TN Musician Vol. 75 No. 3

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Music Education Association 

THE CAPACITY TO 

COLLABORATE: 

5 STEPS TO 

EMPOWER 

TEAMWORK 

by Lori Schwartz Reichl, 

Alison Parish, and 

Sarah Castrillon 

p. 10 

LEADING BY 

NOT LEADING 

by Brian Silvey 

p. 16 

SCENES FROM THE 

64TH ANNUAL 

TMEA CONFERENCE & 

ALL-STATE CONCERTS 

p. 20 

VOLUME 75, NO. 3

School of 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2023 VOLUME 75, No. 3 

PROGRAM NOTES 

04 

05 

06 

07 

TMEA Board and Council Directory 

2022-2023 

Tennessee Musician Advertiser Index 

Issue No. 3 

TMEA President’s Message 

Ryan Fisher 

TMEA Editor’s Message 

Anna Laura Williams 

10 

GUEST FEATURES 

The Capacity to Collaborate: 

5 Steps to Empower Teamwork 

by Lori Schwartz Reichl, 

Alison Parish, and Sarah Castrillon 

Tennessee Musician is mailed to members four times each year at an annual 

subscription rate of $5.00 (included in dues). 

Non-member subscription rate (includes S&H): $30.00 per school year; 

single copies: $10.00 per issue. Cover Image: SiberianArt/Shutterstock.com 

16 

Leading by Not Leading 


64TH ANNUAL TMEA CONFERENCE 

31 

TEACHING IN TENNESSEE 

TMEA Back Then 

May 1968 

20 

Scenes from the 64th Annual 

TMEA Music Education Conference & 

All-State Concerts 

April 19-22, 2023 

Photography by David Royse 

Photography: David Royse 

Postmaster - Send address changes to: 

Tennessee Musician 

c/o Tennessee Music Education Association 

2441-Q Old Fort Pkwy, #635 

Murfreesboro, TN 37128-4162 

Published by Slate Group: 6024 45th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79407. 

Graphic Design: Nikki Davis. Account Executive: Ian Spector (800-794-5594). 

Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization. U.S. Postage Paid at Lubbock, Texas. 

ISSN Number 0400-3332; EIN number 20-3325550. 

Copyright © 2023 Tennessee Music Education Association. Reproduction in any form 

is illegal without the express permission of the editor: Anna Laura Williams, Managing 

Editor & Advertising Manager; anna.laura.williams@tnmea.org. 

Tennessee Music Education Association | www.tnmea.org | 3

TMEA BOARD AND COUNCIL 

tmea executive board 

TMEA Executive Director 

Michael W. Chester 

michael.chester@tnmea.org 

TMEA President 

Ryan Fisher, Ph.D. 

ryan.fisher@tnmea.org 

TMEA President-Elect 

Joel Denton 

leaderslead@yahoo.com 

TMEA Immediate Past-President 

Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry 

derryberrya@rcschools.net 

TMEA Secretary 

Dian Eddleman 

deddleman@usjbruins.org 

tmea council 

WTGMEA President 

Jennifer Proseus 

wtgmeamemphis@yahoo.com 

WTGMEA President-Elect 

Allen Moody 

amoodyteacher@gmail.com 

WTVMEA President 

Adrian Maclin 

maclinal@scsk12.org 

WTVMEA President-Elect 

Reachel Hudgins 

reachelhudgins@dcchoctaws.net 

WTSBOA President 

Jennifer Cupples 

jennifer.cupples@wcsk12tn.net 

WTSBOA President-Elect 

Benjamin Martin 

bmartin@huntingdonschools.net 

tmea board of directors 

TMEA State General Music Chair 

Ben Torres 

benjamin.torres@cmcss.net 

TMEA State Choral Chair 

Demetrius Robinson, Ed.S. 

dlrbnsn2@memphis.edu 

TMEA State Orchestra Chair 

Cynthia Wright 

cynthia.wright@maryville-schools.org 

TMEA State Band Chair 

Ollie Liddell, Ph.D. 

liddello@scsk12.org 

TMEA State Higher Education Chair 

Lauren Ramey, Ph.D. 

lauren.e.ramey@gmail.com 

MTGMEA President 

Corynn York 

yorkc@rcschools.net 

MTGMEA President-Elect 

Abbi Miller 

abigail.miller@cityschools.net 

MTVA President 

Lorna Pyka 

lornapyka@yahoo.com 

MTVA President-Elect 

T.J. McLaughlin 

t.j.mclaughlin@sumnerschools.org 

MTSBOA President 

J.R. Baker 

john.baker@rcstn.net 

MTSBOA President-Elect 

Stacy Jernigan 

stacy.jernigan000@gmail.com 

TMEA NAfME Collegiate Chair 

Michael Chandler, Ph.D. 

chandlermd@apsu.edu 

TMEA Society for Music Teacher 

Education/Research Chair 

Loneka Wilkinson Battiste, Ph.D. 

lbattis2@utk.edu 

TMEA Advocacy and 

Government Relations Chair 

Christopher Dye, Ed.D. 

