Repertoire selection is among the most important decisions made by music educators. From curricular content, artistic quality, and advocating for inclusion, this well-meaning process can become overwhelming. The purpose of this session is to share effective processes for literature selection used by three veteran band and orchestra directors grounded in research, experience, and success in meeting these varied needs from beginning through collegiate ensembles. Attendees will leave with a variety of strategies that they can apply to their ensembles at all levels.
Target Audience
concert band music educators beginning - collegiate
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Jessica Vaughan Marra
Seton Hill University
Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Seton Hill University. She completed her Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in string pedagogy at the University of Michigan. Though her work spans general music (PreK-12) to instrumental music teacher education, Jessica has extensive experience teaching instrumental band and orchestra at the middle school level. Prior to beginning her Ph.D., she taught instrumental band and orchestra for nine years in the Cupertino Union School District. Jessica completed her B.S. in Music Education at Duquesne University and received her M.M. Music Education from Northwestern University. Through her career, she has been an active member and presenter with the following organizations: The National Association for Music Educators; Society for Music Teacher Educators; American String Teachers Association; Pennsylvania Music Educators Association; Michigan Music Educators Association; California Music Educators Association; California Band Directors Association; as well as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Dr. Vaughan-Marra has co-authored published materials in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Journal of Music Teacher Education as well as contributed to The Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education and Critical Issues in Music Education: Contemporary Theory and Practice. She was recently featured as one of Yamaha Music’s ’40 Under 40′. Her research interests include new music teacher digital mentoring and self-study approaches in music education.
Jonathan Grantham
Amador Valley High School
Jonathan Grantham, director of bands at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California, leads a band program of 300 students involved in five concert ensembles, three jazz bands, a competitive marching band, various chamber ensembles, winter percussion, and two winter guards.
In his twenty-two years at Amador Valley the band program has grown to triple in size and the ensembles have earned consistent superior ratings and high honors. Under Mr. Grantham’s guidance, Amador Valley’s top wind ensemble has performed at the CBDA state conference four times (2007, 2010, 2018, 2023), at WASBE in the summer of 2015, twice at Carnegie Hall (2018, 2023) and twice at The Midwest Clinic (2013, 2019). Mr. Grantham is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education/trombone performance from Central Michigan University, graduating magna cum laude, and earned his master’s degree in conducting at the American Band College of Sam Houston State University, graduating magna cum laude. Jonathan maintains an active music education blog and enjoys mentoring new teachers. He resides in Martinez, California with his partner Ryan.
Christopher M. Marra
Seton Hill University
Dr. Christopher M. Marra is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Instrumental Activities at Seton Hill University. As a part of his duties, Dr. Marra conducts the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds and teaches courses in music education, conducting, and brass. He holds a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University, a MM in Music Education with an emphasis in wind band conducting from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in wind band conducting from the University of Michigan. Prior to his university teaching, Dr. Marra taught high school band and orchestra for 10 years in San Jose, CA where he held board positions with the CMEA Bay Section and the California Band Directors Association. He is an active member and presenter at a variety of state, national, and international education organizations including: National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), Michigan Music Educators Association (MMEA), Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA), and California Band Directors Association (CBDA), and American Educational Research Association (AERA).