Nebraska C-NAFME

2024 COLLEGIATE SYMPOSIUM

The 2024 Collegiate Symposium will be held on Wednesday, November 20 at the Cornhusker Hotel in downtown Lincoln. Registration is $27 per student and includes tickets to the Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 21. Lunch is NOT provided. Registration forms will be sent to chapter presidents and advisors by the Director of College/University Affairs Brian Alber, or you can download the registration form below. Registration forms are due November 1, and no changes can be made after that deadline.

Download the Symposium Registration Form

SYMPOSIUM SESSION INFORMATION

Keynote Presentation: Building a Culture of Excellence 
Speaker: Dr. Tim Lauzenheiser
12:45pm, CH Grand Ballroom

High-quality music programs across the nation have one commonality—students reside in a CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE. From the environment to the attention to musical detail, excellence is the filter of everything. Fueled by quality content and masterful context, it is the ongoing planting, nurturing, and harvesting of trust relationships with a constant focus on the why. One person makes a difference, and you are the one person!

Tim Lautzenheiser is a well-known name in the music education world as a teacher, clinician, author, composer, and above all, a trusted friend to all those seeking to build a culture of musical excellence. His career involves ten years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. He is presently serving as a “Distinguished Scholar” at Butler University working with the music educators of tomorrow. Tim serves as the Senior Vice President of Education/Chief Educational Officer for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He is a co-writer of Hal Leonard’s popular band method, “Essential Elements.” Tim has also authored several best-selling books for GIA Publications. A graduate of Ball State University and the University of Alabama. Tim is a member of The Midwest Clinic Board of Directors, the American Band College, and the Western International Band Clinic Board of Directors.

Habits of a SIGNIFICANT Band Director
Presenter: Scott Rush
1:45pm, CH Hawthorne

The Habits Synergy Model focuses on how knowledge, communication, experience, heart energy, physical energy, and effectiveness create synergy to produce a successful band director. Rush explores how musical and personal significance lasts for generations as we address the social, emotional, cultural, and musical needs of ALL students. We are in the MUSIC business and PEOPLE business.

Scott Rush is the team lead for the “Habits” series published by GIA and currently serves as the conductor of the Charleston Wind Symphony. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of South Carolina and is the former Director of Bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC. Under his direction, the Wando Symphonic Band performed at the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and were BOA Grand National Finalists. Mr. Rush is active as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and Canada. He is the author and/or co-author of sixteen highly touted books, some of which include: Habits of A Successful Band Director, Habits of a Successful Musician, Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician, Habits of a Successful Middle School Musician, Habits of a Successful Middle School Band Director, Habits of a Significant Band Director, for GIA Publications. In 2010, Mr. Rush was elected to the American Bandmasters Association. He currently serves as Past-President of the Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM).

Taking Teacher Licensure Tests in Music: Strategies for Preparation and Success
Presenter: Brent Sandene
1:45pm, CH Arbor 1

For pre-service music educators, passing teacher licensure examinations is an important part of the pathway toward becoming a certified public school music educator. This session will provide an overview of how to prepare for exams in music teacher licensure and offer some strategies on taking standardized music teacher licensure exams.

Dr. Brent Sandene is a retired Assessment Specialist in Music with experience developing exams across many grade levels. Among the programs he worked on at Educational Testing Service (ETS) include the Praxis® series of assessments for music teacher licensure, licensure exams for the states of Georgia and Texas, the Advanced Placement Music Theory Examination, the National Assessment of Educational Progress Arts Assessment, and the Major Field Test in Music. Before his work at ETS, his public school teaching included work with vocal and instrumental music students from grades 1-12. Brent has published in Music Educators Journal, Update, The Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning and co-authored the Nation's Report Card for the Arts. He has presented at the AP® Annual Conference, MENC National Convention, and the 7th International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education. Brent has degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Indiana University, and the University of Michigan.

