Wvmea clinicians 2016 Brian Baldauff

Slide Advantage is a unique chamber ensemble featuring five to nine trombonists selected from the Studio and the Trombone Choir.  Slide Advantage performs both Classical and Jazz Repertoire.  Slide Advantage and the Trombone Choir have been selected to perform at numerous state, national and international conferences.  Recent and forthcoming concerts include the National Association for Music Educators Conference (October 2015 – Nashville, TN), the West Virginia Music Educators Conference (March 2015 – Charleston, WV), and the American Trombone Festival (March 2015 – Washington D. C./Arlington, VA). 

 

Ray Conklin, Conductor

Ray Conklin joined the Murray State University faculty in 1973 and currently holds the rank of professor.  He has served in administrative positions as the chair of the Depart- ment of Music and the president of the Faculty Senate.  Conklin presently teaches Low Brass (Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba), Brass Repertoire and Pedagogy, and conducts/coaches Brass Chamber Music.  His conducting/coaching responsibilities include the Brass Choir, the Brass Quintets, the Trombone Choir and  Slide Advantage, and the Tuba Euphonium Ensemble and the Tuba Euphonium Quartets.  Conklin received Murray State University’s most prestigious award, the Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award.  He has performed with many orchestras in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.  Conklin has also been a freelance/commercial trombonist and performed with many major jazz artists as well.  He has also taught on college and university music faculties in Iowa, Pennsylvania and Texas, and has been on the faculty of the Sewanee Summer Music Institute.  Conklin’s students are currently teaching in colleges/universities in the United States and Europe and in the public schools throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia.  His students are also performing in orchestras and bands throughout the United States and Europe.  Conklin has toured Europe, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand presenting solo and ensemble recitals and master classes.  He received his education at the University of Louisville and the University of North Texas.  His teachers include Ernest Lyon, Leon Brown, Louis Van Haney, Mel Jernigan, Arnold Jacobs, et al.  Conklin has studied Jazz Improvisation/Education with Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, and Rich Matteson.  He has also studied conducting with David Livingston and Anshel Brusilow.  

Gifted trombonist and flautist Dr. Sim Flora is professor emeritus of music theory and composition at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he taught music theory, jazz studies, and music technology courses.  A native of Southern Illinois, Flora earned his Ph.D. in music education from The University of Oklahoma, his master of Master of Music education from Ouachita Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Music from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. 

His unique and varied career has included public school teaching in Illinois, free-lance trombone work on the West Coast and St. Louis area and a seven – year tenure as musical director at Six Flags Over St. Louis.  Currently, Flora works throughout the United States as an active soloist/clinician in the areas of jazz education and trombone performance, working with high school, college and professional organizations.  He has also served on the faculty of Clark Terry’s All – American jazz Camps and held college teaching positions at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist University.  Flora also served on the faculty of the Joe Alessi Seminar in the summer of 2011. 

Flora has instrumental arrangements published by Southern Music, choral anthems published by the G. Lorenz Company, and children’s songs published by LifeWay Christian Resources.  Flora plays custom trombones built by Michael Rath of England.

David Saleeba Albert started his musical career in Elizabeth City, North Carolina under the direction of Scott C. Callaway playing Trombone, Flute, Bassoon and Percussion in the School Band. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston Mass during which time he was also a studio drummer. He finished his Music Education Degree at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and became the Conductor of the Band Program in Elizabeth City after Mr. Callaway retired. Ten years later, he moved to Raleigh, NC, where he was selected to start the Band Program and Chair the Arts Department of Leesville Road High School.

Bands under Mr. Albert’s baton have performed at numerous State Conventions and performed in many major cities in the U.S including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Il. Mr. Albert retired from North Carolina Public Schools on 1 July 11 with 31 years of service. Mr. Albert has mentored with Buddy Rich and performed with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra as well as with Butch Miles, Joe Ascione, Milt Hinton, Don Menza, Buddy Baker, and Tommy Newsome. Mr. Albert was a student of the “Tonight Show” drummer, Ed Shaughnessy. Along with teaching, conducting, and performing clinics, Mr. Albert can be heard in a variety of Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Jazz settings as well as being the co-leader and holding down the drum chair of Albert-Hobbs Big Band.  

Mr. Albert served as President of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association and is now Past President of The North Carolina Music Educators Association.  He is a member of The American School Band Directors Association and is an Honorary Member of Phi Mu Alpha. In 1998, he was appointed by the Governor of North Carolina to serve on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Music Committee to develop the National Standards for NBPTS. He has been a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association and the North Carolina Association of Educators for thirty-three years. Mr. Albert recently served the North Carolina Symphony as Director of Education.

Mr. Albert is an Endorsing Artist/Clinician for Ludwig/Musser, a division of Conn-Selmer.  In addition, he often guest conducts Honor Bands, presents seminars in Student Leadership, and adjudicates festival events.

Mr. Albert is married to the former Margaret Cowan has two sons, Joseph Taylor and Christopher David and, one step-son, John Christian. Taylor and Christopher David and one step-son, John Christian