Music Advocacy
Alvin Chea is the bass for the singing group Take 6. Alvin joined the group five years after they were formed and soon became an important element in their unique sound. During their career the group has sold millions of recordings and has won countless awards, including ten Grammy Awards. The...
Mark Kibble is the first tenor for the singing group Take 6, which he formed along with Claude McKnight, in 1980. Mark has played an important role in the development of the group’s sound not only as a vocalist but as an arranger. During their career the group has sold millions of recordings and...
Khristian Dentley is the baritone for the singing group Take 6. The group was formed in 1980 and Khristian joined the group in 2011. During their career the group has sold millions of recordings and has won countless awards including ten Grammy Awards. The group has been active in music advocacy...
Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet on the campus of Oakwood College in 1980. The group signed with Warner Brothers Records seven years later and has since sold millions of recordings and won countless awards including ten Grammy Awards. The group has been active in music advocacy...
Cheryl Filipek is the Band Director at Niles North High School. She speaks here about how to connect to students and how to create interest in music to recruit and retain for her program.
William Thomas is a recent retiree who served as first the head Band Director at Lakota East High School outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. He gives insights on the challenges and rewards of beginning and building a new music program.
Ryan Arp is the Associate Band Director at Iowa City High School in Iowa City, Iowa. He gives insights on networking and recruiting the help of fellow music education colleagues from the University of Iowa to make a beneficial impact to his music program.
Kevin Cottrill is the Director of Bands at Seymour Community Schools and the Band Director at Seymour High School in Seymour, Indiana. He received his education at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Here, he provides insights into being a new teacher, and how to...
Jason Brown is the Director of Fine Arts for District 219, Niles Township in Cook County, Illinois. A trumpet player, he graduated from the same high school as Miles Davis, and was later fortunate enough to play with Davis. Here, he speaks about his experience of returning to his high school music...
David Eccles is the Director of String Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He speaks here about the first steps for any new teacher and how to keep music culturally relevant in the lives of students.