christopher.dye@mtsu.edu 

TMEA Communications Manager, 

Publications Editor and 

Advertising Manager 


anna.laura.williams@tnmea.org 

ETGMEA President 

Bryant Adler 

etgmea@gmail.com 

ETGMEA President-Elect 

Hannah Strong 

hannahstrong@hvocals.com 

ETVA President 

Kristen Wiram 

KristenWi@gmail.com 

ETVA President-Elect 

William Brimer 

william.brimer@knoxschools.org 

ETSBOA President 

Jim Burton 

president@etsboa.org 

ETSBOA President-Elect 

Megan Christian 

presidentelect@etsboa.org 

tmea project chairs 

TMEA Modern Band Education Chair 

Michael Parsons 

mlparsons@briarcrest.com 

TMEA Jazz Education Policy Chair 

Frank Zimmerer, Ed.D. 

frank.zimmerer@mnps.org 

TMEA Tri-M Chair 

Pamela Wilensky 

wilenskypb@scsk12.org 

TMEA Music In Our Schools Month Chair 

Lisa Crunk 

crunkl@bedfordk12tn.net 

TMEA Music Merchants Industry Chair 

Scott Lane 

scott@lanemusic.com 

TMEA Retired Teachers Chair 

Deborah Gouge 

debbie.gouge@ecschools.net 

TMEA Webmaster 

John Womack 

john.womack@tnmea.org 

tmea all-state & conference management team 

TN All-State Choral Chair 

Brian Russell, DMA 

brian.russell@tnmea.org 

TN All-State Instrumental Chair 

Carter Noblin 

carter.noblin@tnmea.org 

TN All-State Jazz Band Chair 

Cord Martin 

corderyl.martin@gmail.com 

TN Treble Honor Choir Chair 

Tiffany Barton 

tntreblechoir@gmail.com 

TMEA Conference 

Registration Chair 

Mark Garey 

mgarey86@comcast.net 

TMEA Conference Performing 

Ensembles Instrumental Chair 

John Mears 

mearsj@rcschools.net 

TMEA Conference Performing 

Ensembles Choral Chair 

Susan Kelly, DMA 

kellysu@rcschools.net 

4 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2023 | Volume 75, No. 3

TENNESSEE MUSICIAN ADVERTISER INDEX | VOLUME 75, No. 3 

Tennessee Musician 

The Official Publication of the 

Tennessee Music Education 

Association 

02 | Amro Music 

Inside Front Cover 

Tennessee Tech. University 

University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music 

08 | East Tennessee State 

University 

09 | Austin Peay State 

University 

12 | University of Tennessee 

Knoxville School of Music 

13 | Middle Tennessee State 

University 

14 | Belmont University 

Summer Fine Arts Camps 

Center Page 

Bethel University Renaissance 

Inside Back Cover 

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

Back Cover 

Lee University 

18 | Nashville Symphony 

19 | University of Tennessee 

Martin 

25 | Carson-Newman University 

26 | Union University 

30 | Performing Arts 

Consultants Music 

Festivals 

32 | Slate Group 

The Tennessee Music Education 

Association (TMEA) was officially 

formed in 1945 as a voluntary, nonprofit 

organization representing 

all phases of music education at all 

school levels. The mission of TMEA 

is to promote the advancement of 

high-quality music education for all. 

Active TMEA membership is open to 

all persons currently teaching music 

and others with a special interest 

or involvement in music education. 

Collegiate memberships and 

retired memberships are available. 

Additional membership information 

is available on the TMEA website: 

www.tnmea.org. 

The Tennessee Musician was 

founded in 1948 with J. Clark Rhodes 

appointed by the TMEA Board of 

Control as inaugural editor. 

Tennessee Musician was preceded 

by an earlier publication, Tennessee 

Music Editors’ Downbeat, which was 

discontinued by the TMEA Board of 

Control at the spring board meeting, 

held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 

1948. 

All advertising and editorial 

materials should be sent to 

Anna Laura Williams, Managing 

Editor and Advertising Manager; 

anna.laura.williams@tnmea.org; 

615-784-8632. 

Advertising information is available 

on the TMEA website: 

https://www.tnmea.org/advertising. 

html. Submit editorial materials by 

e-mail in Microsoft Word format. 

Non-member subscriptions and 

single copy orders can be placed via 

e-mail to the editor. 

Deadlines for advertisement orders 

and editorial materials: 

Issue No. 1 – Deadline: September 15 

(in home delivery: December/January); 

Issue No. 2 – Deadline: November 15 

(in home delivery: January/February); 

Issue No. 3 – Deadline: February 15 

(in home delivery: May); 

Issue No. 4 – Deadline: April 15 

(in home delivery: May/June) 

The views and opinions expressed in 

the articles included in the Tennessee 

Musician are those of the authors and 

do not necessarily reflect the official 

policy or position of TMEA, the 

members, the staff, or the advertisers. 


