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Bios

Randy Weaver
Nominated by:
Glenn Scheuermann
Reasons for Nomination:
Served as chairperson for the Large Ensemble Festival (SY2007 – 08)
Is a regular attendee at meetings
Placed students in the Elementary Honor Band (SY2007 – 08)
 Assisted with the Marching Band Festival, Elementary and Junior High Jazz Band, as of 4/15/08, for the Service Requirement

Bio for Randy Weaver:

EDUCATION:
Northview H.S., Brazil, IN, 1970
Indiana State University, B.S., 1974
Louisiana State University, MME, 1985 

WORK EXPERIENCE:

  • Sarah Scott J.H.S., Terre Haute, IN---Band & Orchestra Director, 1974-1975
  • Archdioscean Band Program, New Orleans, LA---Band Director, 1975-1980
  • St. Charles High School, La Place, LA---Band Director, Drama Director, Assistant Principal, 1980-1983
  • Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA---Graduate Assistant Tiger Marching Band & LSU Wind Ensemble, 1983-1985
  • Holy Cross High School, New Orleans, LA ---Assistant Band Driector, 1985-1988
  • Lawrenceburg High School, Lawrenceburg, IN---Band Director & Music Department Chair, 1988-1995
  • St. Edward the Confessor School, Metairie, LA---Band Director, Choral Director, General Music, Music Theory, Music History, 2000-Present

EXTRA-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCE:

  • The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Rosemont, IL---Marching Member
  • Bleu Raeders Drum & Bugle Corps, Metairie, La---Staff Member, Board of Directors
  • Louisiana Southernaires Drum & Bugle Corps, New Orleans, LA---Staff Member, Board of Directors
  • Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, Cincinnati, OH---Staff Member
  • Le Petit Theatre, New Orleans, LA---Actor & Musician
  • St. John Community Theatre, Reserve, LA---Actor, Director, Musician, Board Memeber, Managing Director
  • Players Dinner Theatre, Metairie, LA---Director
  • Rivertown Community Theatre, Lawrenceburg, IN  Actor, Director, Musician
  • Greater New Orleans Drum Corps Association, New Orleans, LA---Executive Director, Board of Directors
  • Louisiana Color Guard & Percussion Circuit, New Orleans, LA---Contest Director

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  • MENC
  • LMEA
  • District VI BDA
  • Indiana Music Educators Association
  • NCEA
  • Louisiana Middle School Association
  • Kappa Kappa Psi Music Fraternity
  • Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity
  • Phi Delta Theta Fraternity


 

Mike Guma
Nominated by: Glenn Scheuermann
Reasons for Nomination:

Served as Chairperson for the Junior High Honor Band (SY2007 – 08)
Hosted a membership mixer at his home
Is a regular attendee at meetings
Placed students in the Elementary, Junior High, Junior High Jazz, and Senior High Honor Bands (SY2007 - 08)
Groups earned an Excellent and a Superior rating, respectively, at the Large Ensemble Festival (SY2007 – 08)
 Assisted with the Elementary Honor Band and All-Star Middle School Jazz Band, as of 4/15/08, for the Service Requirement

Michael’s affiliations include MENC, LMEA, District VI BDA, The New Orleans Music Education Alliance, and the American Federation of Musicians.

Bio for Mike Guma

Michael Guma is presently one of two band directors and the Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Isidore Newman School, teaching students in grades four through twelve. He received his Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Loyola University, graduating Cum Laude in 1970, and completed his teacher certification at Loyola in 1974. While at Loyola Michael was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, National Jesuit Honor Society in 1968, and was also named to Who’s Who Among College Students in America in 1968.

Michael began his teaching career in 1972 as Band Director at Isidore Newman School. In 1979 he left Newman to pursue a career as a professional, performing musician. However, his teaching career did not end. Instead Michael served as a part time band director for Our Saviour Lutheran School from 1979 until 1985. Michael also taught briefly at Trist Middle School and Barbre Middle School before returning to Newman in 1993. Under Michael’s direction the band program at Newman has flourished growing from a program with a Concert Band of 32 students in 1993 to its present 90 student ensemble today. Over the past several years the Cadet and Concert Bands at Newman have performed well in local, state, and national band festivals earning many Superior ratings.

Michael has performed with many fine musicians including the Dukes of Dixieland, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, Jack Jones, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Rene Netto, and the New Orleans Summer Pops Orchestra. He has performed throughout the United States, South America, and Europe, and has made several recordings including a film soundtrack for the movie The Pelican Brief.
 

Claire Conti
Nominated by: Glenn Scheuermann
Reasons for Nomination:

Volunteered to contact new and/or former DBDA members inre: joining the DBDA (SY2007 – 08)
Is a regular attendee at meetings
Placed students in the Elementary, Junior High, and Junior High Jazz Honor Bands (SY2007 – 08)
Assisted with the Junior High and Junior High Jazz Honor bands, as of 4/15/08, for the Service Requirement

Bio for Claire Conti
 

Ms. Claire Conti began playing trumpet in 1971, and studied under Mr. George Jansen and Dr. Robert Weatherly.  Since 1979, she has been a private instructor of instrumental music.    In 1980, Ms. Conti was a member of the All-Star Collegiate Jazz Band at the Memphis State Jazz Festival.  She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1981, with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance.  Ms. Conti performed with a variety of bands in the 1980's, including appearances at the 1984 World's Fair with the New Orleans Civic Symphony  and two dance bands.  In the late 80's-early 90's, she acted as Band Leader and front performer for her own band, "Panache".  In 1987, Ms. Conti played first trumpet with a Brass Quartet for Pope John Paul II at a special Mass held at the St. Louis Cathedral.  In 2004, she conducted the Jefferson Parish Public School Junior High Honor Band.  Ms. Conti maintains a diversified performing career as actress and musician, which occasionally includes drums and flute as well as trumpet.  She has performed for JPAS, LePetit, Tulane Summer Lyric, Actors' Theatre of New Orleans, Rivertown Repertory Theatre, NORD, Contemporary Arts Center, Fine Arts Center, and Southeastern Louisiana University.  Ms. Conti has performed with choirs for popular artists Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, and Reba McIntyre.  She plays for numerous weddings and church services.  Ms. Conti is the conductor and founder of "The Premiers" Annual Summer Honor Band, since 1998.  "The Premiers" is a Symphonic, Jazz, and Rock & Roll Concert Band featuring outstanding elementary, middle school, high school, college, and professional musicians.  As faculty member of the Archdiocesan Band Program for eighteen years, Ms. Conti is presently Band Director for six elementary schools.  Her Archdiocesan Combined Band rehearses on Saturday mornings and performs each year at the Archdiocesan Band Festival.  The band has received numerous superior ratings.  Ms. Conti has been co-director for the Archdiocesan Band Camp for many years, which is held at the Dominican Sisters' Retreat Center, Rosaryville.


 

 

 

District VI
Band Director's Association, Inc.