CREEKSIDE MS BAND DIRECTOR SELECTED TO PRESENT SESSION
AT MIDWEST INTERNATIONAL BAND & ORCHESTRA CLINIC
Carmel, Indiana – Mr. Christopher J. Grifa, Co-Director of Bands at Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Indiana has been selected to present a clinic at the prestigious Midwest International Band & Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois to be held on December 16-19, 2015. Selected from hundreds of applicants, Mr. Grifa will present his clinic “Achieving Your Ensemble Sound; it’s Fundamental!” to conference attendees. When asked about the emphasis of his clinic, Mr. Grifa said, “I am deeply honored and excited to be invited to present my session at the 69th annual Midwest Clinic in December. The incredible music educators who present at The Midwest Clinic each year inspire me, and it means the world to me that I will have the opportunity to pay forward what the clinic has given me throughout my career.”
In his 11th year of teaching, Mr. Grifa co-directs all of the bands at Creekside Middle School along with Ms. Wendy Higdon. He is a sought after clinician for young bands, high school bands, marching bands and Drum Corp International Drum and Bugle Corps all across the nation. As an author, Mr. Grifa has been published in INform Magazine (published by the Indiana Music Education Association) with an article on using technology in the music classroom. He is currently scheduled to publish an article in “The Instrumentalist”, a world-renowned music education publication in the summer of 2015. Mr. Grifa resides in Westfield, Indiana with his wife, Suzy, and puppy, Mickey!
About Creekside MS Bands
Creekside Middle School consistently produces some of the best young bands in the nation year after year. The Creekside Wind Symphony was a “Rehearsal Lab” Band at the 2014 Indiana Music Educators Association Conference and a featured performance band at the 2013 IMEA conference.
The Creekside Wind Symphony performed at the 2013 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic as a featured band. While at Midwest in 2013, the Creekside Wind Symphony also was a “Rehearsal Lab” band for Ms. Linda Gammon, a renowned band educator from Virginia. Mr. Grifa’s ensembles have consistently received Gold Awards, including several “Gold with Distinction” Awards at the Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Contests.
About Midwest International Band & Orchestra Conference
What began as 120 music directors meeting for six hours in a Chicago YWCA gym has now become the annual four-day band and orchestra conference known as The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. For the past 67 years, musicians, educators and people passionate about music education of all skill levels have gathered in Chicago for the largest music conference of its kind.
With more than 17,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 countries, The Midwest Clinic offers guests interested in music education an array of clinics and exhibits, as well as access to music and teaching icons. The conference will also focus on industry trends and future topics in business and music education. For more information, please visit: www.midwestclinic.org
Mr. Keating was overjoyed at the news that his ticket had been selected as the winner and knew immediately which model he would select. Keating and his wife were on vacation when they received the notice and the rental car they were driving was a BMW X1 model. “I am just so thrilled to win this car. I have never won anything in my life!” said, Keating.
Designers Michael Townsend, Keith Potter, Andy Toth, Richard Saucedo, Jeff Queen, Michael Macintosh, and Michael Gaines have put together an amazing and unique presentation for this year’s show” said, Mr. Chris Kreke, Director of the Marching Greyhounds.
