrator for the Longhorn Music Camps The 380-member Longhorn Band enjoyed national acclaim under her leadership She has also served as Interim Director of Bands at Columbus State University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln She continues to serve as visiting guest professor at universities throughout the country
Professor Crider has written numerous articles for The Instrumentalist, The Band Director’s Guide, and the NBA Journal She has published manuals on brass techniques, marching band methods, and instrumental conducting, and is co-author for the Hal Leonard “Masterwork Studies” series, a text for high school bands She is editor of The Conductor’s Legacy, published by GIA Publications
Professor Crider has presented professional teacher seminars throughout the United States and abroad She has served as coordinator for the National Band Association Young Conductor/Mentor Program and is currently serving as Senior Educational Consultant for Conn-Selmer Professor Crider is a Past President of both the National Band Association and the American Bandmasters Association
Honors and awards include induction into the Phi Beta Mu International Hall of Fame, the National Band Association Hall of Fame, and the Women Band Directors International Hall of Fame She was named Texas Bandmaster of the Year and was awarded the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Medal of Honor She was honored with a Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa by the VanderCook College of Music
2024ScholarshipWinners
GladysStoneWrightMemorialScholarship
Scholarship Winner: Braden Weyhrich
Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
Master of Music, year one
LadiesofthePodiumScholarship
Scholarship Winner: Rachelle Lambert University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Undergraduate Music Education, year four
VolkweinMemorialScholarship
Scholarship Winner: Abigail Jones
Benedictine College (Atchison, Kansas)
Undergraduate Music Education, year four
MarthaAnnStarkMemorialScholarship
Madison Margurita Moulton
California State University (Sacramento, CA)
Undergraduate Music Education, year four
CharlottePlummerOwenScholarship
Mia Kolhoff
Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI)
Undergraduate Music Education, year four
UpcomingEvents
WBDIDiversity&InclusionGrants
ProfessionalDevelopment
January14,2024,8PMEST
Join us for a panel discussion exploring effective rehearsal strategies for band directors This workshop will feature experienced Women Band Directors International members sharing their insights on techniques for maximizing rehearsal time, motivating students, and fostering a positive learning environment. Whether you're a seasoned conductor or just starting out, this session offers valuable tips to elevate your rehearsals and inspire your band
The purpose of these grants is to promote diversity and inclusion in K-12 school and community bands The grants will provide financial assistance for the selected band programs to pursue and actively engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives Projects may include updating their music library with works by women and BIPOC composers, bringing in under-represented directors/composers, and other projects that help underrepresented students and/or programs.
All applicants must be a current member of the Women Band Directors International organization. The applicants must serve as the director of a K-12 school or community band that demonstrates financial need.
A grant may be fully or partially funded in an amount between $1 and $500 per program
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
You can apply HERE.
All projects must be completed within one calendar year (by February 1, 2026) Impact reports are due by April 1, 2026
UpcomingEvents
WBDIMentorshipCommittee
The Mentorship Committee of Women Band Directors International is a dedicated group of experienced music educators passionate about mentoring the next generation of women band directors Our mission as a committee is to provide support to empower the next generation of women band directors, including but not limited to:
Creating professional development opportunities for members of WBDI through conversation, coaching, visits, sharing of resources, ideas and experience
Fostering positive relationships amongst the women of our profession that will lead to the sharing of wisdom, experience, and encouragement that promote teaching/making music at a high level, program development, and professional longevity
Collaborating as women in the field of band directorship in projects that promote connectivity and growth as a community
As many of us were the first women in our current band director positions, our goal is to not be the last.
MentorshipQuestions
Fill out THIS FORM to have a question asked of our mentorship committee members at Midwest 2024. Selected questions will be asked and answered on our Facebook page during the conference Other questions may be included in future issues of The Woman Conductor
2024CommissionCompetitionWinner
Congratulations to Heather Hastings, winner of the 2024 Commission Competition! If you ’ re interested in joining the consortium for this project, click anywhere below. There are only TWO spots remaining!
WBDICorporateMembers
CORPORATE GOLD+
DeMoulin Uniforms - Booth #501
Grand Rapids Community College Music Dept
Guardian Music and Group Travel - Booth #1341
West Michigan Band Instruments
CORPORATE GOLD
Band Shoppe - Booth #711
GIA Publications, Inc. - Booth #1503
Kaleidoscope Adventures - Booth #1002
Meyer Music
The Bandwagon Music Store & Repair
CORPORATE SILVER
Fannin Musical Productions - Booth #1215
Mark Custom Recording Service - Booth #1724
The mPowered Music Educator Academy
CORPORATE BRONZE
Marshall Music Company
Southeastern Michigan Wind Ensemble
CORPORATE BASIC
Barracuda Steel Drums of Austin, Texas
C L Barnhouse Company - Booth #1713
Danielle Fisher, Composer
Drillmasters - Booth #1006
Dynamic Music Education Products
East Allen Community Youth Band
Kappa Kappa Psi - Booth #903
Newland Custom Batons - Booth #803
Tau Beta Sigma - Booth #903
Tuner Caddy
WBDIBoardofDirectors
ExecutiveOfficers
President, Dr Pam Klena
Immediate Past President, Bethann Adams
President - Elect, Dr MJ Robinson
Vice President, Lucy Pascasio
Executive Secretary, Ruth Petersen
Recording Secretary, Tara Cappelletti
PastPresidents
Bethann Adams
