For Claire Glover (BME 鈥�17)鈥攔ecipient of the Colorado Music Educator Association鈥檚 2020 Young Music Educator Award鈥攖he mentorship she received at the College of Music is key to her success.听
鈥淚 have an amazing job,鈥� says Glover, director of bands at Mountain Ridge Middle School (MRMS) in Colorado Springs and president/concert band coordinator of the Pikes Peak Middle School Honor Band. 鈥淎nd I have huge gratitude for my mentors.鈥�
Specifically, she counts Associate Director of Bands and Conducting and Music Education Instructor Matthew Dockendorf, Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Enrollment Management Matthew Roeder and Professor of Horn Michael Thornton among her influencers and inspirations; as well as College of Music alumni Jack Yonce and Mike Perez.
鈥淲hen I first started at Mountain Ridge, there were under 300 kids in band,鈥� recalls Glover, 25, whose tenure at the middle school began in August 2017. Since then, that number has grown听to 400 participants, translating to the school鈥檚 greater participation in the CU Middle School Honor Band.听
鈥淏uy-in is growing and so is the level of excitement in the Colorado Springs region,鈥� she adds.听
Indeed, at MRMS, she has led the concert bands to receive superior ratings at the Colorado Bandmasters Association鈥檚 Middle School Concert Band Festival and Ca帽on City Blossom Festival. Additionally, the 8th-grade symphonic band under her direction was invited to perform at the 2019 CMEA conference, and the MRMS Honors Band received an invitation to perform at this year鈥檚 conference.听
鈥淚鈥檝e always been a big believer in asking questions and soliciting advice from mentors,鈥� says Glover, who began playing French horn in 6th grade, which ignited her passion for music education. 鈥淢entors are my guideposts 鈥� I just spoke with Dockendorf this morning!
鈥淚 take feedback easily and welcome it constantly鈥攁nd I believe that鈥檚 a big part of having achieved strong success in a short amount of time.听
鈥淚鈥檝e also been really lucky. The administration at Mountain Ridge is great, the parent community is supportive and the kids are to die for鈥攈onestly, they鈥檙e amazing.鈥�
Continues Glover, 鈥淏ecause my own middle school experience was hugely impactful, I鈥檝e known my path since then. And I know how incredibly important it is to create a culture that really values music ensembles and performance.鈥�
She also credits a 鈥減erformance mindset鈥� as crucial to her achievements as a conductor. 鈥淚鈥檓 a good horn player. From Mike Thornton, I learned the importance of being a solid performer.听
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am now without the performance perspective I bring to every band rehearsal. I emphasize both education and excellence in performance.鈥�
Glover concludes, 鈥淎t this point, I鈥檓 just trying to keep up with the passion and drive of my students. I hope to match, inspire and build on their enthusiasm.鈥�
