Episode 15: Daniel Moore, Retired, Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL

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I told a few people prior to publishing this episode that the next guest would be Dan Moore. The response was unanimous, but the inflection varied: "oh man, I gotta hear that guy." 

Dan Moore took a break from his recent retirement to come talk to me about his small-town beginnings, teaching techniques, advice on jazz band, and his thoughts on marching band. Dan's recent endeavors include a larger focus on publishing his method book, original compositions, and arrangements, clinician services, and writing music and drill for marching band (and no, he doesn't just write "Dan Moore" type shows!).

You can find Dan's work by searching "Daniel Moore Music" on facebook, JW Pepper, and Sheet Music Plus. 

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Dan's full bio, written by Dan:

Born and raised in Metamora, Illinois, I received a B.A. in Music Education from Western Illinois University, where I studied under Dale Hopper, Jon Dugle, Dennis Johnson, Roland Vamos, and William DeJong. While there, I was Principal Trumpet in pretty much everything, Drum Major for the Marching Band, and Drill Designer for several shows (a passion I developed in high school). At that time, I was also teaching private trumpet lessons for Galesburg High School, a member of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and Soprano Bugle Soloist for the Geneseo Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Upon "aging out", I was immediately named Brass Caption Head, a position I remained in for a several seasons, writing drill and arranging much of the music along the way.

After student teaching under Greg Bimm at Marian Catholic High School, my public school teaching career began in Milledgeville, Illinois, teaching 5-12 band in a K-12 building, and even directing some of the musical drama productions. That was followed by four years at Watseka High School, ending in a Class 2A State Marching Band Championship. During this time, I got married (to Kay, an outstanding elementary band director. We now have two grown daughters, also in education). I performed regularly with the Bensenville Wind Ensemble, the R.A. Brass Quintet, the Kankakee Municipal Band, the Kankakee Valley Theatre Pit Orchestra, and the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra (Principal Trumpet and featured soloist). Moving back to the Peoria area, I was Director of Bands at Limestone Community High School, garnering another State Marching Band Championship along the way. While in the area, I performed regularly with the Peoria Symphony, the Millennium Big Band, the Peoria Municipal Band (featured soloist), and the Prairie Wind Ensemble (featured soloist), doing a good deal of church and wedding gigs as well.

It was during those early teaching years that I established myself as a freelance drill-writer, designing perennial State Championship shows for Monticello High School, Herscher High School, United Township High School, and Normal Community Community High School. Other high school programs I've designed for include Lockport Community High School, Pontiac High School, Prairie Central High School, and Champlin Park High School. Currently, I am designing complete programs (drill and music) for Geneseo High School and Oak Park/River Forest High School.

After eleven highly successful years teaching downstate, I took some time off to earn a Masters Degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University, studying under Don Owens, Antonio Garcia, Michael Kocour, Rodney Dorsey, and Mallory Thompson. There, I was Drill Designer for the Northwestern University Marching Band (They're still using the pregame drill I wrote for them in 1998), and was Director of the University Jazz Band performing several of my arrangements. I performed as Lead Trumpet in the University Jazz Ensemble, the Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the legendary Waa Mu Show (in which I also arranged for the pit orchestra). I also established great relationships with mentors and colleagues Ruben Alvarez, Joel Spencer, Marlene Rosenberg, Greg Fishman, Mitch Paliga, and Mike Staron (conducting one of Mike's pieces with John Adams in the audience!)

Following Northwestern, I came to Naperville North High School, where I've been for nearly two decades. Under my direction, the NNHS Marching Band earned twelve Finalist appearances at the State of Illinois Marching Championships and six Finalist spots at various Bands of America Regionals and Super-Regionals. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has twice performed as a feature group at the Illinois Music Educators Conference, three times at the Music for All National Festival, and three times at the Illinois Superstate Band Festival (AAAA Honor Band in 2016). The Jazz Ensemble has also been featured twice at the IMEC, and has earned appearances at the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival, The Monterey Generation Next Festival, and the Midwest Clinic. Guest artists/clinicians have included Wycliffe Gordon, Wayne Bergeron, Rich Moore, Bob Lark, Mike Vax, and Ron Carter.

