AMEA 2014 Clinicians


Diane Orlofsky is an experienced choral conductor and music educator. Orlofsky has written many articles on teacher education and her book, Redefining Teacher Education: The Theories of Jerome Bruner and the Practice of Training Teachers, was published by Peter Lang Publishing in 2002. She is currently working on her book The Joyous Exchange: Meditations on the Choral Arts. Orlofsky is an active clinician, conductor, and researcher and was named an American Fellow in 1997 by the American Association of University Women. She is also the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Ingalls Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching, the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Scholar award, The Wright State University Music Alumni of the Year award, and the A.A.T.E. Outstanding Teacher Educator Award.


Gary Packwood is the newly appointed Director of Choral Activities at Mississippi State University. His duties include conducting all choral ensembles and administering the choral activities area. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Packwood served as Associate Professor and Associate Director of Choral Activities, and Head of Music Education at the University of Montevallo (AL) from 2003-2011, where he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music, music education, and conducted the Chamber Singers and University Chorus. He earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, the Master of Arts degree from Florida Atlantic University, and Doctorate of Musical Arts (Choral Conducting & Literature) degree, with a minor in Music Education from Louisiana State University.


All-State Silver Jazz Band Clinician - Michael Pendowski is the Director of Jazz and Instructor of Saxophone at Auburn University. He holds a doctorate in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music and degrees in Conducting and Music Education from Northwestern University. His career has encompassed a wide variety of musical styles and venues. He is a prominent composer in the educational field, writing for the full spectrum of ensembles available in today's' schools and universities. His film projects have included the restoration of Orson Welles "Othello," "Dead Presidents," "Our Father," and "Groundhog Day." In addition, he has composed, arranged, and produced over two dozen albums and has scored for off-Broadway productions, as well as animated features including the "Getting to Know the Artist" Series, which won the American Library Video award. He has arranged works for The Four Freshmen, Peter Cetera, Doc Severinsen, Bonnie Herman, Carole Vito, and most recently for Jake Shimabukuro. He has written and produced music for hundreds of TV and radio commercials, and his work has won numerous awards including two Golden Lions and an Eddy. Dr. Pendowski has also written original soundtracks to the John Madden Football and NCAA Football and Basketball games created by Electronic Arts.


Dr. Earlene Rentz received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Montevallo and both Master and Doctoral degrees in Music Education from Florida State University. She is a native of Moultrie, Georgia, and taught choral music for seven years at elementary, junior high, and high school levels. She has conducted All-State Choirs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. She has published over 400 choral compositions since 1994 with 17 publishers, and began Earlene Rentz Online Publications in 2011. EROP provides quality choral music and supplementary teaching materials for schools and churches.


Robert W. Smith is a Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Music Industry Program in Troy University’s John M. Long School of Music. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is one of the most popular composers in the world today with over 700 published works. The majority of his work was published through his long association with Warner Bros. Publications. He is currently published by the C. L. Barnhouse Company and serves as the Vice-President of Product Development for both C. L. Barnhouse Co. and Walking Frog Records. Mr. Smith's works for band and orchestra have been programmed by countless professional, university, and school ensembles throughout the North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. His music has received extensive airplay on network television as well as inclusion in multiple motion pictures and television productions. His “Into The Storm” was featured on the 2009 CBS Emmy Awards telecast for the HBO’s mini-series documenting the life of Winston Churchill. Mr. Smith’s teaching responsibilities at Troy University are focused in media composition, audio and live event production, publishing and entrepreneurship.


John Nicholas Smith is the Director of Bands at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, AL. He directs the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, the Patriot Marching Band, and teaches AP Music Theory. Most recently, Mr. Smith has been named an “Honorary Conductor” of the Children’s Palace Band in Beijing, China, where he has served as a guest clinician and conductor for surrounding high school and middle school bands since 2012. The wind ensemble has participated in the 2013 Music for All National Concert Band Festival, and since Mr. Smith’s first year at Hillcrest in 2009, he has been a conductor at the Midwest Clinic, CBDNA Southern Division Conference, and China Educational-Cultural Foundation concert series in Shanghai and Beijing, China. This year, the Wind Ensemble has been extended an invitation and will perform at the University of Alabama Honor Band Festival in February 2014. Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Auburn University, where he was named the “Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the College of Education.” As a student leader, he served as Head Drum Major for the Auburn University Marching Band, Principal trumpet of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Community Orchestra, President and Treasurer of Kappa Kappa Psi, and Founding President for the Student Chapter of the National Band Association. Remaining actively involved in high school leadership training, Mr. Smith has been on staff for the annual Auburn University Marching/Leadership Camp since 2008. He is also a staff member for the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which performs in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade under the direction of Auburn University’s Director of Bands, Dr. Rick Good. Mr. Smith was born in Bryan, Texas. He later moved to Birmingham, AL, where he graduated from Oak Mountain High School."


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