Dr. Courtney Snyder
Dr. Catherine Rand
Marilyn Bennett
Val Sherman
Linda Thompson
Dr. Robyn Bell
Fran Shelton
Debbie Bradley
Kathy Harbuck Cox
Dr. Patricia Backhaus
Dr. Susan Creasap
Dr. Linda Moorhouse
Professor Judith E. Grimes
Patricia Root
Catherine Heard
Patricia Garren
Noreen Linnemann
Marie Cotaya
Barbara Lovett*
Laurie Neeb*
Jacqueline Hunt*
Ileane McElwee Gonzales*
Nora Arquit*
Gladys S. Wright
* Deceased
Texas
Michigan Mississippi
Texas
Alberta, Canada
California
Florida
North Carolina
Georgia
Georgia Wisconsin
Virginia
Illinois
Illinois Tennessee
Louisiana
North Carolina
Virginia
Louisiana
Texas
Florida Indiana
Arizona
New York
Indiana
2022-2024 2020-2022 2018-2020 2016-2018 2014-2016 2012-2014 2010-2012 2008-2010 2006-2008 2004-2006 2002-2004 2000-2002 1998-2000 1996-1998 1994-1996 1992-1994 1990-1992 1988-1990 1986-1988 1984-1986
1982-1984 1980-1982
1978-1980 1974-1978 1969-1974
WBDIBoardofDirectors
Committees
Awards
Bethann Adams, Chair
Commission Competition
Dr Shayna Stahl, Co - Chair
Dr. Courtney Snyder, Co - Chair
DEI & MicroGrants
Shemeka Nash, Co - Chair
Dr Catherine Rand, Co - Chair
Historical Curation
Dr. Pam Klena, Co - Chair
Dr MJ Robinson, Co - Chair
Corporate Membership
Bethann Adams, Chair
Mentorship
Dr Brittan Braddock, Co - Chair
Dr Julia Baumanis, Co - Chair
Midwest Booth & Summer Conference
Dr. MJ Robinson, Chair
Professional Development
Lesley Moffat, Chair
Scholarships
Dr Shannon Shaker, Chair
Scroll of Excellence
Bethann Adams, Chair
Social Media
Emma Germann, Chair
Summa Cum Laude
Fran Shelton, Chair
The Woman Conductor
Kathy Cox, Co - Chair
Melanie Watson, Co - Chair
WBDI Foundation
Dr. Sue Creasap, Chair
WBDI State Chairs
Linda Thompson, Chair
Website & MembershipWorks
Ruth Petersen, Chair
Thank you to all of our WBDI members who serve on the Board of Directors and WBDI Committees for your invaluable time, expertise, and vision. Your dedication and leadership are instrumental in advancing the mission of our organization, fostering a stronger and more inclusive community of women in our field We deeply appreciate your commitment to making a lasting impact on WBDI and the field of music education
AWBDIHistory
Gladys Wright, Founding President, wanted to know where the rest of the women band directors in the country were located, what they did, who they were, what they looked like, how they solved special problems, what difficulties they faced. Wouldn't it be nice to meet and exchange ideas and problems?
Gladys had began her teaching career at Elmira Union High School, Elmira, Oregon --the only high school woman band director in the state of Oregon at that time Her role model, Evelyn Scott, had been her elementary band director in Wasco, Oregon so she knew women could do the job successfully In 1951, she went to the Western Music Camp, Gunnison, Colorado There, she met two more women directors and Al Wright, whom she married in 1953 As his wife, she had the opportunity to travel extensively during which time she "hunted" for women band directors As a result many other people started reporting their "sightings" of the then rare species of the woman band director! Kate Hawkins, a trombonist and the wife of Dr Robert Hawkins, was also interested Since Al taught frequently for Dr. Hawkins in both his summer camps and Gunnison and Morehead, it was easy for Kate and Gladys to compare notes. It was Kate's display of "Ladies of the Podium" at the Daniel Boone Music Camp in Kentucky in 1967 that really started the project in motion.
That summer, a meeting was held with the six women enrolled in the summer camp about the possibility of organizing a women's band organization The women were interested! In December 1968 at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, five women met and set up a temporary constitution and divided the slate of officers among themselves thus starting the Women Band Directors National Association The year of 1969 was spent writing women and getting publicity out about the organization This was the year of the Charter Members Anyone who joined in 1969 received Charter Status The first official photo was taken at the Chicago meeting in December 1969 The first slate of elected officers took office in 1971
Enjoy this video tour of our new exhibit, Gladys Stone Wright: Promoting Women on the Band Podium on display through May 2025 in the Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Room for Special Collections at the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, University of Maryland College Park.
WhoWeAre
WBDI represents women band directors of all pedagogical levels and years of experience from college students to retired directors.
The Women Band Directors International organization recognizes the value of each individual and promotes integrity, respect, and regard for others. Equality within its membership is a core value in WBDI We strive to create a welcoming environment that reflects the community of music educators we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to this organization
How does WBDI work for me?
by Judith Grimes, IL, Past President and Charter Member
Provides a network of professional music educators dedicated to a system of support
Creates a common meeting ground for professional women band directors, conductors, and teachers
Encourages professional assistance for educational ideas, travel, festivals, and clinics
Provides opportunities to publish and fosters avenues to develop special projects
Creates a channel of international exchange
Allows the opportunity to attend summer professional meetings in both exotic and educational places
Provides awards, certificates, and recognition for teachers, support personnel, and students
Provides a subscription to The Woman Conductor
Provides scholarships for college women studying to become band directors
Offers opportunities to meet renowned personalities in the band profession
Provides a mouthpiece for innovative ideas and professional input
Fosters advancement without competition and encourages young women in the field
Offers the opportunity to hold an international office and/or serve on committees
Allows the opportunity to expand and develop your professional networking and resume skills
Allows you to make some of the best professional friendships you will ever have!
GIAPublications,Inc.
wouldliketothankourgenerous corporatemembers fortheirsupportandgenerosityofthis WBDIGeneralMeeting&Luncheon.
