Band Talk is Back Charlie Menghini

A dear friend of Charlie's returns to the program after a couple of years.  Together in Fargo, North Dakota for the Raging Red Band Festival, Charlie caught up with John a couple of weeks after the event to catch up on life and talk about all things band.

Steve Peterson, Director of Bands (Retired) at the University of Illinois shares his journey from learning the piano to ending up leading one of the most prestigious band programs in the country.  Steve has not forgotten his roots, nor those who served as mentors throughout his education and career.  This is a conversation you will not want to miss.

Dr. Rick Fleming, Director of Bands at SUNY's - Buffalo State University campus talks about his beginnings as a trombone player, and the steps that led him to his current position.  Rick also shares a wonderful question posed by his Ph.D. conducting professor, Dr. James Croft.  

Dr. Andrea DeRenzis Strauss is Conductor of the Tara Winds and is the retired Director of Bands at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  An accomplished musician and conductor alike, Andrea Strauss holds the Women Band Directors International Scroll of Excellence among the many honor and awards she has received throughout her career.

Dr. Warren Olfert, Director of Bands at North Dakota State University highlights his journey from growing up in Glascow, Montana to becoming Director of Bands at NDSU.  We chat about some of the issues directors face when preparing a group for a festival performance, repertoire being performed and a whole lot more.

Band Talk with Charlie Menghini and Friends returns thanks to a blizzard that cancelled day one of the Raging Red Band Festival, in Fargo, North Dakota.   In an effort to provide some information to the directors who didn't get a chance to participate, along with the general listening audience, you will hear this, the first of a six-part podcast featuring the administrators of the festival as well as the clinicians who were at the event.  Today's podcast features Bill Law, Assistant Director of Fine Arts and North Dakota State University and John Warren, Festival Director.  Future podcasts will feature Dr. Warren Olfert, Director of Bands at North Dakota State University, Andrea DeRenzis Strauss who directs the Tara Winds in Georgia, Steve Peterson, retired Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, Rick Fleming, Director of Bands at SUNY - Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY and John Climer, retired Director of Bands from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.