TMEA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 


University of Memphis 

AT A TIME WHERE MANY TEACHERS FEEL THEIR 

EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IS NOT VALUED, 

I WANT TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THAT OUR 

STUDENTS’ LIVES ARE ENRICHED BECAUSE OF 

THE LIFE-CHANGING WORK YOU DO. 

Congratulations on all the incredible work you have done on 

behalf of our students this year. I know you are exhausted 

from the numerous programs and concerts you and your students 

have presented, but your dedication to your students will leave an 

indelible mark on them. 

In March, we celebrated Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) 

by providing resources and curricular ideas you could incorporate 

in your classroom. Our MIOSM chair, Lisa Crunk, expertly 

led those initiatives and Governor Lee signed a proclamation 

recognizing March as Music in Our Schools Month. This 

proclamation was read by Michael Chester, TMEA Executive 

Director, at the “We Are Nashville” concert which featured 

musical performances by students from the Metro Nashville 

Public Schools at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on March 28, 

2023. The special concert occurred days after the horrific murder 

of three staff members and three students at Covenant School. 

During times of tragedy and grief, music has a healing power to 

comfort us, to give voice to our hurt and anger, and to inspire us 

to care more for each other and choose love over hate. That is one 

of the many reasons why music is essential in our schools. 

6 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2023 | Volume 75, No. 3 

At a time where many teachers feel their expertise and experience 

is not valued, I want to clearly communicate that our students’ 

lives are enriched because of the life-changing work you do. Your 

passion for teaching and for music transform our students. You 

give them an avenue to connect with their emotions and creative 

spirit while training them in the development of essential 

knowledge and skills that can be transferred to various subject 

areas. YOU are essential. 

Our 64th Annual TMEA Music Education Conference 

at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center was an 

enormous success. The conference chairs and board worked 

extremely hard to make sure the conference was inspiring, 

educational, and inclusive for all our music educators, and I 

feel they successfully met all of our goals. Our headline and 

invited presenters delivered high-quality and extremely diverse 

interest sessions that challenged and motivated us. Our invited 

performance ensembles provided a very special addition to this 

year’s conference with some of the finest concerts I’ve observed 

since joining TMEA. As if these experiences were not of high 

enough caliber on their own, our All-State ensembles and 

Treble Honor Choir performances were exceptional and 

represented our most diverse slate of conductors in TMEA’s 

history. I’m still in awe of the talent and musicianship of our 

students, and I left the conference inspired by the impact you, 

our music educators are having on our youth. 

Last year, TMEA President Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry 

hosted our inaugural TMEA Awards Banquet and Gala, and we 

built on the success of that event with this year’s banquet. This 

year’s award recipients represent the beautiful diversity of our 

outstanding music educators from across the state. Our very 

own board member Anna Laura Williams was recognized 

as the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award recipient, 

Dr. Reginald McDonald received the Outstanding University 

Music Educator Award, and Roger Jones III inspired us 

with his acceptance speech for the Outstanding High School 

Administrator of the Year Award. Our organization’s most 

prestigious honor is induction into the TMEA Hall of Fame. 

Dr. Nancy Boone-Allsbrook, Professor Emeritus at Middle 

Tennessee State University and this year’s TMEA Hall of Fame 

inductee, has inspired generations of music educators during her 

illustrious career in higher education, and her music arrangement 

and compositions are still being performed by ensembles across 

the world. Susan Smith, NAfME Southern Division President-

TMEA EDITOR'S MESSAGE 

Elect, reminded us of the many benefits and resources 

associated with membership in our national association, and 

our keynote speaker, Dr. Cedric Dent, shared an inspiring 

address drawing from his experience as a member and arranger 

for the GRAMMY-award winning vocal ensemble, TAKE 6. 

For those who were not able to attend, we hope to explore 

ways to remove barriers to attending our annual conference 

in the future. For those who were able to attend the 

conference, please be sure to express your gratitude to 

our TMEA board and council members for the countless 

hours they have devoted on your behalf. As you know, we 

are a volunteer board and serve because of our love of 

music education and our desire to help you, our members. 

Please enjoy this issue of the Tennessee Musician. 


39th TMEA President 


Siegel Middle School 

The Annual TMEA 

Conference and All-State 

Event is a monumental task 

that is only made possible 

by year-long planning 

from an incredible team. 

While fulfilling their 

daily job responsibilities 

as teachers this past 

school year, numerous 

Tennessee music educators 

simultaneously devoted 

countless hours towards 

preparations for the 64th Annual TMEA Music Education 

Conference & All-State event. Although not a comprehensive 

list of people deserving praise, this message spotlights some 

TMEA members whose “behind-the-scenes” efforts merit 

extra applause. 

The exceptional work ethic of our two All-State General 

Chairs, Carter Noblin and Brian Russell, is remarkable, 

inspirational, and greatly appreciated. Likewise, gratitude is 

owed to our spectacular Equipment Chairs (Reggie Coleman, 

Nick Thomas, Michael Petrone, and Andrew Smith) for 

their tremendous work. All of the All-State Ensemble Chairs 

and our two Performing Ensemble Chairs showed outstanding 

dedication in their arrangements before and during the 

conference – special thanks to Tiffany Barton, Garrett Doo, 

Kelly Davenport, Amanda Short, Cord Martin, Nichole 

Pitts, Gary Wilkes, Mondale Rogers, Ben Channell, 

Michael Parsons, John Mears, and Susan Kelly. 