During my time in Naperville, I have performed with the Wheaton Municipal Band, the Naperville Municipal Band (Principal Trumpet and often featured soloist and conductor), and am currently a member of and arranger for the Pete Ellman Big Band, along with a steady diet of church, weddings, and other freelance gigs. I've been invited to clinic dozens of bands around the state, as well as at district and state conferences. I've also penned several articles for music education journals, and am putting a new full-band method book through trials with my own band and others. I've adjudicated many marching contests, jazz festivals, and concert festivals, and am taking on more and more custom arranging work for many mediums. My catalog of published works is ever-growing, and I have a huge backlog of pieces I'm gradually getting "cleaned-up" for eventual publication. I'm am now devoting myself full-time to all my avocational endeavors.

Episode 12: Barry Houser, Director of Athletic Bands, University of Illinois

After a long hiatus, we're ready to get back into it. Steve and I visited the University of Illinois and sat down with Professor Barry Houser in the historic Harding Band building.

Professor Houser talks about his journey to the Big Ten, going digital with the marching band, things that go "bump in the night" in the Harding Band building, and much more!

BIO

Barry L. Houser is the Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Marching Illini, and Director of the Fighting Illini Athletic Bands where his responsibilities include conducting the Hindsley Symphonic Band, the Athletic Bands, and the 375 member Marching Illini in addition to teaching marching band procedures. Professor Houser’s teaching experience encompasses both extensive public school and university experiences.

A native of Indiana, Professor Houser served as Director of Bands and Performing Arts Director at NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Indiana, where his bands developed a reputation for great musicianship which in turn earned the program state and national recognition. Prior to his position at NorthWood, Houser served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida. Bands under Houser have performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NBC Today Show, the ISSMA State Marching Finals, and the IMEA State Convention. Other performances include the Indianapolis 500 Parade, the Target Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Outback Bowl Parade and Half-Time Show, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Washington DC National Memorial Parade, Chicago Bears Game, and performances with Maynard Ferguson, the Dallas Brass, Canadian Brass, Gregg Potter as well as many other talented artists.

Houser holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, MENC, Golden Key National Honor Society, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi International Band Fraternity, Honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and has been honored by the Indiana General Assembly and the US House of Representatives. He is the recipient of the Indianapolis Star Academic All Star Award, the WNDU Channel 16 Excellence in Education Award, as well as being listed in various “Who’s Who” publications throughout his career.

Professor Houser is active nationally as a guest conductor and clinician in both the marching and concert mediums. He has served on the staff of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band and the National Events Mass Band, which performs annually at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a contributing author to the popular marching band textbook The System by Gary Smith as well as numerous submissions to the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series. Houser has served as Governor of the North Central District of Kappa Kappa Psi and currently serves as chapter advisor for the Nu Xi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi on our campus as well as Chapter Advisor for the Phi Mu Alpha Chapter. He is currently serving on the Athletic Band Board for the College Band Directors National Association and as the North Central Division Chair for the National Band Association. During the summer, Professor Houser is the Director and President of the renowned Smith Walbridge Clinics, one of the largest marching band | leadership camps of its type in the country with locations in Illinois and Florida, attracting over 1000 students each year.

Professor Houser is an Educational Clinician for Conn-Selmer

Episode 11: Ray Cramer, Director Emeritus, Indiana University, and Michael Fiske, Director Emeritus, Joliet Central High School

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TWO GUESTS this time around.  Steve and I sit down with Ray Cramer, Indiana University, and Mike Fiske, Joliet Central High School, and realize that they're both better at hosting a show than we are.  

We had a great conversation with Professor Cramer and Mr. Fiske, covering everything from selecting good music, being a role model outside of just music, and even Mike's time as a graduate student under Professor Cramer. 

So much history and information, and so little time!  We hope to have both of these great educators on again.  Press play below, or subscribe on iTunes/Android devices - you won't want to miss episode 11.

