Concert Bands
The Brentwood High School music program includes two performing concert organizations: concert band and symphonic wind ensemble. Concert Band includes all freshman band participants and students are highly encouraged to participate in marching band. Symphonic Wind Ensemble is made of musicians in grades 10 through 12 and participation in marching band is mandatory. Both of these organizations perform several concerts during the school including a winter concert (December), conductor-in-residence concert(February), guest artists concert (March), and spring concert (May). In addition to concerts, the concert bands have participated in the Tennessee Music Educators Association concert band festival at both the regional and state levels.
Band students also have the opportunity to participate in honor band auditions (mid-state, all-state) as well as solo and ensemble festival. Private lessons are highly encouraged and may be scheduled during a student's study hall.
Conductor-in-Residence concert
The band has the privilege of rehearsing with a guest conductor for 2 days and performing top-level concert works. Previous Guest Conductors have included noted band composer Dr. Jared Spears, American Bandmasters Association past-president Dr.Stan Michalski, National Band Association President Dr. David Gregory, Tennessee Tech University Director of Bands Joe Hermann, Georgia Tech Director of Bands Dr. Andrea Strauss, and Conductor of the Vanderbilt
University Blair School of Music Wind Ensemble Dr. Thomas Verrier, noted Georgia music educator and Drum Corps International hall of fame member Freddy Martin.
The 2008 guest conductors are Ms. RoAnn Romines and Mr. Gary A. Speck.
RoAnn Romines is currently employed at Maryville Intermediate School as Assistant
Director of Bands. The Maryville Intermediate School Sixth Grade Wind Ensemble has
recently returned from a historic performance at the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra
Clinic in Chicago. Ms. Romines also teaches clarinet lessons privately. Ms. Romines has
been a music director at St. Mary’s School, Oak Ridge, TN; James Pace HS, Brownsville,
TX; Thomas Edison HS, San Antonio, TX; and Giessen HS, West Germany as well as
assistant at Carol Morgan Private School, Santo Domingo; and MTSU Band of Blue
assistant instructor. She has also been a clarinet instructor at Maryville College, TN;
Clark HS, TX; and Frankfurt Hochschule, West Germany. She is an active member of
Delta Omicron, Music Educators National Conference, British Society for Music
Education, Texas Music Education Association, and the International Clarinet Society,
A native Texan, Professor Gary A. Speck is in his twentieth year at Miami University,
where he serves as Director of Concert Bands and Professor of Conducting. Mr. Speck
received the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees magna cum
laude from Baylor University in Waco, where he studied conducting with Richard Floyd
and Michael Haithcock. After receiving the Master of Music degree in conducting from
the University of Michigan, where he was a student of H. Robert Reynolds, Mr. Speck
was a high school band conductor in the Houston area for five years. In 1987 Mr. Speck
was a Doctoral Conducting Associate at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music,
where he was a student of Eugene Corporon. The following year Mr. Speck was
appointed to the faculty of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he now conducts the
Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band; and teaches courses in conducting, music education,
and wind repertoire. Under his direction, the Miami University Wind Ensemble has won
praise from numerous composers, including five winners of the Pulitzer Prize: John
Harbison, Michael Colgrass, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, and Leslie Bassett for
performances of their music. Since his appointment, Mr. Speck has led the Wind
Ensemble in performances for the Ohio Music Education Association in 1990, 1993,
1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004; for the College Band Directors National Association in 1994,
1998, 2006, and the national conference in 1999; at the inaugural Atlanta International
Band and Orchestra Conference in 1996, and at the MENC/Michigan Instrumental Music
conference in 2005. Mr. Speck is frequently in demand as a guest conductor/clinician and
adjudicator throughout the Midwest and in his home state.
Guest Artist concert
Through the generous support of the Brentwood Band Boosters, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble shares the concert spotlight with a guest artist for a evening of quality musical selections. Past guest artists have included Tawana Box - flute, Neal Ramsey - saxophone, Dwayne Pigg - oboe, Gil Long - tuba, Allan Cox- Trumpet, Larry Borden - Trombone, Mr. Jack Daniel's Silver Cornet Band, the Tennessee Tech Tuba Ensemble, and Jennifer Kummer - french horn.
The 2008 Guest Artist Concert and will feature Cindy Morelli. Ms. Morelli has been playing clarinet since 5th grade. She attended college at the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Emil
Schmachtenberg, principal clarinet with the Cincinnati Symphony for many years. While at
the College-Conservatory of Music, Ms. Morelli played in the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Bud
Udell and with the Pit Orchestra, playing several shows under the baton of Oscar Kosarin.
After graduation, Ms. Morell taught middle school band as well as continuing her clarinet
playing. After moving to Brentwood, she taught privately and directed the band program at
Ensworth School. For the past seven years she has concentrated exclusively to teaching
privately with over forty students. Many students have been successful at Mid-State
auditions, several having also achieved All-State status, as well as other honor bands and solo
and ensemble festival. Ms. Morelli continues to perform as opportunities become available;
performances have included several Belmont University concerts, operas, and musicals,
Circle Players musicals, a stint with the Tennessee Jazz Orchestra, and several concerts each
year with the Nashville Wind Orchestra.
Concert Performance Schedule
This is a tentative 2007-08 schedule, please check the calendar page for up to date addition/changes.
- 10/26/2008 - Fall Concert - 2:00 PM Tentative
- 12/9/2008 - December Concert - BHS 7:00 PM
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