“2027 Theme”

CLINICIAN

Chris Gleason is the Arts and Creativity Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. He is the 2017 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year, 2017 and 2022 semi-finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and the first Wisconsin teacher to be named a National Teacher of the Year finalist in 50 years. In 2022 he received the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence by the NEA Foundation and was selected as a Top 50 Finalist for the 2021 Global Teacher Prize, being selected from 8,000 nominations from 121 countries around the world. As a 2019 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow, Mr. Gleason traveled to South Africa to study the culture and education system.  In 2009 Mr. Gleason created the ComMission Possible Project, which has commissioned 14 new works for bands by renowned composers such as Viet Cuong, Kelijah Dunton, John Mackey, Alex Shapiro, Erika Svanoe,  Andrew Boysen Jr, and Michael Markowski. The project continues to expand, inviting schools nationwide to participate in the unique, interactive commission process. His work at the state level has led to the creation of the Wisconsin Creativity Summit and Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project linking poets, composers, and arts educators in the creation of a unified work.  He is the president and founder of Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc., which has to date inspired more than 45,000 young musicians and 85 future music educators. He produces and co-hosts the podcast Beyond ArtLess and has been featured in the books: Think Like Socrates (Shanna Peeples, 2018) and Rehearsing the Middle School Band (Stephen Meyer, 2018). His 2019 TEDx Talk is entitled “Lighting A Fire In Kids: Three Insightful Teaching Truths”.   He is a Conn-Selmer and VanderCook Clinician.

PERCUSSION CLINICIAN

Wes Schmandt teaches percussion and German at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High school in Jackson, WI.  He also maintains a private studio and serves as coach for the Lutheran Vanguard DrumLine.  At KML he is the director of the high school and Elementary schools percussion ensembles.  Mr. Schmandt keeps active in performance as a member of the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band.  He has served as clinician for the WELS Band Festivals since 1992.

Mr. Schmandt lives in West Bend, WI with his wife, Sarah and three children, Michaya, Dylan and Bryson.