Summer Band Directors Symposium

David Kehler serves as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the Bobbie Bailey School of Music where he is Music Director and Conductor of the KSU Wind Ensemble. In addition, Dr. Kehler teaches courses in instrumental conducting, symphonic repertoire, and twentieth century music. Professor Kehler is also the recipient of several awards including the Kennesaw State University College of Arts 2020 Teaching Award, and the 2021 Research and Creative Activity Award. An advocate of new music, Dr. Kehler has commissioned more than two-dozen composers, including several Pulitzer Prize winners to write new compositions for wind ensemble. In addition to his university responsibilities, David Kehler serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Atlanta Wind Symphony, along with serving on the Board of Directors for the College Band Directors National Association, and as the CBDNA Southern Division President.  

Previously, David Kehler served as Associate Conductor of America's Premiere Windband; The Dallas Winds and served as Founder and Conductor of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony. Previous academic appointments were at Southern Methodist University, the University of Rhode Island, and Bay City Western High School, in Bay City, Michigan. Growing up in Michigan, Dr. Kehler received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting degrees from Michigan State University, followed by his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Caroline Beatty is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Texas State University where she conducts the Texas State Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind band conducting program, teaches conducting and band literature courses, and provides primary administration and oversight for the comprehensive band program.

Performances under her direction garner consistent accolades from audience members, composers, and fellow performers for their artistry, excitement, beauty, and craft. While honoring the standard repertoire, Dr. Beatty actively invests in the commissioning and performance of new works. In 2019-2020, the Texas State Bands Centennial Music Project encompassed commissions for new works by TXST-affiliated composers Michael Ippolito, Wayne Oquin, Ryan Chase, Jack Wilds, Daniel Montoya, and Ricky Hall to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the bands at the university. Other premiere performances include music by Michael Daugherty, Cynthia Van Maanen, Theresa Martin, Robert Beaser, Carter Pann, Margaret Brouwer, David Maslanka, and Alexandra Gardner. The Texas State Wind Symphony has been recognized for musical excellence through invitations to perform at the National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, the Southwestern Division Conference of CBDNA, and for the Texas Music Educators Association. Dr. Beatty’s teaching has been recognized at the university through receipt of both a Presidential Excellence Award and College Achievement Award.

Dr. Beatty maintains a vibrant conducting and teaching schedule outside of the university. She has served as Chief Clinician for the Australia Band and Orchestra Directors Association-Victoria Summer Conducting School as well as Chief Adjudicator and Clinician for the Victoria School Music Festival where she enjoyed connecting with over 80 Australian school bands. Dr. Beatty is consistently engaged as conductor for a variety of ensembles throughout the US including recent invitations to conduct Concordia Santa Fe, the World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, myriad all-state and university honor band events, and Texas All-Region bands. Additionally, she is a sought-after rehearsal clinician for secondary school bands.

Prior to her current position, Dr. Beatty held the positions of Associate Director of Bands at Texas State University and Northwestern State University-Louisiana. Her secondary school teaching experience includes thirteen years as a high school band director in the Houston area. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Michigan and both a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Beatty serves the profession as President-elect of the Southwestern Division of the College Band Directors National Association and through memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Band Fraternity.

Josh Byrd serves as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of West Georgia. His primary responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble, teaching conducting and music education courses, and supervising student teachers.  Prior to his appointment he served as the band director at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin and assistant band director at Lanier Middle School and Norcross High School in Gwinnett County.

Dr. Byrd received a DMA in Conducting from the University of Georgia where he studied with John Lynch and minored in Music Theory.  He received his Master of Music degree in Conducting while studying with Tom Dvorak at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia where he studied saxophone with Kenneth Fischer and conducting with Dwight Satterwhite and John Culvahouse.

Dr. Byrd is an active clinician and conductor, having recently presented at the 2017 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, 2018 CBDNA National Conference, and the 2018 GMEA annual In-Service conference both as a clinician and as conductor of the UWG Wind Ensemble. In 2020, the UWG Wind Ensemble performed at the CBDNA Southern Division Conference for the first time in the program’s history. He is also a published arranger; his newest works include Beethoven’s “Opus 103b” and Wiggin’s March Timpani (Maestro and Fox Music, 2020) and Chabrier’s España Rhapsody (C. Alan Publications, 2022).

Dr. Byrd lives in Carrollton with his wife, Katie, and their two children, Tripp and Haley.

Dr. Sorenson is Assistant Professor of Music Education (Instrumental) at Kennesaw State University. She holds degrees from Stetson University and Florida State University, where she completed an MME and Ph.D in music education. She has taught a wide range of courses at Purdue University, Fort Wayne, as well as at Florida State, and previously served as a band director in the Central Florida area. An active scholar, she has been published in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Contributions to Music Education, and in Research Perspectives in Music Education, and has presented nationally and internationally. Her research interests include pre-service music teacher preparation, mentoring, and the Impostor Phenomenon.