The clinic will feature a live concert band with Alex Kaminsky, Director of Bands at Vandercook College of Music, demonstrating techniques he uses to build performance fundamentals including tone quality, intonation, balance, blend and listening skills. Several methods will be explored which include the use of published materials and electronic devices. A handout will be provided outlining each technique demonstrated along with a list of resources used during the clinic and other recommended materials.
Chris Sharp
- Biographical Information
Chris Sharp, Ph.D. is a professional musician, composer, arranger and music educator. Dr. Sharp has taught bands at every level from 4th grade up through professional musicians. He has taught at several public schools and colleges throughout the state of Florida. Currently he serves as an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.
An experienced adjudicator, Dr. Sharp has judged for several organizations including The Florida Bandmasters’ Association, The Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association, The Virginia Marching Band Coalition, Bands of America and Drum Corps International. He has served on numerous occasions as the conductor/clinician for honor bands throughout the U.S.
Dr. Sharp has extensive experience as a professional trombonist, having served for 11 years as a full-time bandleader and sideman at Walt Disney World. He still performs regularly with University of Lynchburg faculty brass quintet, the Lynchburg Community Big Band and the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Sharp is also active as a composer and arranger of music for the scholastic market. He currently has over 200 published works in the catalogs of Alfred Music Publishing, The FJH Music Company, Inc., Jalen/Matrix Publications and several others. His compositions and arrangements have been performed numerous times at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and he is a ten-time winner of the ASCAPlus Award.
Alexander Kaminsky was appointed Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at VanderCook College of Music in 2019 after a highly successful tenure at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Previous to that, Kaminsky led the band programs at Buchholz High School, Lincoln High School, Auburndale High School, and Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, all of which excelled under his direction. He holds degrees from the University of Florida and Indiana University, is active as an adjudicator, and is in demand as a guest conductor/clinician across the country.
Kaminsky’s high school bands performed at the Midwest Clinic (2005, 2009, 2014, and 2018), ABA National Convention (2014), CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference (2004 and 2014), FMEA State Conference (2014), Music for All National Concert Band Festival (2002 and 2012), and the National Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall (2009 and 2018). In 2018, the Stoneman Douglas Wind Symphony was named a Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors winner as one of only ten 6A bands in the nation. His marching bands consistently placed in the Florida Marching Band State Championship Finals, winning several FMBC State Championships (including 4 of his last 6 years as a high school band director), as well as being named a finalist band at BOA regional competitions.