Student Member Chapters

The NBA Student Chapter is a recent initiative within the organization, designed to be an inclusive, service-oriented organization within a college music department. Mark Heidel has organized a very successful chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and is the national point person for this concept.

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Student Representative, Board of Directors
NBA Student Chapter Constitution Model
Starting an NBA Student Chapter

Stephen Long is a senior Music Education major at Reinhardt College in Waleska, GA. He is in his fourth year of study at Reinhardt where he is a trombone student of Harry Maddox, former principal trombonist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Currently he is serving as the Georgia State CMENC President and as such is a non-voting member of the Georgia Music Educators Association Board of Directors. He recently was elected to a second term as state CMENC President.

Stephen participates in the Reinhardt College Wind Ensemble and the Reinhardt College Orchestra and serves as a student conductor for the Reinhardt College Concert Choir. He has performed with the Reinhardt College Brass Quintet, Percussion Ensemble, College Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Choir, and the nationally acclaimed Tara Winds conducted by Dr. David Gregory. In 2007 Stephen traveled to Rome, Italy to perform as part of an international collaboration of musicians who presented concerts in and around Rome. In 2006 Stephen traveled to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall as principal trombonist with the National Wind Ensemble. He was pleased to return to this prestigious venue after performing at Carnegie Hall with his high school band in 2002.

Stephen is a member of the NBA, CMENC, and has participated with CMTNA. He was recognized as the first recipient of an honorary student membership to the NBA and was published in the December 2007 edition of the NBA Journal. As part of his instructional and educational activities associated with his undergraduate music education preparation, Stephen travels to area schools and provides group and private lessons. He has taught at Sequoyah High School with David Harrison, Pickens County High School with Pat Gallagher, Pickens County Middle School with Mary Land, Jasper Middle School with Clara Pantazopoulos, and Dean Rusk Middle School with Barbara Jones.

Stephen has been appointed and elected to numerous leadership positions at Reinhardt College, among which include Orientation Coordinator, Segment Producer for Reinhardt TV, CMENC Reinhardt College Chapter president, and a member of the Murray Department of Music Advisory Board.


Dr. Gary Sousa is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As Director of Bands, Professor Sousa conducts the University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble, teaches graduate courses in conducting and repertoire, directs the Masters program in Wind Conducting, and oversees the entire band program, consisting of concert bands, athletic bands, and The Pride of the Southland marching Band. Prior to accepting this appointment, Dr. Sousa was Director of Bands at Sam Houston State University from 1988 until 1997, and Associate Director of Bands at Baylor University from 1982 until 1986.

Under Sousa's leadership, ensembles have received critical acclaim from both composers and conductors alike. His bands' performances at the 1991 Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the 1994 College Band Directors National Association Southwestern Conference, the 1995 College Band Directors National Association 28th National conference, and the 2000 College Band Directors National Association Southern Conference, as well as four compact disc recordings on the Mark and Vestige labels, have drawn praise for excellence in performance, interpretation, and creative programming. In particular, his work has been heralded by Pulitzer Prize composers Karel Husa and Michael Colgrass, and renowned composers Donald Grantham, Dana Wilson, Dan Welcher, Ron Nelson, and Cindy McTee for outstanding preparation, performance, and interpretation of their music. Dr. Sousa maintains an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and Canada.

He is listed in multiple editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and holds memberships in many organizations including The American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Pi Kappa Lambda.


NBA Student Chapters

Appalachian State University
President - Jessica Dobbins

Ball State University
President - Elizabeth Crane
Vice-President - Sarah Robbins
Treasurer - Wesley Schulz
Secretary - Stephanie Genet
Social Chair - Steve Mann

Eastern New Mexico University
President - Josh Shankles

Georgia State University

Illinois State University
President - Brian Beddigs

Louisiana State University
President - William Mixon
Vice President - Daniel Modenback
Secretary - Josh Smialek
Treasurer - Ben Herrington
Historian - Ryan Foley

Radford University

Stetson University
President - Joshua Grossnicklaus
Vice-President - Tim Ostrow
Secretary - Rachel Hammond
Treasurer - Susan Hendon

University of Illinois
President - Caitlin McGovern
Vice Presidents - Jennifer Nance, Christina Lohrberg
Secretary - Jeff Novak
Treasurer - Chris Jamrose
Faculty Advisor - Peter Griffin

University of Southern Mississippi
President and Webmaster - Christian J. Sweatt
Vice-President - Patrick Darby
Treasurer - Brian Paden
Secretary - Ashton Garnand
Historians - Alex Minton and Whitney Cook
Sergeant at Arms - Michael D. Sneed

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
President - Mike Vallez
Vice-President - Emma Adler
Secretary - Jennifer Tinberg
Treasurer - Brian Handeland
Historian - Jim Skaleski

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
President - Rob Doersam

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

VanderCook College of Music
President - Corey Ames
Vice-President - Phillip Olazaba
Treasurer - Erika Lund
Secretary - Liz Paine
Historian - Erica Vanderburg

Virginia Tech University

Western Kentucky University
President - Daniel Wise
Vice President/Treasurer - Laura Beth Galipeau
Secretary/Historian - Megan Wheat