Global Bandroom: Recent Episodes
Global Bandroom
Welcome to The Global Bandroom! A podcast that brings you stories, news, and guests from across the world of Wind, Brass, and Marching Band. Hosted by Keith Kelly, a band director from the west coast of Ireland. Each episode he sits down with musicians and directors from across the world to talk about their stories, their bands, and how they’re making an impact in their communities.
We're back! Our new season focused on diversity in bands launches with an interview with Chris Green, Artistic Director of the Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band.
Find our more about Chris and the bands at https://centralfloridasoundsoffreedom.com/
To register for the 2023 ACB convention head to www.acb2023.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
The Association of Concert Bands is launching a new monthly podcast hosted by Keith and the President of the Association, Gail Brechting. On this pilot episode, get to know the two hosts and how you can find out more about the ACB and where to get this new show each month!
Find out more about ACB at www.acbands.org
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
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.
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
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 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.
This week I was joined by Philip Harper, conductor of the Cory Brass Band, and we talked about the amazing virtual workshops, performances, and competitions that they’ve been doing this year - as well as finding out a lot more about the brass band scene in the UK.
Find out more about Philip at http://www.philipharper.co.uk/
The Cory Band: https://coryband.com
Einheit Fanfarenzug - Livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6obDluIBgc&feature=youtu.be
GIFTS Medal of Distinction: www.giftsmovemnt.org
I had the pleasure to meet Eimear Noone recently as she helped launch a fundraising campaign for the band that I teach in Ballinasloe. Eimear grew up close by and was a member of the band before moving on to have one of the most successful careers in composition and conducting. From her compositions and orchestrations of music for video games such as World of Warcraft to this year being the first woman to conduct at the Oscars...Eimear is truly an Irish superstar, and it’s been wonderful to have her support for our band in Ballinasloe...and for her to join me on this episode...
The drum corps season is a crescendo that ends in a truly magnificent display of talent and skill each August. It's DCI Finals Week, and in episode 7 Keith turns his gaze to Lucas Oil Stadium to explore the season-ending events of the DCI Summer Tour.
Special guests include: Santa Clara Vanguard brass caption head Nark Nichols, Bluecoats drum major Peyton Grunzke, Blue Devils brass arranger John Meehan, DCI CEO Dan Acheson, DCI Judge Administrator John Phillips, Old Bridge Elementary Drumline director Colin Bell, Crossmen drum major Lydia Marshall, and former Blue Knights member and Finding Drum Corps co-producer Mallory Anderson.
This week Keith is exploring the activity as it exists outside of the USA and how ensembles around the world are inspired by DCI and its Corps.
In Episode 5, Keith Kelly explores the competitive aspects of Drum Corps International from both the perspective of judges and of fans.
Special guests include DCI judge administrator John Phillips, Santa Clara Vanguard brass caption head Marc Nichols, Bluecoats alum John Weldy, Marching Arts Education podcaster Tim Hinton, DCI CEO Dan Acheson, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.
After months of preparation practice and planning, it’s time to take the show on the road! In Episode 4, Keith looks at what it takes to put a drum corps on the road and what that experience is like for performing corps members who travel thousands of miles across the country on their annual summer tour.
Special guests include: DCI senior director of global business development John DeNovi, Madison Scouts alum Austin Armstrong, Blue Devils director Pat Seidling, former Boston Crusaders drum major Thompson Vou, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.
What is it about the drum corps experience that drives young people around the world to dedicate their lives to a moment, that while fleeting, will endure in memories for years to come? In Episode 3, Keith looks at what makes a great performer or performance.
Special guests include: Marching Arts Education podcaster Tim Hinton, Crossmen drum major Lydia Marshall, Santa Clara Vanguard brass caption head Mark Nichols, former Boston Crusaders drum major Thompson Vou, Bluecoats drum major Payton Grunzke, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.
In Episode 2, Keith has an eye on the past to better understand the future, tracing the history of the drum corps activity from before the founding of Drum Corps International through changes and developments that have shaped the way we experience marching music performances today.
Special guests include: DCI CEO Dan Acheson, DCI Hall of Fame member Michael Cesario, Marching Arts Education podcaster Tim Hinton, DCI judge administrator John Phillips, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.
Not one, but two great guests this week! Andrew Jordan from Limerick, Ireland chats with me about the upcoming virtual Diversity Marching Band project to celebrate pride month and Darcy Vogt Williams pops in to catch up on everything that has taken place over the past four months since we chatted last!
Keith Kelly takes the reins of the Field Pass in his special edition series, “Finding Drum Corps.” In Episode 1, Keith talks through his introduction to the drum corps activity and learns more about the drum corps origin stories of a bevy of special guests including: Mark Nichols, Oisin Molloy, John DeNovi, David Glasgow, Dan Acheson, John Meehan and Mallory Anderson.
One of my favorite guests so far joined me all the way from down under! Cathy Likhuta is talented, funny, and charming. If you don’t know her work, you should!
