CSU "Honor Bands of Georgia" Clinic
January 22 - 23, 2010
CSU’s “Honor Bands of Georgia” Clinic was conceived to honor the finest high school bands in Georgia and to promote the finest in music education. Each year, high school bands in Georgia will be invited to apply for the honor of being selected to this non-competitive teaching clinic by blind CD (live performance) selection. A panel of three respected judges outside of the state will select the three best submissions. The selection process is intended to be highly competitive and honor three of the many premier band programs in the state each year. The clinic itself is non-competitive and designed as an intense and advanced educational reward.
The selected bands will receive a three-hour full band clinic from Dr. Robert Rumbelow, a three-hour full band clinic from Dr. Sean Powell, plus a three-hour masterclass / sectional session from CSU faculty. A short performance by CSU faculty will close the first evening, and a performance / demonstration from each band plus a brief performance by the CSU Wind Ensemble will close the second evening. During the final performance / demonstration, each group will receive their “Honor Band of Georgia” trophy exclusively designed for this event.
If you are a high school band director in the state of Georgia, be on the lookout to apply for CSU’s “Honor Bands of Georgia” Clinic in the future. The clinic is scheduled annually on the weekend before the GMEA conference, and is intended to compliment our sister institution’s JanFest held on the same weekend. Selected ensembles are not allowed to apply the year after their participation in the event.
Through a very large and competitive applicant field, three more premier Georgia Bands have won the honor of being named "Honor Bands of Georgia." In alphabetical order, they are Mill Creek High School - Erik Mason director; Milton High School - Ryan Borger director; and Newnan High School - John Erdogan & Josh Roberts, directors. Congratulations to these "Honor Bands of Georgia."
This year's ensembles
Mill Creek High School - Erik Mason, director
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Since the opening of Mill Creek High School in 2004, the Mill Creek Band Program has experienced exponential growth in enrollment while establishing a tradition of excellence in all aspects of the band program with superior performances in marching, concert and jazz mediums. The 230 students enrolled in the band program participate in curricular and co-curricular offerings that include four concert bands, the Pride of Mill Creek Marching Band, Pep Band, two Jazz Band, chamber ensembles, multiple percussion ensembles, two Winter Guards and Indoor Percussion. The Pride of Mill Creek Marching Band is in its 5th year of existence. During this time the Pride of Mill Creek has earned competitive success and helped to establish a sense of identity and pride in our new school. The Pride of Mill Creek has been invited by the Queen to perform in the 2010 London New Year's Day Parade. The symphonic program at Mill Creek is quickly earning a high level of respect around the state and region through its consistent Superior rated performances at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation held each spring at the University of Georgia. In addition to group achievements, MCHS band students have been chosen through competitive audition to be members of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble, the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, the Georgia All-State Band, and in each year of the school's existence, the Mill Creek bands have increased the number of students selected for the GMEA District 13 All-District Honor Band.
Erik Mason holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. At UGA Mr. Mason was a tuba student of Dr. David Randolph and studied conducting with Mark Cedel, John Culvahouse, Dwight Satterwhite, and Furman University's Leslie Hicken.
Mr. Mason has served as the Assistant Band Director for both Rockdale and Henry County High Schools. In 2002 Mr. Mason was named the band director at South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, GA. In his four years there, the band program grew from 80 members to over 200 and was consistently rated Superior in concert, marching, and jazz performances. Mr. Mason moved to Mill Creek High School in the fall of 2006, serving as the director of the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Bands, and the Pride of Mill Creek Marching Band. In his short time at Mill Creek the band has grown from 60 members to a high of 240 and is quickly establishing a tradition of excellence in all aspects of the band program.
Mr. Mason is a member of the National Band Association (NBA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society, Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). Mr. Mason has also served on GMEA's marching band committee since 2004, serving as the chairperson in 2008. He resides in Hoschton with his wife Kathy, a fellow band director, and their three children Aria, Alie, and Clay.
Milton High School - Ryan Borger, director
The Milton Band Program is celebrating 60 years of tradition as an ensemble at Milton High School. In recent years, the Milton Wind Ensemble has gained regional and national recognition with performances at UGA's JanFest, GMEA State In-Service, Loyola University Band Invitational, BOA Concert Band Festival, and MENC National Conference. The Wind Ensemble strives to provide the most challenging program of wind literature to its members in a varied and demanding performance calendar. Guest conductors and clinicians include Mark Davis Scatterday, Mark Camphouse, John Lynch, David Gregory, John Culvahouse, Wayne Markworth, and Samuel Hazo, The Milton Wind Ensemble is one part of a comprehensive band program featuring 3 concert ensembles, marching band, two jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, indoor drumline, and winter guard.