The All-State rosters would not be possible without the 

meticulous work by our regional association All-State 

Coordinators across the state. Our esteemed Conference 

Registration chairs, Mark & Daphne Garey, ensured that 

we had another successful year at the registration booth. 

Furthermore, the TMEA Board & Council members, session 

presiders, university professors, and collegiate students 

throughout Tennessee assisted in countless ways during the 

conference. In this issue of the Tennessee Musician, I hope 

you enjoy viewing the excellent photography by conference 

photographer David Royse that highlights how teamwork 

characterized the 64th Annual TMEA Music Education 

Conference. 


17th Editor, Tennessee Musician 


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TMEA GUEST FEATURES 

THE CAPACITY 

TO COLLABORATE 

5 STEPS TO EMPOWER TEAMWORK 

by Lori Schwartz Reichl, Alison Parish, and Sarah Castrillon 

“The strength of the team is each individual member. 

The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson 

This article was originally written by the co-authors in the fall of 2019 with the expectation to 

publish in the spring of 2020. However, when the pandemic hit, more timely topics took precedence, 

and this article went untouched for almost three years. With many educators retiring, resigning, 

changing positions, entering/re-entering the profession, and refreshing their craft, the authors felt 

this article was of immediate relevance. Lori and Alison were childhood friends who were elated 

to work together as music colleagues for the Daniel Boone Area School District in Berks County, 

Pennsylvania, from 2004–2006. Sarah and Lori became instant friends after spending 2007–2014 

working together for the Howard County Public School System at Oakland 

Mills Middle School in Columbia, Maryland. The three educators share 

their tips for collaboration, motivation, and respect. 


As educators, we are often the sole leaders of our classrooms 

or programs. As music educators, we are often isolated in our 

own pedagogical worlds. Our classrooms or rehearsal spaces are 

typically remote from other instructional classrooms or our team 

members’ offices. Our schedules are frequently dissimilar to that 

of our colleagues who teach other subjects within the school. In 

addition, our schedules may also differ from our music colleagues 

who instruct general or elective music classes or conduct 

ensembles. Furthermore, our extracurricular commitments and 

professional activities repeatedly keep us separated from social 

interactions. With little time to discuss, debate, socialize, or 

engage, the probability of collaborating with colleagues within the 

school, and even within our own department, is often slim. 

Collaboration is defined as “the process of two or more people 

or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve 

a goal.” In order to achieve this goal with learners, educators 

should be caring, inspiring, and welcoming. Hopefully, these 

traits extend beyond students to colleagues, too. Musicians and 

music educators are often dynamic, enthusiastic, persuasive, 

and passionate. Research shows that they are even competitive 

at times, too! However, a combination of these distinctive 

personalities may clash within a collegial team. How do we 

ensure that the overall needs of the department are met, while 

maintaining civility, creativity, performance expectations, 

and academic requirements as a team all while simultaneously 

managing our classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and individual 

programs? What are the best ways to target standards, ensure 

inclusivity, educate the whole child, attend to individual student 

needs, and empower teamwork in a collaborative capacity? 

STEP 1: CONNECT 

Treat all members of the team as human beings. Take time 

to ask questions regarding their families, friends, hobbies, or 

freelance work. This allows for a chance to discover the unique 

and essential character traits of each team member. Congratulate 

and support team members on achievements both in and out of 

the school building. Work to establish a constant, open line of 

communication so that trust can be built among all members of 

the team. This connection, or lack of, is evident to students, their 

families, and other colleagues. Be cognizant of the impact of 

connection and how it is perceived by all. 

WORK TO ESTABLISH A CONSTANT, 

OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION SO 

THAT TRUST CAN BE BUILT AMONG 

ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. 

STEP 2: LISTEN & UNDERSTAND 

Respect each team member’s beliefs, ideas, and opinions. 

Understand that all members will bring their own unique 

strengths and limitations to a collaboration. Fully listen to all 

members so that each person can be heard and recognized. 

Remain open to others’ thoughts and ideas. Allow for change 

to influence and shape your way of thinking. Your department 

collaboration will truly hit its stride when the strengths and 

contributions of each member are discovered, acknowledged, 

and implemented. If you notice your colleague struggling, ask 

how you can help. Whether it’s setting-up the learning space 

in preparation for an upcoming class or performance, making 

photocopies, proofreading a document, offering a drink or snack, 

or allowing an ear for your colleague to vent, your assistance will 

be appreciated and hopefully reciprocated. 

YOUR DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION 

WILL TRULY HIT ITS STRIDE WHEN THE 

STRENGTHS AND CONTRIBUTIONS 

OF EACH MEMBER ARE DISCOVERED, 

ACKNOWLEDGED, AND IMPLEMENTED. 

