You will find a list of thought leaders and brief descriptions of their breakout sessions. Read through to learn, and then at the bottom of the page, click the link to fill out our form to help us ensure you have YOUR best experience!
Rhythm Alive!
Rhythm Alive is a fun, interactive drumming experience combining music with lessons in leadership. Be ready to get your leadership groove on! EVERY LEADER WILL PARTICIPATE IN RHYTHM ALIVE!!
Matt Savage has been passionate about drums and drumming since he was inside his mothers womb! He has a music education degree from the Crane School of Music and a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Southern California. He has been heavily involved in the marching percussion field for over 30 years but also has grown very fond of the drum circle activity since the 90’s. He has facilitated hundreds of drum circles and training classes throughout the United States, England and Moscow, Russia Living in Holly Springs, NC Matt is the founder of Rhythm Alive, a rhythm based project that helps develop rhythm, timing, leadership skills and team building for various types of organizations including schools, universities, musical organizations, corporate teams, athletic teams and communities. Matt has facilitated drum circles for the Music Educators National Conference Conventions, Percussive Arts Society Conventions, Bands of America Leadership Symposiums, Glaxo-Smith Cline Pharmaceuticals, The University of North Carolina Women's Basketball team and in his family's living room at Christmas to name but a few!
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Flex!
If you have been playing the clarinet for years, you wouldn’t walk into your district band audition with a trombone! Leadership can be just as simple, but it is often not as obvious. It’s time to take a look at our own unique STRENGTHS and how we can use those to be the most effective leaders.
Gwen Elwood was born and raised in Harrisonburg, VA. She graduated from Virginia Tech, where she earned a degree in Civil Engineering and was active in several student organizations, including serving as Drum Major of the Marching Virginians. Now she is working in Washington D.C as a Project Manager for the US Department of State. Gwen uses the leadership lessons she learned from band in her everyday life, and she is excited to join the Synergy Leadership Summit in her hometown this June!
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Play!
We will be learning how student leaders can use simple games to reinforce planning, creativity, problem solving, and teamwork in their own programs. The session will teach students how to use the leadership skills they have discussed in the previous sessions and also show them how to teach those skills to empower others.
Jerry Philp is the director of bands at Skyline Middle School in Harrisonburg Virginia. He also designs drill for several high school programs across the Commonwealth and works specifically with the Harrisonburg High School marching band, the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes, and the WGI medalist Nuance Winterguard programs. For the past several years he has been a General Effect Judge with the Atlantic Indoor Association, and continues to perform with the Massanutten Brass Band.
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Leading to Follow.
Leadership isn't a top down, title driven, power hungry role. Leadership is empathy. Leadership is listening. Leadership is finding a way to move with those around you, working together to find the path. Learn to lead through following those around you.
Vincent E. Thomas, dancer, choreographer and teacher, received his MFA in Dance from Florida State University and a BME in Music from the University of South Carolina. He is the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the national touring What’s Going On project. Vincent was awarded the 2011-2012 Towson University Student Government Association Faculty Member of the Year, a 2014-2015 NextLook Artist for the University of Maryland College Park and Joe’s Movement Emporium, a 2012-13 American Dance Institute Incubator Artist (MD), a 2016 Baker Artist Award finalist, the 2017 Pola Nirenska Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance (DC), and the 2019 USM Board of Regent’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Research/Scholarship/Creative Activities. He is an Urban Bush Women BOLD Facilitator, faculty member for the UBW Summer Institutes (NY), and Professor of Dance at Towson University (MD).
His multi-dimensional company VTDance builds on the use of contemporary dance, improvisation, text/ movement, a variety of sound sources, and collaborations with other artists, including dancers, musicians, poets, visual artists, and others [to be discovered]. These ideas coupled with witty, poignant, athletic and gestural movement are the rich palette for VTDance. www.vtdance.org |
Check 1...2
Exploring the leadership parallels between marching band and military band with the SOUNDCHECK! This interactive experience will offer insight on how to communicate as a leader from within the ranks in order to accomplish a shared mission and vision. Get ready to equalize your leadership and maybe do a pushup or two.
