Band – Steve Damon
Steve Damon holds diplomas of Bachelor of Music from University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Master of Music from University of Connecticut-Storrs, Fine Arts Director Certificate from Fitchburg (MA) State College, and Level 1 Orff from University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
He has taught instrumental music 3-8, vocal 3-8, and general PreK-7. He is currently enjoying his first year of teaching elementary music in the Gill-Montague Regional School District – his hometown district! He lives in Gill with his beautiful bride, Joyana (a Vermont music educator), and their preschool son, Isaac.
He has served the Massachusetts MEA as Western District Chairperson, All-State Jazz Ensemble Manager, K-9 Representative, and on the Editorial Board of the Massachusetts Music News – the official journal of the MMEA.
Steve has been listed in recent editions of Marquis’ Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, and the debut edition of Who’s Who in Emerging Leaders. His music education has been published in domestic and international journals, such as Music Educators Journal, Canadian Music Educator, School Band and Orchestra, and Victorian Journal of Music Education.
He has presented music education clinics at many conferences, including MEA conferences throughout the Northeast and All-Eastern conferences in Pittsburgh and Hartford.
Although an oboist by training, he performs throughout New England on almost any instrument that requires blowing. He is Conductor of the 173-year-old Shelburne Falls Military Band. His guest conducting has taken him to Vermont, New Hampshire, District of Columbia, and Florida. He founded the Shelburne Falls, MA TubaChristmas, and continues to coordinate the annual event.
He is very happy to try to be helpful as Instrumental Mentor again, as he did in March 2007. He was the General Music Mentor in March 2006.
General Music – Eileen Benedict
Eileen Benedict is currently the classroom music specialist and choral director at the Edith L. Slocum elementary school in the Connetquot district. In her 31 years in the district, she has taught not only elementary music, but also junior high chorus, high school women’s choir, vocal lessons and music theory. In addition, Mrs. Benedict was vocal director for four junior high musicals and five high school musical theater productions. She was a frequent conductor for district-wide chorus and recorder ensembles.
Mrs. Benedict received her Bachelors degree in Music Education from Dowling College and her M.S. from L.I.U. C.W. Post campus. She has presented “Music is Fun” singing and movement workshops for pre-school through age 10 in many public libraries and has conducted “American Folk Songs” and “ Broadway” for intermediate age students. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict also directed the Longwood Library summer family chorus for several years. They were musical directors for the spring productions at McGann-Mercy High School in Riverhead for 10 years. Mrs. Benedict conducted SCMEA Division I in 2000 and in 2006. She has also been honored to have conducted the North Fork festival in 2001 and the Hamptons MEA middle school festival in 2007. Summer, 2006 and 2007 found Mrs. Benedict conducting the Discovery Chorus and the Junior Chorus at USDAN Center for the Performing Arts, including a presentation of the concert version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Bye, Bye Birdie as the finales for the summer seasons.
Eileen Benedict has been a vocal director and performer for many Creative Ministries’ productions, most notably, the Lenten prayer, “Journey, Cross and Crucifixion. She and her husband are soloists, leaders of song, accompanists, and children’s choir directors at Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson.
Mrs. Benedict is a member of SCMEA, NYSSMA, ACDA and MENC and is a certified NYSSMA judge.
Chorus – Jeff Ward
Dr. Jeffrey Ward is Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, Associate Director of Choral Activities, Co-Director of KidsMusic, and Director of the Summer Choral Camp at East Carolina University. Additionally, he serves as Director of Traditional Music at St. James United Methodist Church in Greenville and the conductor of the Greenville Choral Society. Dr. Ward has worked with choirs in North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida as a church conductor, conductor of community choirs, high school choral director, and guest conductor for county and regional honor choirs.
Dr. Ward received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, his Master of Music degree in choral conducting from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and his undergraduate degree in music education from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.