Catherine Likhuta, composer is a Ukrainian-born, Australian-based composer, pianist and recording artist. Her music exhibits high emotional charge, programmatic nature and rhythmic complexity. Cathy’s wind band works have enjoyed performances by Columbia University Wind Ensemble, SUNY Potsdam Crane Wind Ensemble, Sydney Conservatorium Wind Symphony, University of Georgia Hodgson Wind Ensemble, University of Kentucky Wind Symphony and many other groups. Her music was played at the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival (Sydney) and the Midwest Clinic (Chicago).
Today kicks off Conn-Selmer Education Institute Connect. If you've been listening to the podcast for the past month you've heard all about it. I was delighted to chat with Randy Greenwell of Conn-Selmer recently about this career and Conn Selmer Education.
Randy spent 24 years as Director of Bands and Chairman of the Performing Arts Department at Lawrence Central HS, Indianapolis, IN. Under his direction, the Lawrence Central Bands built a tradition of excellence and success. Randy is also an active Drum Corps International, Bands of America and Winter Guard International judge and has written and arranged for many bands across the United States. He maintains an active schedule as a trumpet performer with the Heartland Big Band and has presented numerous clinics at conventions on a wide range of educational topics.
Tim Hinton from the "Marching Roundtable" joins me for this fun episode to chat about his media and drum corps career! Tim has spent his life helping those in the marching arts to have a more fulfilling and successful experience. His passion is to facilitate getting the information people need to find more joy and success in their work. He is “The Beast of the Marching Arts.”
Find out more about Tim and his work at https://marchingartseducation.com/
Key is a composer and arranger with expertise in the marching arts. He has written for the world’s most famous drum corps including the Santa Clara Vanguard, Mandarins, Glassmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Cascades, Spartans, Sunrisers, Hurricanes, Caballeros, Raiders, Millennium (Italy), Juliana (Netherlands), Siamyth (Thailand), Star United and the Mass Brass Mini Corps. He was also the wind arranger for the WGI group Chromium Winds (The Cavaliers) and won back-to-back Gold Medals in their first 2 years of existence. As the owner of Key Poulan Music, he has been recognized as one of the country’s top arrangers and composers in the area of contemporary marching band, has several concert band works to his credit. His marching band arrangements have won several national titles at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships.
Find out more about Key Poulan at https://keypoulanmusic.com/
We're heading to Brazil for this episode with our friend Leandro Pascui! Leandro was the first South American and Brazilian percussionist to march in DCI and is the Director of Percussion and Arranger of the WAMSB World Champions “FAMA –Atibaia." He's also the Band Director of the Atibaia Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Coordinator of the Atibaia’s Music Program, called “Projeto Música e Cidadania”, who teaches marching band style for about 2500 kids in the Atibaia City. This Music Program has won many national awards.
Find out more about the Shadow Scouts Marching Band at www.facebook.com/ShadowScoutsMarchingBand
Johan de Meij has been a great friend to Ireland and Irish banding in recent years. In addition to his patronage of the Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra, he has composed and arranged well-known pieces such as At Kitty O'Shea's and Celtic Classics. He's also great friends with Ireland's Bill Whelan and has orchestrated much of his music for wind band including the Seville Suite and of course Riverdance.
Find out more about Johan and his music at https://johandemeij.com
Always very happy when I get a chance to talk my my friend Brendan Breslin. Brendan is a native of Co. Tyrone in Northern Ireland. As a conductor, he is in much demand with brass and wind ensembles, orchestras and choirs across Ireland. As a composer and arranger, Brendan's music has featured with orchestras, brass and concert bands across Ireland, the U.K., Europe, and the United States of America. Conductor with the award winning Dublin Concert Band, Brendan is also responsible for all outreach work with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Oisin Molloy is the Chairman of the Irish Marching Bands Association and Director of the Inbhear Mór Performance Ensemble from Wicklow, Ireland. We chatted about the growing interest in the marching arts in Ireland, the challenges that bands face in Ireland, the current crisis, and how the banding community are working together to overcome these challenges.
Find out more about the Irish Marching Bands Association at www.irishmarchingbands.com
Jimmy Wong has been actively involved in the development of marching bands in Asia for the past 25 years and has brought many local and international accolades to the bands under his direction. He has successfully organized the Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band Competition from 2007 to 2010, which was the foremost international marching band competition in the Asia Pacific region. In 2011 he organized the WAMSB World Championship of Marching Show Bands which was hosted by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In addition to being the Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International, John Phillips is a widely sought-after clinician and music education consultant for Conn-Selmer. Just like many musicians and educators, 2020 presents many challenges for him, so I was excited to speak with him to see how he's been and what the rest of the year has in store for him.
Find out more about John at https://www.dci.org/static/john_phillips
Find out more about DCI' Soundsport at http://www.soundsport.com
Find out more about WASMB at www.wamsb.org
I was doubly delighted to be joined by both Tom Davoren and Pete Meechan on this episode. Both composers grew up in the UK brass and wind band communities before moving to North America and I had the opportunity to ask the about that big move, as well as how composers are dealing with this current crisis.
To find out more about Pete Meechan you can head over to www.meechanmusic.com and for more on Tom Davoren, head over to www.tomdavoren.co.uk