The Development and Transfer of “Musical Leadership”
Dr. David Thornton
Michigan State University
Elm Fork I
Thursday, March 27th
10:30 am
Clinic Synopsis
As teachers and conductors we work diligently to meet the needs of our students through lectures, programming, and musical experiences. In a world of evolving educational trends and individual student needs, how are we connecting their studies across the degree program to their future in the profession? Teaching our student music educators how to “make the transfer” in between our educational spaces is a skill that needs to be fostered and most importantly, modeled. This session will discuss ways we can transfer technical skills in our conducting classes and ensemble rehearsals into a musical blueprint for all levels.
Biography
David Thornton joined the faculty of the Michigan State University College of Music (MSU) in the fall of 2015 as Assistant Director of Bands. In 2017 he was appointed as the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of the Spartan Marching Band (SMB). In this role, Thornton is the conductor of the MSU Symphony Band and teaches courses in instrumental conducting, and marching band methods. As the director of the SMB, Dr. Thornton is the principal drill writer and show designer for the 300-member Spartan Marching Band. In addition to his role with the SMB, Dr. Thornton also oversees the Spartan Brass athletic band program that performs at all basketball, volleyball, and hockey events.
Thornton maintains an active schedule with engagements throughout the United States as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He has presented at numerous state music conventions throughout the US as well as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. In addition to clinician and performance engagements, his arrangements and transcriptions have been performed by ensembles at Michigan State as well as at national and international events. During his career as a conductor, Thornton has worked with a number of notable composers in the preparation, performance, and/or recording of their works for the wind band medium. Notable artistic collaborations include Ivette Herryman-Rodriguez, Viet Cuong, Omar Thomas, Ricardo Lorenz, John Corigliano, and Steven Bryant. His leadership with the MSU Symphony Band has also been nationally recognized with their invitation to perform at the 2020 North Central Division CBDNA Conference at DePaul University.
Dr. Thornton earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University and his bachelor’s degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education from Florida State University. Prior to coming to MSU, Thornton taught in the state of Florida where he was the Assistant Director of Bands at Eau Gallie High School (Melbourne) and the Director of Bands at Leon High School (Tallahassee).