STEP 3: DESIGN & ALIGN 

Create opportunities to meet regularly as a team and be flexible 

and sensitive regarding dates, times, and locations. Unite to 

achieve high levels of production and performance that fit the 

entire department, yet place the best needs of the students at the 

forefront of your planning, preparation, and performance. Create 

curricula, department-wide policies, procedures, documents, 

events, and performances that are valued and upheld. Revisit 

these plans and targets frequently to allow new ideas to grow from 

further collaboration. Delegate tasks among the members of the 

team to ease the burden among the group. When asked to help 

with a task for the department by a colleague, accurately complete 

it in a timely fashion to instill a sense of trust in your work with 

one another. If you share instructional or performance space, 

maintain cleanliness and organization as this goes a long way 

towards building healthy relationships. Advocate for the needs of 

your colleagues and their specialized programs while promoting 

the overall program, department, school, booster organization, 

and community—even in their absence. 

STEP 4: MENTOR & MOTIVATE 

Support team members during classes, rehearsals, at 

performances, on trips, or while attending meetings. Show up 

for them! Remember that you may be the one colleague in the 

building who can best motivate your team members because 

you can identify with them regarding a specialty area, time 

management, challenges, and accomplishments. Provide 

assistance or resources when necessary. Since you understand 

the demands placed on educators, you may recognize strengths 

and limitations in your colleagues that others may not. 

Gently encourage your colleagues’ continued growth through 

suggestions and opportunities for classroom techniques, 

management strategies, professional development, mentorship, 


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CMPA-224621


or motivation. Suggest an article to read, performance to 

attend, conference to visit, course to take, or a mentor to appoint. 

In return, ask for your colleagues’ suggestions to support 

your growth. 

STEP 5: SHOW GRATITUDE 

Highlight the achievements of your team members by sharing 

or showcasing their talents and successes with others. Speak 

kindly of them to students, families, colleagues, administration, 

and supporters. Say thank you—often, and mean it. Offer a sign 

of camaraderie and gratitude by writing a note, providing a treat, 

offering a sentimental or goofy gift, or fulfilling a duty for them. 

Continue to be a shoulder to lean on, a sounding board for ideas, 

and a friendly face to see often so that the lines of communication 

remain positive and productive in your continued collaboration. 

It is not expected that a friendship ensues from your working 

relationship, but that can certainly become the case! When 

the team applies its collective strengths, the results are 

immeasurable! Use the capacity of collaboration to empower 

teamwork within your department, school, or system. You may be 

pleasantly surprised at the levels of achievement, cohesiveness, 

and enjoyment that emerge. 

Reprinted with permission from National Association for Music 

Education (NAfME). The original article, published on August 

9, 2022, can be found at https://nafme.org/the-capacity-tocollaborate/. 

DR. LORI SCHWARTZ REICHL is a 

champion of mentorship and motivation 

in education. Her mission is to encourage 

educators to reflect on our teaching 

practices while making key changes 

to refresh strategies that represent a 

shared vision to enrich the curriculum, 

classroom, and community. Dr. Reichl’s 

unique educational experiences 

have permitted her to expand her 

Photo by Richard Twigg Photography 

multifaceted career into a portfolio as 

a clinician, conductor, instructor, writer, and speaker. She is the 

author of nearly 100 educational articles and has designed these 

mentoring pieces into a graduate course that she instructs at 

The University of the Arts (Philadelphia) and VanderCook 

College of Music (Chicago). Musically, Dr. Reichl has served 

as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor for honor 

bands in a handful of states. Generally, for all areas and levels 

of education, Dr. Reichl has presented countless professional 

development sessions and keynote speeches for school systems 

and conferences in 16 states including for international events. 

She has spoken in dozens of collegiate classrooms nationwide 

and has been interviewed for 13 education podcasts. Dr. Reichl’s 

research is rooted in the student voice and the learner’s perception 

of effective strategies of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Belonging. 

Her most popular professional development sessions include 

building community, strengthening classroom management, 

and maintaining inclusive learning environments. Learn more: 

https://makingkeychanges.com/ 

ALISON PARISH is originally from York, 

Pennsylvania, and now calls Reading, 

Pennsylvania, home. Ms. Parish earned 

a bachelor’s degree in Music Education 

from Susquehanna University and a 

master’s degree from Lebanon Valley 

College. Since 2004, she has proudly 

served as the choral and general music 

teacher at Daniel Boone Area Middle 

School in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. 

During her tenure, Ms. Parish has successfully grown and 

fostered an inclusive and diverse choral program for middle 

school students. She has also worked as a vocal instructor for the 

Daniel Boone Area High School theater department. In addition, 

Ms. Parish serves as a private vocal and piano teacher in the 

Reading area. 

SARAH CASTRILLON is originally from 

Arlington, Virginia, and earned a 

bachelor's degree in Music Education 

and a master's degree in Viola 

Performance from the University of 

Maryland, College Park. Currently, Mrs. 

