“Strategic Planning: What is it and How can I get started?”

Panel: Keith Hodgson, South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble (New Jersey); Clay Hooten,  Recently retired Director of Bands at Dardanelle High School (Arkansas) and looking for information about starting a community band; Rose Wiersma, Zeeland Community Band (Michigan); Ned Snow, Santa Fe Concert Band and High Desert Winds (New Mexico). This is a mix of band board members and directors, and the discussion will apply to anyone involved in managing a community concert band.

Keith W. Hodgson is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Hodgson is a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician, the Director of Education for Zeswitz Music, Conductor of the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, and the Head Director of the American Music Abroad Gold Tour to Europe. He is an active guest conductor, band clinician and guest speaker. Mr. Hodgson’s career includes twenty-six years as a high school band director and music educator in New Jersey. 

Mr. Hodgson is a Past President to the Eastern Division and Chair of the Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), a Past-President of the New Jersey Music Educator's Association, a National Board Certified Teacher, the recipient of the 2014 New Jersey Governor's Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music, and was honored with the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Music Educators Association for Leadership in Music.

Clay Hooten recently finished 24 years as Director of Bands at Dardanelle High School. He taught for 29 years in Arkansas and his bands continually made superior ratings in Marching, Concert, Jazz and Solo & Ensemble festivals.

Mr. Hooten received a BME from Arkansas Tech University and a MME with an emphasis in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Mr. Hooten is an active adjudicator and clinician throughout Arkansas. He is a past president of The Arkansas International Association for Jazz Education and helped to form the new chapter of Arkansas Jazz Educators. He also is on the worship team at Russellville Community Bible Church. Clay is a member of ASBOA, ABA, ASBDA, ARJE, JEN, KKY, Phi Beta Mu, Conn Selmer VIP, and Honorary member of the Arkansas Band and Orchestra Association. Clay is Currently a Music Education Representative for Cooper music in Dardanelle, Arkansas, where he is mentoring young band directors and meeting the needs of several bands in Arkansas, including starting a community band.

The Zeeland Community Band is in its twelfth year under the baton of Rose Wiersma. The group has grown to be an outstanding band providing wonderful music for the community - young and old - at various locations throughout the year. 

Rose Wiersma has always enjoyed music beginning piano and clarinet lessons as a child. Rose earned a Bachelor of Music degree with emphasis in instrumental music and a Master of Music degree as a woodwind specialist - a performance degree from Western Michigan University. This included study in England.

Rose served as band director and music department chair in Coopersville Area Public Schools and taught woodwind instrument classes at Grand Valley State University. Rose has also served in music ministry at various churches.

As a performer Rose has enjoyed band and orchestra concert tours through Europe, the United States, Canada, China and Mongolia. Currently Rose performs in several large and small ensembles and pit orchestras for theater throughout southwest Michigan.

Ned Snow plays with two ACB-member bands based in Santa Fe, NM: the Santa Fe Concert Band and the High Desert Winds. He is currently serving as President of High Desert Winds.

Ned has 26 years corporate finance at tech companies in Silicon Valley. He has 12 years in production management and 2 years running his own chocolate business.

Ned was a key member in the consortium that hosted the ACB Convention in Santa Fe in 2022. He is currently serving on the ACB Board of Directors and is chairing the Fund Development Committee.

Links shared in the session

• South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble Strategic Plan 2020-2025 shared by Keith Hodgson