Dr. Ward has published in both state and regional journals and presented music education research throughout the United States. Dr. Ward serves as state treasurer for the North Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and holds memberships in MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda, Omicron Delta Kappa, Choristers Guild, and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
Orchestra – Geoff Neuman
Geoff Neuman is the orchestra director at Green Valley High School in Henderson, NV. Under his direction the Green Valley Orchestra program has become a model for the Clark County School District (Las Vegas, NV). The orchestra has traveled to Europe and many parts of the United States. Recently, Mr. Neuman conducted the Green Valley High School Symphony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In January 2008 he will conduct the group in Rome, Italy. Geoff Neuman also conducts the Las Vegas Youth Symphony.
In addition to teaching and conducting, Geoff Neuman is a professional musician. He performs as a member of the string bass section of The Las Vegas Philharmonic and in a jazz trio.
Mr. Neuman earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also the Past-President of the Nevada Chapter of The American String Teachers Association. His professional association memberships include, ASTA, MENC, IAJE, ISB and NMEA.
Jazz – Dave Gregoric
David Gregoric is the Director of Contemporary Music Studies and Jazz. He has taught Jazz at Valley Christian since 1994. In 2004, he was named Teacher of the Year for Valley Christian Junior High School. Bands at VCS have received awards at numerous jazz festivals including command performances at the Folsom, San Jose, Reno, Campana and Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festivals. This September the Valley Christian Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Students from the VC jazz program have matriculated to Manhatten School of Music, Thorton School of music (USC), The New School (NYC), Cal Stae Northridge, and the Berklee School of Music.
Mr. Gregoric has taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Monterey Jazz Festival Summer Camp, Jazz Camp West, Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, San Jose Jazz Society Summer Camp and has adjudicated at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, CMEA (Central Coast) Jazz Festival, Folsom Jazz Festival, ACSI Music Festival, Cuesta College Jazz Festival, and Cal State Hayward Jazz Festival. He has served as director of the San Jose High School All Star Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble and the San Jose Middle School All Star combo. He was the 2004 and 2009 Guest Conductor of the Contra Costa County Junior High Honor Jazz Band, 1999 guest conductor of the ACSI Junior High Northern California Honor Concert Band, and was a traveling clinician with the Monterey Jazz Festival for seven years.
He is a member of the Education Board of the San Jose Jazz Society, the International Association of Jazz Educators, the California Band Directors Association, and Music Educators National Conference (MENC).
As a professional trombonist, Mr. Gregoric has recorded with Pete Escovedo, Andy Narrel, Buddy, Montgomery, Cab Calloway, Della Reese, Smith Dobson, Ray Brown, Dave Eshelman, Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra and has performed with The Temptations, Big Lou and the Polka Princess, Jimmy Heath, Confunktion, Bobby Watson, Cyndi Lauper, Gerri Allen, Sheila E., Guy Lomardo, Michael W. Smith, Louis Bellson, Steve Turre, Twyla Paris, Frankie Valle, The Drifters, Sapo, Disneyland, Great America, Vic Demone, Jamie Davis, Jamie Davis, Ron Konali, Martha and the Vandelas, Dick Bright’s SRO, Little Anthony, Princess-Royal Norwegian-Western cruise lines, Circus Vargas, and the Bentley Brothers Circus.
Education: Mr. Gregoric holds a BA in Christian Leadership and Theology from William Jessup University. He also attended California State University at Long Beach, Cabrillo College, and the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop.
Guitar – Rob Goldsmith
Rob Goldsmith has over twenty-five years of experience in guitar teaching and performance. He holds bachelor and master of music degrees in guitar performance from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and has taught both private and group guitar on all levels from elementary school through community college. Rob currently is the guitar instructor at Rogich Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada where he teaches150 students daily in beginning, intermediate, and advanced guitar classes. In addition, Rob is an active freelance guitarist in Las Vegas casino-hotels, and writes/edits guitar instruction materials for Mel Bay Publications and Warner Brothers Publications.