Castrillon is the Orchestra teacher at 

Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, 

Maryland. Previously, she taught at 

Talbott Springs Elementary School and 

Oakland Mills Middle School. During those years, her middle 

school orchestras consistently received superior ratings at 

county and state festivals. As a clinician and judge, Mrs. 

Castrillon is a frequent adjudicator for Orchestra Assessments 

and Solo and Ensemble Festivals in both Maryland and Virginia. 

Outside of teaching, Mrs. Castrillon is a freelance musician in 

the DMV area performing on viola and violin with chamber 

music groups and local orchestras.


as members of the team or, in this specific case, the ensemble. In 

reflecting on my own teaching practices, I often think: “If I had 

inculcated a more democratic classroom, would I have been 

perceived as a better and more flexible leader?” While I am not 

suggesting that music theory classes, ensemble rehearsals, or 

music appreciation classes become so unwieldy that students 

have complete ownership of the classroom, I do believe that 

by ceding some control to our students we are more likely to 

engage them in the processes that are critical to their becoming 

knowledgeable, creative, and thinking musicians. In other words, 

we may be able to lead by not leading as much. 

LEADING 

BY NOT 

LEADING 


The construct of leadership is one that always seems to pique 

the interest of novice and experienced music teachers alike. 

“If I just had better leadership qualities, my program would be 

so much better!” is a lamentation that I hear often from those 

who are struggling to attain a greater sense of connection to 

their students. Oftentimes, however, the problem has less to do 

with the personal qualities of the teacher and more to do with 

how students perceive their roles as members of the group. 

Psychological research findings suggest that for members of 

any group to feel a connection that they need to experience a 

sense of affiliation with all members of the group, including their 

leaders (Douglas, 1993). Although this may seem unsurprising, 

many ensemble directors—irrespective of primary or secondary 

placements—have been prepared to teach and rehearse by 

unknowingly using an autocratic style that allows their students 

very little interaction with one another, themselves, or the music 

that is being rehearsed and performed. 

Some have argued that this teaching style is insufficient because 

students are rarely asked to provide meaningful information in 

the music making and learning processes (Allsup & Benedict, 

2008). And by broadening our discussion about leadership, it is 

not difficult to understand why students do not feel empowered 

In an ensemble setting, there are several ways in which directors 

can empower their students by making them part of decisionmaking 

processes. For instance, directors can allow their 

students to choose one of the pieces for the upcoming concert. 

However, it might be more beneficial if selection parameters 

were put into place. Give students two similar pieces (e.g., 

ballad, march, pop tune) and have them vote on which one 

they would like to perform. The ballot could be handled using 

pencil-and-paper during class, an electronic survey tool like 

Survey Monkey, or offered as a Facebook poll. You could establish 

this such that students were able to provide comments about 

each piece in an online forum, a creative way of encouraging 

music listening and music criticism. Unlike the traditional 

“show up and perform all of this music that I chose by myself ” 

paradigm, students will likely feel that their musical opinions are 

welcomed and appreciated. 

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH FINDINGS 

SUGGEST THAT FOR MEMBERS OF ANY 

GROUP TO FEEL A CONNECTION THAT 

THEY NEED TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE 

OF AFFILIATION WITH ALL MEMBERS 

OF THE GROUP, INCLUDING THEIR 

LEADERS (DOUGLAS, 1993). 

Another example of encouraging student participation and 

leadership involves having the students serve as their own 

musical adjudicators. Perhaps too often, musical problem solving 

is a “one-way street” in which students play a non-existent or 

passive role. Post rehearsal recordings to the ensemble webpage, 

school-based sites such as Charms, or upload them into Google 

Forms so that students can listen, analyze, and write comments 

about their performances. Students can respond to problems they 

perceive in their section, another section, or the entire ensemble. 

They could also provide positive feedback about things they hear. 

Involving students in this manner helps them listen critically in 

the same way that accomplished teachers do while conducting 

and rehearsing, and it allows you to guide and shape students’ 

listening skills (Turner, 2013). 


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IN AN ENSEMBLE SETTING, THERE 

ARE SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH 

DIRECTORS CAN EMPOWER THEIR 

STUDENTS BY MAKING THEM PART 

OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. 

As you begin the school year, having already thought about the 

need for strong leadership, I encourage you to consider that 

leading by not leading may be one of the most powerful strategies 

that you can employ. By empowering all of our students to become 

leaders, thinkers, and doers in the classroom, we will likely 

encourage comradery, a sense of democracy, and the important 

belief that all voices matter. 

References 

Allsup, R, & Benedict, C. (2008). The problems of band: An inquiry 

into the future of instrumental music education. 

Philosophy of Music Education Review, 16(2), 156-173. 

Douglas, T. (1993). A theory of groupwork practice. New York: 

McMillan. 

NASHVILLE SYMPHONY 

Student tickets 

$10 student access with code SOUNDCHECK 

HOW TO BUY YOUR $10 

CLASSICAL SERIES TICKETS 

ONLINE: NashvilleSymphony.org/Soundcheck 

Enter code SOUNDCHECK at login. 

