Wind Symphony selected to perform at state music educators conference_
Northwest Missouri State University[노스웨스트미주리주립대학교,한미교육원]
The Northwest Wind Symphony, under the direction of John Bell, is invited to perform at the 79th Annual Missouri Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop/Conference in January. (Northwest Missouri State University photo)
The Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony is invited to perform at the 79th Annual Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) In-Service Workshop/Conference, Jan. 25-28, 2017 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri.
This will mark the first MMEA Conference appearance for the Wind Symphony in more than 15 years. The Wind Symphony is under the direction of Director of Bands and Orchestra John Bell.
Ensembles invited to perform at the annual conference are selected from scores of applications through competitive, blind application and audition processes. Each application is vetted by a committee of out-of-state music educators who review the recordings and recommend ensembles to appear at the conference.
Bell praised Northwest wind and percussion instructors Dr. Rebecca Dunnell, Dr. Elizabeth Dunning, Dr. Christopher Gibson, Robert Pippin, Dr. Bill Richardson and Dr. Katy Strickland for their work with students involved in the Wind Symphony.
“Nearly all of our Wind Symphony students, music majors and non-majors as well, are enrolled in applied study,” Bell said. “The individual work that takes place on a weekly basis in these studios makes this kind of recognition possible.”
Bell joined the Northwest faculty in 2012. In addition to conducting the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra at Northwest, his duties include teaching instrumental conducting, advanced instrumental conducting and string methods. He also supervises instrumental music education student teachers, and is a co-director of the Northwest Summer Music Camp.
Prior to his appointment at Northwest, Bell taught instrumental music in Missouri public schools for 30 years. Ensembles under his direction received consistent superior ratings at regional and national music festivals, and were invited to perform at state, national and European conferences, including the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest, Bell has served as a MMEA officer at both the district and state levels. He managed the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) District 11 State Large Group Music Festival for 10 years, and served as a member of the MSHSAA Music Advisory Committee. He was a staff member of the Missouri Ambassadors of Music Biennial European Tour from 1996 to 2014, conducting and performing in both the concert band and string orchestra. He also has served as music director and conductor of the Medical Arts Symphony of Kansas City, and he currently is a co-conductor of the NorthWinds Symphonic Band of Kansas City.
Bell is a member of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor. He also is a recipient of the 2016 Collegiate Educator Award presented by the Missouri Chapter of the American String Association (MO-ASTA), Park Hill School District Teacher of the Year award, the University of Central Missouri Department of Music’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Charles Emmons Outstanding Band Director Award from the Missouri chapter of Phi Beta Mu.
His other professional memberships and affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Nebraska Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, College Orchestra Directors Association, National Band Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
