Jason Dimiceli arrived at McNeil in the Fall of 2004, originally serving as Associate Director. He teaches the Wind Ensemble and Marching Band, and he assists with the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also serves on the campus Leadership Team as Fine Arts Department Chair. Mr. Dimiceli is on staff for the Texas Ambassadors of Music and he is an active concert and sight-reading judge for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. Prior to coming to McNeil Mr. Dimiceli taught at San Marcos HS and Westfield HS (Spring ISD).

Mr. Dimiceli graduated with a degree in Music Studies from The University of Texas at Austin in 2002. The trumpet is his principal instrument and he was fortunate to have studied with the great Raymond Crisara and Dr. Joel Treybig. Mr. Dimiceli also studied privately with Dr. Kevin Sedatole in score study and conducting. He is proud to have graduated from Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Some of Mr. Dimiceli’s fondest playing memories are from his time in UT performing ensembles, his two years (1996-97) in the Longhorn Band and in his three years (1997-99) in The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Away from school, Mr. Dimiceli loves to spend time with his beautiful wife, Jennifer, and his lovely daughter, Emily. The Dimicelis reside in Round Rock and Emily is a junior clarinet player ain the McNeil Wind Ensemble. He loves college football, pro football, golf, and Major League Baseball and his favorite teams are the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, and Texas Longhorns. He also enjoys playing golf, cooking, and reading as much as he can. He also LOVES Summer Moon gift cards!

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message

Damian Gonzales is the Central Texas Sales Rep for TMF Tours & Travel. Previously he was Director of Bands at Grisham Middle School in Austin, TX. Prior to his time at Grisham, he was the Director of Bands at Pflugerville Middle School in Pflugerville, TX.

Under his direction, the Grisham Middle School Honors Band, and Pflugerville Middle School Honors Band and Wind Ensemble have been awarded the title of Sweepstakes Band at the Texas UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest in each of his previous 12 years of teaching. His bands also received multiple years worth of unanimous first division ratings and ‘best in class’ awards at various festivals around Texas. In addition to many performances around the state of TX, Mr. Gonzales’ ensembles have twice been awarded the honor to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington (2015 – Grisham Honors Band; 2011 – Pflugerville Wind Ensemble).

Mr. Gonzales received his music education from The University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with a degree in Music Studies in 2004. While at UT, Mr. Gonzales studied saxophone with Harvey Pittel and was honored to perform with the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jerry Junkin. He also performed in the Symphony Band, Longhorn Band, and Tex-Sax, the university’s saxophone choir.

Each summer, Mr. Gonzales returns to the University of Texas to teach at the Longhorn Music Camp as either a conductor or woodwind specialist for both the middle school and high school camps. Mr. Gonzales’ professional affiliations include the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He currently lives in Cedar Park, TX with his wife Jessica, and sons Jason and Trey.

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message

To hear more about Robert, listen to his Full Episode.

Robert Selaiden is the Director of Bands at Leander High School in Leander, Texas. Mr. Selaiden is in his 12th year at Leander and his 5th year as head director, and in that time the Leander Band has become one of the preeminent programs in the country. Most recently, the program has been named a bronze medalist at the UIL 5A State Marching Contest, a finalist at the 6A State Marching contest (earning 5th place and 7th place), was named a finalist and received 6th place at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, and was the champion of the BOA Austin Regional in 2015.

Before coming to Leander High School, Mr. Selaiden attended The University of Texas where he received his degree in Music Studies and Human Development, studied saxophone under Harvey Pittel, and served as Drum Major of The University of Texas Longhorn Band. During each summer, Mr. Selaiden has been active as a facilitator for the SASI Drum Major and Leadership Camps for the last eight years and remains active as a clinician and music arranger around the state.

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message

via Drum Corps International

We know this is a difficult time for everyone as we all respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The events worldwide have impacted Drum Corps International as well, forcing the cancellation of the 2020 Summer Tour as of Wednesday, March 25.

DCI’s voting membership unanimously reached the difficult decision with great regret after a thorough evaluation of numerous factors affecting participant health and safety, travel requirements, logistics, venue availability, and other associated issues. The membership also agreed that in order to preserve the opportunity for this year’s class of age-outs, performers will receive additional eligibility based on existing age requirements with a one-year extension.

Above all else, the entire DCI community remains unified in its commitment to preserve the health, safety, and well-being of everyone involved in our activity.

We share in the profound disappointment of the thousands of remarkable performers who will be unable to take the field this summer on the 2020 DCI Tour. We encourage every one of them to continue to commit fully to the pursuit of their personal best. We sincerely hope that corps members everywhere will continue to embrace the values taught through participation in the marching arts to remain motivated until we are able to perform together under the stadium lights once again.

We are extremely grateful for everyone who continues to support our participating corps — from the incredible teachers, designers, judges, and administrators to the uniform, instrument and marching music products companies. We are fortunate to have a nationwide network of Tour Event Partners, band directors, schools and performance venues who keep the lights shining bright on our performers. Our most heartfelt appreciation also goes out to the countless staff, event staff, volunteers, health and wellness providers, and to DCI’s vast family of fans around the world, along with countless parents and alumni who have always been the unconditional allies of our performers.

DCI and all participating organizations will shift focus from tour preparation to addressing the sizable operational and financial challenges resulting from these extraordinary circumstances. In the coming weeks and months, DCI and the corps will work to develop the plans necessary to return to a full schedule in 2021.

We will provide information soon on ways to help ensure that drum corps emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. Together, we will #MarchOn.

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message

Robert Selaiden is the Director of Bands at Leander High School in Leander, Texas. Mr. Selaiden is in his 12th year at Leander and his 5th year as head director, and in that time the Leander Band has become one of the preeminent programs in the country. Most recently, the program has been named a bronze medalist at the UIL 5A State Marching Contest, a finalist at the 6A State Marching contest (earning 5th place and 7th place), was named a finalist and received 6th place at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, and was the champion of the BOA Austin Regional in 2015.

Before coming to Leander High School, Mr. Selaiden attended The University of Texas where he received his degree in Music Studies and Human Development, studied saxophone under Harvey Pittel, and served as Drum Major of The University of Texas Longhorn Band. During each summer, Mr. Selaiden has been active as a facilitator for the SASI Drum Major and Leadership Camps for the last eight years and remains active as a clinician and music arranger around the state.

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message

Kendall Stevenson is an Associate Director of Bands at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, TX.

Ms. Stevenson grew up in Flower Mound, TX and recently graduated from the University of North Texas with honors in May of 2018 with her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She began her college career at the University of Minnesota and later transferred to UNT to finish out her degree. Ms. Stevenson was a member of UNT’s Green Brigade Marching Band, led by Dr. Nicholas Williams, where she participated as the lead field technician for two seasons. During her time at UNT, she was the 2017 President for UNT’s Marching Arts Forum and a flute player in the UNT Symphonic Band under the direction of Dennis Fisher.

Ms. Stevenson has a passion for the marching arts that extends beyond high school as well. She joined The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012 and later performed with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013-2016. After serving her third year as head drum major, Ms. Stevenson finished her marching career in 2016 as a Jim Jones Leadership Award Second Place Recipient (2015), Cadet of the Year (2015), and Cadet of The Decade (2016). In 2017, Ms. Stevenson joined the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps as Design Team Liason and is currently working with the brass staff. In January of 2018, Ms. Stevenson was invited to speak at the Drum Corps International Drum Major Leadership Summit as a group leader and presenter, and soon after joined the SASI Leadership Company as well.

—

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sketchbookpodcast/message