A New Age for Secondary General Music Education when ALL means ALL
Presenters: Amy Thorpe and Tom Thorpe
1:45pm, CH Arbor 2

Don't run and hide! It's not the death of performing ensembles! Do your courses currently reach ALL of the students in your school, or do they lend themselves to just mainly performers? In this session we will discuss how General Music courses enhance secondary music education. Let's uncover and address some of the stereotypes of general music and the fear that plays out when considering offering these courses at your school. Not only will General Music courses provide your department with new student participation, but can enhance the skills of your current ensemble performers as well. We will unpack how to consider which General Music courses would be enriching opportunities for your students and fit best into your program needs, educational philosophy, and school/community as a whole. Example curricula for courses such as, Music Technology, Guitar Lab, Piano Lab, World Drumming/Exploring Music, History of Rock and Roll, and Unified Music will be provided. 

Mrs.Thorpe is in her 24th year of teaching; her 17th year at Lincoln Northeast High School. Prior to Northeast, Mrs. Thorpe taught both Vocal and Instrumental Music in Missouri for the Warsaw and Sedalia School Districts. Mrs. Thorpe, a Lincoln High School Alumnus, graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education, Instrumental Emphasis, and a Masters of Music Education, Vocal Emphasis from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She is a proud former Drum Major for the Cornhusker Marching Band and flute student of Dr. John Bailey. Throughout her career she has taught Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Music Technology, World Drumming, Music Theory, Guitar Lab, Piano Lab, and Unified Music. Her experience runs the span of both Middle and High School with additional work done as a choreographer for award winning color guards and show choirs. After many years of ensemble directing, Mrs. Thorpe now enjoys focusing her work and advocating for General Music at the secondary level.

Tom Thorpe is currently in his 24th year of teaching, with the past 17 being at Lincoln East. Mr. Thorpe has taught numerous music classes at East and currently teaches Marching Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Class, and History of Rock and Roll. He also conducts the Pep Band and Woodwind Choir.While under his direction, the Lincoln East Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2012 and 2016 Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Conferences in Lincoln. In 2014, Tom was elected to the NMEA Executive Board, serving as Chair of Band Activities. From 2021-2024 he served on the Executive Board of NSBA in the role of Concert Band Chair. Mr. Thorpe holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Arkansas and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His professional affiliations include NSBA, NAfME, NMEA, Phi Beta Mu, LEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Mr. Thorpe is married to Amy, who teaches music at Northeast High School. They have two sons, Tommy and Myles, and miniature schnauzers, Lily.

Habits of a SIGNIFICANT Band Director
Presenters: Kevin Droe and Sarah Rouse
3:00pm, CH Hawthorne

Kevin Droe, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa. He specializes in teaching undergraduate and graduate music education. Alongside his teaching and research responsibilities, Kevin Droe is the founder of the UNI Spectrum Project. This initiative offers children with differing abilities a weekend of music, movement, drama, and art activities. His research focuses on special populations, innovative music education, and popular music. In 2018, Kevin established AmpCamp, an annual summer popular music youth camp. In 2022, he launched Spectrum JamFest, an annual youth music festival. Kevin Droe teaches workshops in audio, modern band and popular music education throughout Iowa. When not teaching and researching, Kevin is the drummer for Corn Riot, a punk metal band made up of faculty and staff of the UNI School of Music. He holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. in music education from The Florida State University.

Sarah Rouse has been the K-8 General Music Teacher at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Elkhorn, Nebraska since 2018. She holds a Bachelor's in Vocal Music Education and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Northwest Missouri State University. She uses a modern approach to music education, incorporating the ideologies of Music Will, a non-profit music education organization. Her students, starting as young as kindergarten, engage with instruments like drum sets, guitars, keyboards, ukuleles, bucket drums, and Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). She regularly attends the Modern Band Summit in Fort Collins, Colorado, to explore new ideas for her classroom. In addition, she directs five Christmas programs and co-directs a middle school musical with many student participants each year. She is passionate about instilling a love for music in her students.

Imposter Syndrome - A Guide to Realizing You Do Know Things
Presenters: Jason Smith and Mark Harman
3:00pm, CH Arbor 1

Imposter Syndrome is a common affliction for many professions and is very prevalent in the music educator community. As music teachers we sometimes put a tremendous amount of stress on ourselves to help our students and programs grow. When we perceive things are not going well and we are not sure how to proceed, sometimes directors question their ability to do the job. Many times this stress is unwarranted and harmful. This session will give you a better mindset going into the teaching field and help you understand that it is acceptable to continue learning as an educator. We don’t have all the answers and that is the point. This session provides understanding of imposter syndrome, how to avoid it, and resources to help set you up for a successful career.

