New Tech Band of Pride Director named
https://twitter.com/LaTechBOP/status/1422326039540232224?s=20
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Christopher Heidenreich, who will be joining the faculty this fall as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands! You can find more information about Dr. Heidenreich here:
Dr. Christopher P. Heidenreich will begin his tenure at Louisiana Tech in the fall of 2021 after serving at the University of Michigan-Flint since 2009. Prior work includes three years at Youngstown State University as well as fourteen teaching public school in Ohio. He completed his Doctor of Music in Wind Conducting from Indiana University (2006), holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from The Ohio State University (1998), and a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University (1989) where he graduated cum laude.
From 2011-2021 he served as Conductor and Music Director of the Washtenaw Community Concert Band of Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2002, he was awarded the American School Band Directors Association's “Distinguished Band Director” Award for Ohio and the North Central Region, and in 2013 UM-Flint awarded him the Faculty Distinguished Service Award. The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association granted him an Honorary Membership for service to the state in 2020.
Heidenreich continues to be in demand as an adjudicator for concert and marching bands throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. He has been a presenter at the Midwest Clinic, the Michigan Music Conference, and the Ohio Music Education Association Convention. In addition, he is a contributor to Teaching Music Through Performing in Band, and has published various articles in The National Band Association Journal,The Instrumentalist, The International Trumpet Guild, The Association of Concert Bands Journal and The WASBE World Magazine.
Heidenreich studied under the mentorship of Ray E. Cramer and Stephen W. Pratt while at IU as well as assisted with the Marching Hundred. He held various guest conducting responsibilities with each of the wind bands, and continued trumpet study with Professor Joey Tartell. His doctoral project, completed in partial fulfillment of the degree, included creating a new edition of Gordon Jacob’s An Original Suite, composed in 1924. His new editions of the Jacob and Kalinnikov’s Symphony No. 1 in G Minor receive regular national and international performances.
Heidenreich is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, and a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He and his wife Beth have two children, Jillian who is a doctorate candidate in Occupational Therapy, and Daniel, a Cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Can't wait to hear the new band
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Robkin definitely had his faults and I always thought the Band of Pride could be improved. NOTHING beat the Hoop Troop, though, and I hope that tradition grows and does not change direction.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Hope he continues making it a good experience for students participating in band. These kids will one day be alumns and we need them to be connected with the University.
I had the opportunity to be directed under Robken. Being part of the BOP and HT all of my 4-years was a very positive and memorable experience. He made me a huge Tech fan. Today, I give back to athletics and other areas of the university.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Right or wrong, I have heard that, as a whole, band alumni typically don’t support the school or band program after they graduate. I hope that isn’t the case, but if it is, I hope we can inspire change going forward with new leadership. It will be different without Jim. He has been part of the BOP since I started attending games.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Another "Doctor". First "Dr" Eric Wood. Now this new guy. A "Doctor of Music in Wind conducting".....LOL! I mean.....he's a BAND DIRECTOR! Do you really need a PHD to do this stuff? :rolleyes:
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
A change long overdue. Robkin was an innovator with the Hoop Troop when it was introduced. But marching bands was not his forte. Good luck to the new guy.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BCSDAWG
A change long overdue. Robkin was an innovator with the Hoop Troop when it was introduced. But marching bands was not his forte. Good luck to the new guy.
Unfortunately my lasting memory of Robkin is the Willie Wonka halftime show.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BCSDAWG
A change long overdue. Robkin was an innovator with the Hoop Troop when it was introduced. But marching bands was not his forte. Good luck to the new guy.