PHONE: 615.687.6400 

Questions: Tickets@NashvilleSymphony.org 

Limit two SOUNDCHECK tickets per student. Availability may be limited — first come, first served. 

Turner, C.J. (2013). Another perspective: Crowdsourcing our 

ensemble rehearsals. Music Educators Journal, 100(2), 

68 – 71. doi: 10.1177/0027432113505839 

Reprinted from the Fall 2016 issue (Vol. 71, No. 1) of Missouri 

School Music with permission from the Missouri Music Educators 

Association. 

DR. BRIAN A. SILVEY (BME, Morehead 

State; MME, Wichita State; PhD, 

University of Texas-Austin) is Director 

of Bands, Professor of Music Education, 

and Associate Director of the School 

of Music at the University of Missouri. 

At MU, he teaches undergraduate and 

graduate music education courses, 

conducts the Wind Ensemble, and 

provides oversight to the entire band 

program. Dr. Silvey has presented music education research and 

teacher preparation clinics at state, national, and international 

venues. He is published in the Journal of Research in Music 

Education, International Journal of Research in Music Education, 

Psychology of Music, Bulletin of the Council for Research in 

Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Update: 

Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music 

Teacher Education, Journal of Band Research, Missouri Journal 

of Research in Music Education, Research and Issues in Music 

Education, the Choral Conductor’s Companion, and the Teaching 

Music Through Performance in Band series. He currently serves 

as Editor of the National Association for Music Education journal, 

Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and on the 

editorial boards of the College Band Directors National Association 

Research Journal and the Missouri Journal of Research in Music 

Education. Dr. Silvey is the Research Grant Chair for the American 

Bandmasters Association. He previously served on the editorial 

board of the Journal of Research in Music Education and as Editor 

of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education. 


APPLY & AUDITION 

Test Flight: Feb. 20, 2023 

Experience what it’s like to be a music major or minor at 

UT Martin and audition the same day. Additional audition 

dates upon request. 

Visit: utm.edu/audition 

SCHOLARSHIPS 

Available for music majors, music minors, 

and campus musicians. 

utm.edu/musicawards 

DEGREES 

Bachelor of Music 

Music Education, Performance, Pedagogy 

Bachelor of Arts in Music 

Music Minor 

More info at utm.edu/musicacademics 

SPRING EVENTS FOR 

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 

Death by Voice 

Test Flight 

ChamberFest 

Piano Competition 

Register at 

utm.edu/musichighschoolevents 

DEDICATED INNOVATIVE INCLUSIVE 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (731)881-7402 | music@utm.edu | utm.edu/music 

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/ Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. 

Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 303 Administration Building, Martin, TN 38238, (731) 881-3505 Office, (731) 881-4889 TTY, Hearing Impaired, (731) 881-3507 Fax, equityanddiversity@utm.edu, http://www.utm.edu/departments/equalopp/. In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (The Clery Act), UTM’s annual security 

report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on or around the campus and UTM’s emergency response and evacuation procedures. You can view the report at http://www.utm.edu/departments/publicsafety/_pdfs/annual security report 2014 adobe.pdf or you may obtain a paper copy of the report by contacting the Office of Public Safety, 215 Hurt Street, Martin, TN 38238 or 

calling (731) 881-7777. Data on intercollegiate athletics program participation rates and financial support may be found at http://www.utm.edu/about/consumer.php#3g and printed copies may be obtained through the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics, 1022 Elam Center, Martin, TN 38238 or by calling (731) 881-7660. E05-5220-00-002-23

TMEA 64TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 

Scenes from the 

64TH ANNUAL TMEA 

MUSIC EDUCATION 

CONFERENCE & 

ALL-STATE CONCERTS 

Photography by David Royse 

TMEA 2023 All-State Ensembles 

1 

2 

3 

4 

2023 All-State Jazz Band - 

2023 All-State SSAA Choir - 

2023 All-State TTBB Choir - 

1 2 3 4 

Kevin R. Burns, Director 

Julie Yu-Oppenheim, Conductor 

Eugene Rogers, Conductor 

2023 All-State SATB Choir - 

Jessica Nápoles, Conductor 


5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

5 

6 

7 

8 

2023 TN Treble Honor Choir - 

Shannon Jeffreys, Conductor 

2023 All-State 9-10 String 

Orchestra - Angela Ammerman, 

Conductor 

2023 All-State 11-12 Symphony 

Orchestra - Kevin Noe, Conductor 

2023 All-State 9-10 Band - 

Andrea Brown, Conductor 

9 

10 

11 

2023 All-State 11-12 

Band - Lowell E. 