Jason Smith has been the 5th-12th grade Band Director at Wahoo Public Schools for the past 12 years. Prior to this position, Mr. Smith taught K-12 music at Bancroft-Rosalie Public Schools. Mr. Smith is also a staff member for the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music, the Public Relations Chair for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, and is a regular substitute for the polka band Less Talk More Polka. He received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2009, and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Arts Integration from Wayne State College in 2021. Under his direction, Wahoo has received the NMEA High School Music Participation Recognition, the NSBA Academic Achievement Award, and the Best Communities for Music Education distinction. Mr. Smith was the recipient of the 2021 NMEA Music Educator of the Year Award and the 2023 Nebraska VFW Teacher of the Year Award.

Mark Harman has been Director of Vocal Music at Fremont High School for twenty-three years. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 from Hastings College and his Masters of Music degree in 2007 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Choirs under Mr. Harman’s direction have been featured guest artists in numerous venues in the US and Europe. The FHS Choir has performed with the Omaha Symphony eight times, has twice combined forces with Sing Omaha, and has twice been a featured performing ensemble at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention. Mr. Harman was elected to serve a three year term on the board of NMEA as Chair of Choral Affairs in 2012 and currently serves as the Honor Ensemble Chair for the Nebraska Choral Directors Association. He has twice been honored for excellence by NCDA. He has been named Outstanding Young Choral Director (2005) and Outstanding Choral Director (2013).

Navigating the First Year: Insights from Diverse Teachers in Secondary Music Education
Presenters: Xochitl Tornez, Aida Soria, and Juan Oropeza
3:00pm, CH Arbor 2

This session aims to provide valuable insights to students in their university journey, offering a firsthand account of experiences during the first year of teaching in smaller schools and diverse school districts. The focus will be on secondary music education, primarily in Band and Orchestra programs. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and successes encountered, particularly in districts where diversity and Title I status shape the educational landscape.

	Xochitl Tornez currently teaches at Bryan Middle School and Bryan High School in Omaha, NE. There she helps shape the musical journey of 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students by introducing them to a diverse repertoire reflective of their backgrounds. While at Bryan High School, she leads sectionals, co-teaches rehearsals, and contributes to the growth of the freshman prep band. Xochitl's passion for music education began at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2023, receiving accolades such as making the Dean's List and earning scholarships. With a commitment to personal and professional growth, she is currently pursuing her master's degree at Northern University in Aberdeen, SD. Beyond teaching, Xochitl is actively involved in professional organizations like the Jazz Education Network (JEN), Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA), and the Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA), to remain connected to the broader musical community, continuing to seek inspiration and to contribute to the advancement of music education.
	Aida Soria is the Director of Orchestras at Norris Middle School. She received her B.M. in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She assists with drumline and leads percussion workshops after school. She stays active in her district as a frontline instructor at local high schools, plays piano for show choir and students’ solos, and coaches students’ solos. Aida strives to bring opportunities to her students by bringing in local symphony players to give her students free lessons, organizing side-by-side concerts with her students and local high schools, and having her students’ personal instruments fixed for free through their local Good Vibrations program. In 2021, Aida was invited to join NMEA’s DEIAB committee after attending a roundtable discussion led by the DEIAB committee members. In 2022, she was asked to join NAfME’s Equity Committee after attending an Equity Symposium led by past President Dr. Mackie Spradley.
	Juan Oropeza, from La Barca, Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, is a versatile musician and dedicated educator with a deep-rooted passion for cultural expression and artistic exploration. His musical journey began at the age of nine, leading him to master various genres, from jazz to mariachi and Mexican Banda styles. After earning his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2023, where he showcased his talents as a member of Jazz I and Principal Trumpet in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Juan embarked on a vibrant performance career with the renowned group La Sonora Santanera De Carlos Colorado, touring extensively across the United States. Currently, as an instrumental music teacher at Central High School, Juan inspires students through teaching orchestra, band, jazz band, and guitar, while also actively performing and advocating for the arts in his community, embodying the enduring impact of passion, perseverance, and the universal language of music.

COLLEGIATE CHAPTER OF DISTINCTION AWARD