Honestly, I wish we could have 2 different band directors - one for the Hoop Troop and one for the marching band. The Hoop Troop is fun and good. Robkin did a great job with them. The marching band is a whole different story.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
FYI, it's spelled "Robken"
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
qng001
FYI, it's spelled "Robken"
If you have 2 BBB members you will get 3 different spellings of any given name
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing. I have a correspondent whose letters are always a refreshment to me, there is such a breezy unfettered originality about his orthography. He always spells Kow with a large K. Now that is just as good as to spell it with a small one. It is better. It gives the imagination a broader field, a wider scope. It suggests to the mind a grand, vague, impressive new kind of a cow. - Mark Twain
“Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.” ― Mark Twain
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sportdawg
I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing. I have a correspondent whose letters are always a refreshment to me, there is such a breezy unfettered originality about his orthography. He always spells Kow with a large K. Now that is just as good as to spell it with a small one. It is better. It gives the imagination a broader field, a wider scope. It suggests to the mind a grand, vague, impressive new kind of a cow. - Mark Twain
“Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.” ― Mark Twain
https://media.tenor.com/images/ea71f...bf09/tenor.gif
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sportdawg
I don't see any use in having a uniform and arbitrary way of spelling words. We might as well make all clothes alike and cook all dishes alike. Sameness is tiresome; variety is pleasing. I have a correspondent whose letters are always a refreshment to me, there is such a breezy unfettered originality about his orthography. He always spells Kow with a large K. Now that is just as good as to spell it with a small one. It is better. It gives the imagination a broader field, a wider scope. It suggests to the mind a grand, vague, impressive new kind of a cow. - Mark Twain
“Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.” ― Mark Twain
https://media.tenor.com/images/83c41...f9d2/tenor.gif
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Lil' Choudawg will be joining the bop drumline this year. I was hoping he would have a year under Robken just for the experience. Looking forward to seeing what the new guy does with them.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Blue Dawg
If you have 2 BBB members you will get 3 different spellings of any given name
. :laugh:
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Hmmm. Michigan band experience. Indiana band experience. Ohio band experience.
Can you say Big10 marching step style?
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
champion110
Honestly, I wish we could have 2 different band directors - one for the Hoop Troop and one for the marching band. The Hoop Troop is fun and good. Robkin did a great job with them. The marching band is a whole different story.
The Hoop Troop was (is) the best pep band in the land. Yeah, the PCers have hamstrung its creative offerings...:rolleyes: but through it all they have rocked basketball arenas drawing much-deserved accolades.
Two of my favorite episodes occurred in the TAC at a Techster playoff game:
1. The Alcorn State pep band dared to chant "over-rated" at the Techsters, to which the Hoop Troop replied, "Never rated! Never rated!" back at 'em! (classic response!)
2. The Holy Cross College pep band engaged in a "battle of the bands" with the Hoop Troop, and to their credit, they were very, very good. But ultimately when Robken paused the Hoop Troop and motioned to the HC director to play, their director respectively bowed and indicated, "you guys win." Tremendous show of respect.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dawgpix
Hmmm. Michigan band experience. Indiana band experience. Ohio band experience.
Can you say Big10 marching step style?
Gotta have the numbers. The Illinois band at the Dallas bowl game filled the field from goal line to goal line for their halftime show. Dwarfed our band.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dawg80
The Hoop Troop was (is) the best pep band in the land. Yeah, the PCers have hamstrung its creative offerings...:rolleyes: but through it all they have rocked basketball arenas drawing much-deserved accolades.
Two of my favorite episodes occurred in the TAC at a Techster playoff game:
1. The Alcorn State pep band dared to chant "over-rated" at the Techsters, to which the Hoop Troop replied, "Never rated! Never rated!" back at 'em! (classic response!)
2. The Holy Cross College pep band engaged in a "battle of the bands" with the Hoop Troop, and to their credit, they were very, very good. But ultimately when Robken paused the Hoop Troop and motioned to the HC director to play, their director respectively bowed and indicated, "you guys win." Tremendous show of respect.
Awesome moments! The Hoop Troop has always been the best! Other schools in conference tournaments would get them to play for their team, if their band could not make it.
As for the marching band, we will never be a huge mega Illinois type band and I am not sure we should try. We need more structure and a larger size, but some of those big bands are just boring. We have a fun element that could mix some classic marching band with some fun stuff on the field for something TRULY different. Beat them at our game - not theirs.
Re: New Tech Band of Pride Director named
Quote:
Originally Posted by
champion110
We have a fun element that could mix some classic marching band with some fun stuff on the field for something TRULY different.
So you're saying a Big 10 marching step style Willy Wonka?!