Sergeant First Class Jon Seipp has been an audio engineer for The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own" since 2010. Prior to enlistment in The U.S. Army, SFC Seipp earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in business management with a minor in music industry from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. He has worked and performed as a live sound and recording engineer in prominent venues throughout the United States including Carnegie Hall in New York, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Sylvan Theater, and Constitution Hall, in Washington D.C. Throughout Jon's time at James Madison University he served the Marching Royal Dukes as a trumpet section leader for 2 years and a drum major his senior year in 2009. He has remained actively involved in the marching band program by returning to capture professional audio recordings of the band, serve as a mentor for rising seniors in the Music Industry program, and work as an instructor's assistant at JMU's Summer Band Camp since 2009. Jon currently resides in Northern Virginia with his wife Kelsey (Jon and Kelsey were co-JMU drum majors in 2009), daughter Beatrice, son Charlie, and lovable Goldendoodle Macy.
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Focus.
How well can you focus on what really matters and ignore appealing or seemingly harmless distractions? The skill of attention, the ability to focus, is critical to achieving excellence. Join us in this interactive workshop as we explore ways to maintain our focus despite a sea of daily distractions that can keep us from achieving our important goals. Focus, especially the RIGHT kind of focus, will not only make you a better leader, it will bring stronger balance in your life.
Kelly Snow's life was forever changed the moment she picked up a flag. Through her high school and college marching band journey, Kelly learned about leadership, friendship, hard work, commitment, and even true love! Kelly served as captain of her color guard in both high school and college, as well as Vice President of the Penn State Blue Band. After college, Kelly coached high school color guard in Prince William County and Harrisonburg, VA. She has also spent over 16 years as a professional fundraiser, serving organizations such as Children's National Medical Center, James Madison University, and most recently Explore More Discovery Museum. Kelly's most important role to date is that of "mom" to three amazing humans and two fur babies. In her spare time, Kelly loves running, spending time with her favorite people, or enjoying a quality TV show or movie.
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The Magic Box.
What is your inspiration? Discover what you want to pursue. Focus on your talents, hopes, interests, goals, and gifts. Where will this lead you? Students will work to discover their inspiration for leadership and action. During the session students will create their own Box of Magic to begin or continue their path of successful leadership and influence.
Jeremy Brown is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Linganore High School in Frederick, MD. He also serves as the Work Based Learning Coordinator at Linganore and as the Youth Apprentice Coordinator for Frederick County Public Schools. Mr. Brown has great love for JMU. He is a “Double Duke” earning both his Bachelor and Master degrees from James Madison University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the JMU Alumni Association. Mr. Brown has worked with the Linganore Lancer Marching Band since 1996. He is responsible primarily for the marching aspects of the program, overall visual direction, and student leadership development. He has staffed various high school band camps across Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania as well as JMU Summer Band Camps from 1991-2005. In addition to numerous field shows and concert performances the Lancer Marching Band has been honored to perform in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Main Street USA parade at Walt Disney World, and the NATO Parade of Nations. Student Leadership is the focus of much of Mr. Brown’s time and energy. He serves as the SGA advisor at Linganore High School, as the Regional advisor for the Frederick County Association of Student Councils, and on the Executive Board of the Maryland Association of Student Councils. In 2014, Mr. Brown was named the Maryland State SGA Advisor of the Year. He is also the faculty advisor for the Linganore Key Club and earned the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award for the Capital District representing Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and DC. When not working with his students or other leaders he spends his free time at the beach with his twin nieces and his nephew.
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Collisions.
Building connections within your group is a vital component of your group's success and being a family. This session will explore those connections and provide you with tools to help you on your leadership journey. Connections ignite even with the smallest of "Collisions."
Kyle Flohre is currently the Director of Bands at Colonial Heights High School. He received his Bachelor of Music from James Madison University and is currently pursuing is Masters in Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Under the direction of Mr. Flohre, the ensembles at Colonial Heights High School have consistently received superior ratings at Marching and Concert Assessments. Colonial Heights High School is a twenty time “Virginia Honor Band,” with sixteen of those coming under Mr. Flohre’s tenure. The Colonial Heights Band Program consists of the following ensembles: The Marching Colonials, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble. The program also supports a very successful Winter Guard. The Concept Winter Guard has received numerous awards, in various classifications, while participating in the AIA circuit. In 2008, Mr. Flohre was recognized by his peers and received the Colonial Heights High School “Teacher of the Year” award. Mr. Flohre’s professional affiliations include: NAfME, VMEA, VBODA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Fraternity. He served as the District III VBODA representative and has been honored to judge at various marching band and VBODA Concert Assessments. He is an instructor at JMU Summer Band Camps, and schedule permitting plays clarinet in the Commonwealth Winds. Mr. Flohre and his wife Jennifer spend their free time trying to keep up with their energetic daughters - Emma & Lily. |