Graham, Conductor 

2023 All-State Modern 

Band – Michael 

Parsons, Director 

2023 All-State Concerts 

Opening Remarks - Ryan 

Fisher, TMEA President 

11 



TMEA 2023 Conference Performance Ensembles 

12 

13 

14 15 

16 17 

18 19 

12 

Music City Chorus 

Blackman High School 

13 Percussion Ensemble 

Blackman Middle School 

14 Percussion Ensemble 

15 

Collierville High School 

Wind Ensemble 

16 

Cordova High School 

Concert Singers 

Farragut High School 

MTSU TEBA Chorale 

17 Advanced Mixed Choir 

18 19 

ETSU Percussion 

Ensemble 


20 

21 

22 

23 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

Nolensville High School 

Wind Ensemble 

Sound Fuzion, 

University of Memphis 

Stewarts Creek H.S. 

Athena Treble Choir 

Tennessee Wind 

Symphony 

Outstanding Young 

Music Educator of 

the Year: Anna Laura 

Williams 

Outstanding University 

Music Educator of 

the Year: Reginald 

McDonald 

Outstanding High 

School Administrator 

of the Year: Rogers 

Jones III 

TMEA Hall of Fame 

Award: Nancy Boone- 

Allsbrook 

TMEA Past- 

President: Lafe Cook 

TMEA Awards Gala & 

Banquet 

TMEA Awards Gala & Banquet 

24 

27 

25 

26 

28 29 




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FOUND: 

YOUR PLACE. YOUR PATH. YOUR PURPOSE. 

Apply to C-N! 

www.cn.edu/apply 


BE EXCELLENT. BE CHRIST-CENTERED. 

BE TRANSFORMED. 

At Union University, you will develop your musical craft under the training of highly qualified 

professional musicians who personally care for their students, passionately engage the 

artform, and are thoroughly committed to the Lord. You will experience an excellence-driven, 

Christ-centered music education designed to help you discover God’s unique calling and 

equip you for success in your life and career. 

Programs include: 

Bachelor of Music in Music Education 

Bachelor of Music in Performance 

Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music 

Bachelor of Arts/Science in Music 

Bachelor of Music in Composition 

Bachelor of Music in Music Theory 

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2023 Audition Date: March 31 

NASM accredited since 1966 

LEARN MORE AT uu.edu/music 

BE TRANSFORMED 







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TMEA BACK THEN 

➣ 

➣ 

In his message concluding his term as TMEA President, 

Lawrence “Pat” Cooney recognized the TMEA Convention 

Committee and TMEA membership for making the 1968 

TMEA Conference clinics and three All-State Ensembles a 

great success. 

Submitted by Ruth W. Brandon (then-TMEA Secretary), 

a draft of the TMEA Minutes for the Board of Directors 

Meeting from April 6, 1968, included these highlights: 

Ê 

T. Earl Hinton reported that Tennessee had fourteen 

(14) student MENC (now NAfME Collegiate) active 

chapters at the time of publication. 

➣ 

Ê 

The 1968-1970 TMEA Officers were announced: 

Howard Nicar, Jr., TMEA President; 

John Bright, TMEA President-Elect; and J.B. Lyle, 

TMEA Secretary. 

“Activities for the Spring and Summer” (1968) was a section 

that spanned four pages and featured many music events 

across Tennessee, including: 

Ê 

Dogwood Arts Festival (Knoxville) – Musical 

highlights included the Dogwood Arts Festival Band 

Competition and the Knoxville Choral Society Festival, 

among others. 

Ê 

Ê 

In the regional association president reports, the 

Middle Tennessee Instrumental section stated, “the 

first attempt of an All-Middle Tennessee Band was very 

successful and the association feels that it should be 

repeated next year.” 

The All-State Report by Barry Jones (then-General 

Chairman) described that the vocal ensemble comprised 

302 students (representing 61 schools), the band included 

110 members (representing 60 schools), and the orchestra 

featured 81 musicians (representing 39 schools). 

➣ 

Ê 

Events at Austin Peay State University (Clarksville), 

Bethel College (McKenzie), Carson-Newman 

College (Jefferson City), the University of Tennessee 

Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University 

(Murfreesboro), East Tennessee State University 

(Johnson City), University of Tennessee Martin, 

and more. 

Located on the inside front cover of the May 1968 Tennessee 

Musician, a description of the cover art stated the following: 

Knoxville, “The Dogwood City,” celebrated its eighth 

annual Dogwood Arts Festival, April 19-28 [1968]. Our 

cover for this issue features a lovely scene of dogwoods and 

azaleas on one of several dogwood trails in the city. (Harley 

Ferguson, photographer.) Photo by courtesy Dogwood Arts 

Festival Committee. 

THE TENNESSEE MUSICIAN (MAY 1968) 

Volume 20, No. 4 – 16 pgs. 

Lawrence “Pat” Cooney, TMEA President 

J. Clark Rhodes, Editor 


you work hard at 

sounding good 

we work hard at 

looking 

good 

SLATE GROUP SUPPORTS 

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MUSIC 

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Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37128-4162 

MUSIC WITH PURPOSE 

A Christ-centered university in southeast 

Tennessee with faculty, curriculum, facilities, 

and opportunities to prepare you for your 

goals as tomorrow’s musician. 

For more information, please contact us at 

423-614-8240 or music@leeuniversity.edu. 

LEEUNIVERSITY.edu/music

TN Musician Vol. 75 No. 3

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