Ryan Borger holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. While attending Bowling Green, Ryan studied conducting from Mark S. Kelly, trumpet from Todd Davidson and George Novak. Prior to his graduation Ryan was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. His professional teaching career began as Assistant Band Director at Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio. While at Fairmont Ryan was a brass instructor for the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 1997-1999. After six years as an assistant, Ryan was appointed Band Director at Miamisburg High School, in Miamisburg, Ohio. Under his direction, the band program grew from 58 members to over 170 in six years and received numerous local and regional recognitions. Throughout his 12 years of teaching in Ohio, he maintained an active private trumpet studio, performed with the Sinclair Community College Wind Symphony, and directed the Athletic Bands at Wright State University. In May of 2007, Ryan accepted the position as Band Director of Milton High School, Milton, Georgia, directing the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and two jazz ensembles. He is extremely proud and honored to work with so many talented students and colleagues in Fulton County. Ryan is a member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), Jazz Educators Network (JEN), and Central States Judges Association (CSJA). He resides in Alpharetta with his wonderful and talented wife, Melissa; a fellow music educator and pianist.
Newnan High School - John Erdogan & Josh Roberts, directors
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Spirit and pride best describe the Newnan High School Band Program which is constantly striving for quality in all endeavors. Students in all ensembles are in constant demand for performance at civic and educational events. The concert program at Newnan is comprised of a level V/VI Symphonic Band, a level IV Symphonic Band II, and a level III Concert Band. The marching band program at Newnan consistently competes for the highest honors at area and regional competitions. The marching band is always in high demand to perform at numerous national invitationals. The band program also supports two jazz ensembles and a percussion ensemble that are in high demand for performances.
The band program participates annually in GMEA events such as All-State Band, Solo/Ensemble Festival, District Honor Band and Concert Band Performance Evaluation. They have also enjoyed success with the Governor's Honors Program of Georgia. Many Newnan Band Students have auditioned and received college scholarships which have enabled them to further their training in music at the college of their choice. Symphonic Band 1 would like to recognize their faculty of instructors and thank them for the time and commitment. Assistant Director of Bands, Josh Roberts, percussion; Katherine Brown, percussion; Josh Boyd, high brass; Josh Tate, low brass; Jennifer Barton; flutes; Bob Culbreth, clarinets; Marino Pacetti, saxophones; Russell Wilson, double reeds. The advanced band would like to thank their parents for their continued support. We would also like to recognize and thank Dr. Doug Moore, principal NHS, for his constant support.
John Erdogan is currently in his 20th year of public school education, 19 of which he has spent at Newnan High School. During his tenure at Newnan, the band has performed at the USFG Sugar Bowl activities, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade, and the 1997 Tournament of Roses Parade. The Newnan Band has also performed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade and taken several trips to the Bahamas serving as Ambassadors of Goodwill. The Advanced Band has performed at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic held on the campus of Troy State University and has also performed at GMEA state convention held in Savannah, GA. Erdogan's groups consistently score superior ratings in all areas at both regional marching competitions and GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. The Newnan Band program has earned numerous and runner-up SCGC titles, as well as winning WGI regional titles and becoming a WGI National finalist.
John Erdogan attended Jacksonville State University where he earned a B.S. in Education and was a member of the "Marching Southerners." Erdogan was also a member of the 1984 DCI World Champion Garfield Cadets. He has served on the instructional staffs of Southwind Drum and Bugle Corp, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, and Court of Honor Drum and Bugle Corps. Erdogan has served as a judge, clinician, and show designer throughout the Southeast.
Schedule
| Friday Evening, January 22, 2010 | |
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| 5:30 - 6:00 | General Welcome / Logistics Session (Legacy Hall) |
| 6:00 - 9:00 | Session 1 |
| 9:00 - 9:30 | Break / Snack / Stage Re-set |
| 9:30 - 10:15 | Short Faculty Solo Performances |
| Saturday , January 23, 2010 | |
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| 9:00 - 12:00 | Session 2 |
| 12:00 - 1:00 | Lunch Provided by CSU |
| 12:45 - 1:15 | Massed Trombone Reading Session (Legacy Hall) |
| 1:30 - 2:00 | CSU Jazz Workshop mini-concert (Grand Lobby) |
| 2:15 - 5:15 | Session 3 |
| 5:15 - 5:45 | Break / Snack / Stage Re-set |
| 5:45 - 7:00 | Special Concert and Awards Presentation |
Past "Honor Bands of Georgia"
2007
Brookwood High School Symphonic Winds - Rudy Wilson, director
North Cobb High School Wind Symphony - Greg Williams, director
Starr's Mill High School Wind Ensemble - Scott King, director
2008
East Coweta High School Wind Ensemble - Robert Owens, director
Jeff Davis High School Concert Band - Tom Brown, director
Newnan High School Symphonic Band 1 - John Erdogan, director
2009
Houston County High School Symphonic Band - Wally Shaw, director
Roswell High School Wind Ensemble - Alfred Estep, director
Starr's Mill High School Wind Ensemble - Scott King, director
2010
Mill Creek High School Symphonic Winds - Erik Mason, director
Milton High School Wind Ensemble - Ryan Borger, director
Newnan High School Symphonic Band I - John Erdogan & Josh Roberts, directors
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