Made 4 Muzic

Some great educational moments at last year's band camp!

We will be extending our Made4Muzic "Early Bird" discount due to recent events. As of right now the camp will take place. However, if we are asked to cancel then full refunds will be given.

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Your students were quite lucky to have Michael Friedman working with them this year!

Michael Friedman is currently in his 2nd year as the Director of JP Taravella Band. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Friedman taught high school for 25 years. His most recent appointments have been at Sawgrass Springs Middle School and Cypress Bay High School. Under his direction, Mr. Friedman’s bands have earned dozens of Superior Ratings at both District and State Music Performance Assessments in the areas of Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Florida State University, and is currently completing a Doctorate at Boston University. Mr. Friedman is active as an adjudicator and guest clinician for many events throughout Florida.

Our Oboe players learned so much from Rick Kissinger!

Orlando native Rick Kissinger, is a woodwind doubler, educator, conductor, FBA clinician/adjudicator, and private lessons intructor by day, and a professional Broadway pit orchestra musician by night. After studying music performance at FSU/UCF/UF, he toured Broadway for 5 years, and played with such pop singers as Ann Murray, Sheena Easton, Mahattan Transfer, Micheal W. Smith, Celtic Women, performed in over 75 Broadways musicals, performed with The KW Pops Orchestra for 10 years and is the Artistic Director of The Rhapsody Wind Quintet, The Merrie Melodies Sax Quartet and The Licorice Sticks Clarinet Orchestra. For more info: www.LicoriceSticks.com

Our tuba and euphonium players had so much fun learning from Rachel Stern!

Rachel Stern graduated cm laude from the University of Florida with a degree in Music Education on a full music scholarship. Originally from Boca Raton, Florida, she is happy to be back in the area as a teacher.

While at UF, Rachel participated in the Pride of the Sunshine Gator Marching Band and served as tuba section leader. She also performed with the Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and Gator Bass tuba ensemble. Rachel served on the executive board of the Florida Collegiate National Association for Music Education and was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota professional women’s music fraternity. She is currently a member of Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, and Florida Music Educator’s Association.

Rachel has a private studio of middle and high school tuba/euphonium students. She also works as a low brass clinician for concert and marching bands in Palm Beach County. She currently performs with the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches.

During previous summers, Rachel has spent time working at Luzerne Music Center, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and most recently at Boca Brass, her tuba and euphonium ensemble for middle and high school students.

Rachel is currently the Band Director at L. C. Swain Middle School in Palm Beach County.

Meet our trombone teacher Emily Nichols!

Emily Nichols is not your typical musician. Because of the diverse nature of her experience as a Florida instrumentalist, Emily is a uniquely talented low brass performer, educator, and artist. As a trombonist, Emily has performed both as a soloist and as an ensemble musician. She has played with a diverse array of groups and has toured as a chamber musician. Shortly after the completion of her Master of Music in Trombone Performance in 2016, Emily joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, she was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Stetson University. Emily currently holds a position as Low Brass Instructor and Artist In Residence at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Florida. In addition, she maintains an active private studio of high-achieving tuba, euphonium, and trombone students throughout South Florida. Emily is often requested as a clinician and guest speaker in schools and organizations across the state. She believes in the innovative nature of the musician and actively pursues unique collaborative opportunities with other individuals, artists, and performers in various creative mediums. Visit her website at www.enicholsmusic.com so view some of her latest artistic and pedagogical undertakings.

Our percussionist got to learn from 2 incredible percussionists!

Sheldon A. McLean is currently the Director of Marching and Wind Bands at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a product of the Broward County School System, having graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, FL. Mr. McLean went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree (B.S. 2010) from Florida A&M University and his Master’s Degree (M.M.E. 2015) from The Florida State University. Mr. McLean also earned his Master’s Certificate from the Berklee College of Music.


Sheldon’s love, dedication and consistent need for an intimate relationship with music making has been encouraged by Dr. Shelby Chipman, Richard Clary, Dr. Shaylor James, Dr. Patrick Dunnigan, Dr. Julian White, Richard Beckford and Dr. Clifford Madsen.

Mr. McLean served as Assistant Band Director at Blanche Ely High School from 2010-2011, and as Band Director at William Dandy Middle School from 2011-2013 before his employment at Dillard High School starting in the summer of 2013. Since McLean’s arrival at Dillard, the ensembles have earned superior ratings from the Florida Bandmaster’s Association in Concert and Marching Bands.

Very active in the music community, he has served as an International Music clinician in Nassau, Bahamas, a staff member for Camp Kanya Music summer camp, Broward County Athletic Association All-Star Band Staff, Percussion staff assistant for Miami-Dade County All-Star Band, Assistant Musical Director for the “Live Drumming” Jesus People Ministries Gospel Production with Israel Houghton, percussionist in the Broward Symphonic Band and staff percussionist with the Florida Ambassadors of Music (Eurpoean Concert Band Tour). He is also constantly in demand as a percussion and band clinician in band rooms throughout Broward and Dade Counties.


Mr. McLean is a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Educator’s Association, Florida Bandmaster’s Association, the National Association for Music Education and the Percussive Arts Society.

Ms. Kalyn Todd has been incredible with our Flute players!

Kalyn Todd joined the faculty at Westglades Middle School in 2018. Ms. Todd began her career at Lee County Middle School West in 2013, after graduating Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Music from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. While in Lee County, Ms. Todd doubled the size of the band program, expanded to three concert bands, began a private lessons program for Lee County Band students, and increased student acceptance into District Honor Band, Region Band, and the Georgia All-State Band. Ms. Todd also increased student performance in Solo and Ensemble Festival. In addition to official teaching duties, Ms. Todd also accepted leadership responsibilities in District II of the Georgia Music Educators Association through organizing the Elementary Honor Clinic and Solo and Ensemble. Besides teaching band, Ms. Todd’s other interests include reading and weight lifting. Ms. Todd is a native of Springfield, Georgia.

The trumpets are definitely getting to the next level with Mr. Gordon!

Christian Gordon joined the faculty at Westglades Middle School in 2018. He is currently in his fourth year of teaching. From 2015-2018, Mr. Gordon was Director of Bands at Lee County Middle School East in Leesburg, Georgia. Ensembles under Mr. Gordon's baton have consistently received Superior ratings at adjudicated events. He has also led many students to earning chairs in District, Region, and All-State bands. Mr. Gordon's mission is to provide a high-quality musical experience that is fun, challenging, and life-changing. As a graduate of Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music, Mr. Gordon was principal trumpet in the Wind Ensemble and Philharmonic Orchestra, along with Lead Trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble. Conducting is also a passion of Mr. Gordon's, and while at Columbus State, he studied with Dr. Jamie L. Nix. Mr. Gordon also competed as a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet competition, placing among the top six in the nation in 2015. Some of Mr. Gordon's hobbies include cooking and reading. He is a native of Charleston, SC.