BIOS

Ray E. Cramer was a member of the Indiana University School of Music faculty from the fall of 1969 through May 2005. In 1982, Mr. Cramer was appointed Director of Bands. Under his leadership the Indiana University Wind Ensemble earned an international reputation for outstanding musical performances including the 1982 ABA Convention, Indianapolis; the 1984 joint American Bandmasters Association/Japan Bandmasters Association Convention, Tokyo; the 1988 NAfME National Convention, Indianapolis; the 1991 National CBDNA Convention in Kansas City, the 1994 National NAfME Convention in Cincinnati, the 1995 ABA Convention in Lawrence, Kansas, the 1997 National CBDNA Convention in Athens, Georgia, the 2003 CBDNA National Convention in Minneapolis, MN, a 2000 spring tour to Japan performing in six cities and the All Japan Band Clinic plus numerous regional and state conventions and a 2003 performance at The Midwest Clinic.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities as the Department Chair, Mr. Cramer taught graduate courses in wind conducting, history and literature. He also conducted the University Orchestra for seven years during the fall semester.

He is a member of ABA, CBDNA, NBA, WASBE, NAfME, IMEA, IBA, CIDA, and is affiliated with Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Cramer is a recipient of the Student Alumni Council Senior Faculty Award (1983), the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Award (1988), the CIDA Director of the Year Award (1988), the Phi Beta Mu, International Assembly, Outstanding Bandmaster Award (1988), the Kappa Kappa Psi Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award (1991), the Goldman award (2002), and the 2005 Midwest Medal of Honor. He is a past National President of the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association and has served as president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association, the North Central Division of CBDNA and the Big Ten Band Directors Association. He is the current President of the Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra convention held in Chicago each December.

Mr. Cramer is actively involved in clinics and guest conducting engagements nationally and internationally. He has served as regular guest conductor for the Musashino Academia of Music in Tokyo, Japan from the fall of 1990 to the present.

A native of Illinois, Mr. Cramer has a B.A. and Honorary Doctorate from Western Illinois University and an MFA from the University of Iowa. He taught at Indiana University for 36 years, and served as Director of Bands for 24 years.

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Michael Fiske is the Director Emeritus of the Joliet Central High School band.  Mr. Fiske returned to his beloved school district when he was appointed the fourth band director of the JTHS Band at Central Campus in 2002. Prior to coming to Central, Mr. Fiske enjoyed a successful 25-year career directing high school bands in Illinois and Indiana, most recently at Morris High School.

Under Mr. Fiske’s direction, the Central Band has continued a tradition of excellence. They were Grand Champions at Illinois State University in 2003, and have been Best in Class several times since then in the Illinois State University Contest. The band has had annual representation in the Illinois Music Educators Association District and All-State Festivals. They have performed in Orlando, Atlanta and New York City. They were Grand Champions at the New York National Freedom Festival in 2006 and Best in Class at Festival Disney in 2008. They also performed at Walt Disney World in 2004 and 2012, and at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2010. Locally, the Central Band remains a favorite in downtown parades and at home basketball and football games. The Central Big Band gives numerous performances each year in Joliet and Chicago. The band maintains an active concert schedule during the school year, having just completed the 106th concert season.

Episode 10: Stephen G. Peterson, University of Illinois

I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Stephen Peterson at the SuperState 2016 band festival.  Dr. Peterson holds the distinguished honor as the current Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, a program that many consider to be one of, if not the most important collegiate band programs based on its history, accomplishments, and directors.  

Dr. Peterson was very gracious with his time, and offered some insight on moving into a new program, setting up a band for success, and his opinions on quality band literature.  

Dr. Peterson's Bio:  Dr. Stephen G. Peterson was appointed Director of Bands at the University of Illinois in the fall of 2015.  As Director of Bands, he conducts the Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind conducting program, teaches courses in wind literature, and guides all aspects of one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most storied band programs. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Illinois he served as Director of Bands at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, for seventeen years. From 1988-1998 he served as Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Dr. Peterson was also conductor of the renowned Northshore Concert Band.  He held positions as Associate and Interim Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and has several years of successful teaching experience in the public schools in Arizona.

Peterson maintains a busy schedule as a conductor and clinician, and as such, has appeared on four continents and in forty-two states. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and has been honored with membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association.  He is also member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota, and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is immediate past president of the College Band Directors National Association.

Dr. Peterson was the first to receive the Doctor of Music degree in wind conducting from Northwestern University and earned Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University. In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious Ithaca College Faculty Excellence Award, recognizing his contributions to Ithaca College. His ensembles have appeared before national conventions of the American Bandmaster’s Association, the College Band Director’s National Association, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the American School Band Director’s Association, at Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and at Lincoln Center.