AMEA 2015 Clinicians


Dr. David Ballam, instructor of double bass and music appreciation has taught at Auburn University since 2013. Prior to joining the faculty at Auburn, he performed extensively in central Texas and Chicago, IL including with the Austin Symphony, the Austin Lyric Opera, and baroque bass with Ensemble Settecento. As a passionate educator and private instructor, Dr. Ballam was active in many Texas public schools teaching lessons, sectionals, and large group classes to middle school and high school bassists. Dr. Ballam is also currently involved with the International Society of Bassists Summer Convention - Young Bassists Program working with many talented students.


Tucker Biddlecombe, (Ph.D) is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, where he serves as conductor of the Vanderbilt Chorale and Symphonic Choir. In addition, he has recently been named Director of Blair's five-year Bachelor of Music/Teacher Education degree program offered in conjunction with the Peabody College of Education. Over the course of a ten year career as a public school music educator, he achieved National Board Teacher Certification and was awarded ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Lawton Chiles High School (FL). Ensembles under his direction have performed to acclaim at state and division conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. He is a sought-after clinician and adjudicator, and has recently conducted honor choirs in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New York, and Tennessee, including the Florida All-State Men’s Chorus. He has prepared choruses for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and recently served as a guest director for the professional early- music ensemble, Music City Baroque. Professor Biddlecombe holds the PhD in Music Education and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music degree, with majors in Vocal Performance and Music Education, from SUNY Potsdam. He is a native of Buffalo, New York, and resides in Nashville with his wife Mary Biddlecombe, Artistic Director of the Blair Children’s Chorus.


Jon Bowman is in his sixth year as Director of Bands at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, one of the largest music programs in the southeast. Prior to Lowndes High School, he served as Director of Bands at Prattville High School in Prattville, Alabama where he directed the “Pride of Prattville” Marching Band, the Prattville High School Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band, Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Bowman also served as Director of Bands at Tallassee High School in Tallassee, Alabama and Beauregard High School in Opelika, Alabama where he also served as the assistant baseball coach. During his tenure at Lowndes High School, the membership in the band program has increased to over 480 students. He has also overseen the development of the concert band program at Lowndes with 350 students participating in three concert ensembles. During this time, the concert bands at Lowndes have never received less than superior ratings. Mr. Bowman earned both his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 2000 and a Masters of Music in Education in 2002 from Auburn University. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, a past member of the Alabama Bandmaster’s Association, the Music Educator’s National Conference, and the National Band Association.


Joseph Brennan received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Temple University studying violin while also playing trumpet. For 28 years, Joe has been the orchestra director at Haverford Middle and High Schools and is the Music Department Co-Chair. He was recognized by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association with the Citation of Excellence Award. Joe has presented at ASTA NAfME, Midwest, and state conferences in Texas, Ohio, and others. Joe has conducted String Festivals; his string chamber ensembles and orchestras have frequently performed at PMEA conventions. Being a kidney donor, Joe, is an advocate for organ donor awareness.


Erin Colwitz holds a B.M. from the University of Minnesota and an MM and DMA from the University of Southern California. Dr. Colwitz taught choral music in the public schools in Minnesota while singing with the Dale Warland Singers. Dr. Colwitz is currently the Director of Choirs at the UAH. She conducts two choirs and teaches courses in field of education. Dr. Colwitz is an active adjudicator and clinician. She serves on the AL-ACDA board as the R & S Chair for Community Choirs and is also a national board member for the NCCO.


Deborah Confredo (formerly Sheldon) is Professor of Music Education at Temple University. Conductor and founder of the Night Owls Campus/Community Band, her specialties include instrumental conducting, rehearsal techniques, music psychology, and informal music learning. Her numerous articles are published in the Journal for Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education (CRME), Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal for Music Teacher Education, Music Educators Journal, Journal of Band Research, Instrumentalist, Contributions to Music Education, and The Woman Conductor. A past editor for CRME, and editorial board member for CRME and the Journal of Research in Music Education, Confredo is editorial board member for the International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Research in Music Performance, and Education. She co-authored The Complete Woodwind Instructor: A Guidebook for the Music Educator and Lessons in Performance (FJH), and is editor of Superior Bands in Sixteen Weeks, and Chorales and Rhythmic Etudes for Superior Bands. Lead author of the band method, Measures of Success™ (FJH), and its companion online video tutorials, she is in demand as clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. Confredo plays saxophones and keyboards in the South Jersey based jazz quartet, West River Drive and the classic-rock band, Nasty Habits.


22 October/November 2014


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