Roy A. Johnson

Partners in Music Education Program

During the fall of 1999, Purdue Bands & Orchestras launched the Roy A. Johnson Partners in Music Education as a pilot program. Its purpose is to establish a true partnership between Purdue Bands & Orchestras and Indiana high school instrumental music programs involving all facets of performance, from orchestras, jazz and concert bands, to athletic pep bands.

A side by side experience.

Purdue Bands & Orchestras partners one athletic pep band and one concert ensemble with an interested partner school. The pep band will attend a Partner school’s basketball game and provide entertainment during the game and halftime. The concert ensemble will meet the Partner school in the spring for a day of clinics and “side by side’ rehearsals, either at Purdue or at the Partner school. The day ends with a joint performance and showcase concert by the Purdue ensemble. Other opportunities are available in the partnership.

Creating a musical connection.

The resulting message of the partnership is a reminder to everyone that high school graduation does not mean the end of music in a students life. It is rather a bridge to new opportunities for exciting and rewarding lifelong musical experiences; whether in the local community, on a college campus, or even at Purdue University!

Contact Us

Contact Doug Fletcher (drfletch@purdue.edu) if you are interested in information about designing an outreach opportunity for your school with Purdue Bands & Orchestras.

1999/00:  Concord High School, Elkhart, IN – Max Jones, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, marching band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2000/01:  North Central High School, Indianapolis, IN – Mike Akers, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2001/02:  Harrison High School, West Lafayette, IN – Steve Cotton, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2002/03:  Penn High School, Mishawaka, IN – Keith Rudolph, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, marching band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2003/04:  West Lafayette High School, West Lafayette, IN – Matt Conaway, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2004/05:  Lebanon High School, Lebanon, IN – Julie Lakomek, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2005/06:  McCutcheon High School, Lafayette, IN – Brian Shaw, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, solo & ensemble, guest soloists)

2006/07:  NorthWood High School, Nappanee, IN – Barry Houser, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble and athletic band)

2006/07:  Columbus North High School, Columbus, IN – Bill Stultz, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, and athletic band)

2007/08:  Decatur Central High School, Indianapolis, IN – Tim Cox, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble and athletic band)

2007/08:  Elkhart Memorial High School, Elkhart, IN – Kurt Weimer, director of bands

(orchestra and athletic band)

2008/09:  Center Grove High School, Greenwood, IN – Kevin Schuessler, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, and athletic band)

2009/10:  Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN – Eric Thornbury, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, marching band, and athletic band)

2009/10:  Hobart High School, Hobart, IN – Brian Grenier, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, marching band, and athletic band)

2010/11:  Western High School, Russiaville, IN – Brian Caldwell, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2010/11:  Plainfield High School, Plainfield, IN – Brad Roberts, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2010/11:  Merrillville High School, Merrillville, IN – John Bradford, orchestra director

(symphony orchestra and athletic band)

2011/12:  Caston High School, Fulton, IN – James Byrn, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band, marching band, and athletic band)

2011/12:  Crown Point High School, Crown Point, IN – Johann Sletto, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2011/12:  Northview High School, Brazil, IN – Bob Medworth, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2011/12:  Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers, IN – Michael Niemiec, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2012/13:  Avon High School, Avon, IN – Matt Harloff, brass choir director

(Brass choir at Purdue)

2012/13:  Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, IN – David Cole, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2012/13:  Benton Central Jr/Sr High School, Oxford, IN – Michael Richardson, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2012/13:  McCutcheon High School, Lafayette, IN – Dan Peo, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band and athletic band)

2012/13:  Noblesville High School, Noblesville, IN – Eric Thornbury, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2012/13:  Seeger Memorial Jr/Sr High School, West Lebanon, IN – Patrick Teykl, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2013/14:  Concordia Lutheran High School, Ft. Wayne, IN – Dianne Moellering, director of bands

(Boiler Brass, Wind Ensemble, Golden Girl, Silver Twins)

2013/14:  Kankakee Valley High School, Wheatfield, IN – Ken Steidle, director of bands

(GABS, Purdue Concert Band, AAMB Drumline)

2013/14:  Mt. Vernon High School, Fortville, IN – Jason Gardner, director of bands

(Boiler Brass, Symphonic Band, Goldusters)

2014/15:  Brownsburg High School – Tracy Runyon, Joe Vrabec, band directors

(concert band and athletic band)

2014/15:  Lake Central High School – Chris Harmon, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2014/15:  Zionsville High School – Tom Landrum, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band and athletic band)

2015/16:  Logansport High School – Ned Boyd, director of bands

(concert band, jazz band and athletic band)

2015/16:  Lewis Cass High School – Don Krug, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2015/16:  Elkhart Central High School – Kyle Weirich, Jeramiah Bowman, Dan Burton, directors

(concert band, orchestra and athletic band)

2016/17:  Greenwood High School – John Morse, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2016/17:  New Prairie High School – Patrick Teykl, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2016/17:  New Palestine High School – Shawn Humphries, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2016/17(Mini-Partnership) Rossville High School – Joel Good, band director

(Tau Beta Sigma Outreach Band with Rossville Pep Band)

2017/18:  Fishers High School – Todd McCready, Nicole DeGuire, Chad Kohler, Charles Kunz, directors

(concert band, orchestra and athletic band)

2017/18:  Western High School, Russiaville, IN – Brian Caldwell, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2017/18:  Pioneer High School, Royal Center, IN – Tori DeMoss, director of bands

(concert band and athletic band)

2017/18:  (Mini-Partnership) North White High School, Monon, IN – Lindsay Knee, band director

(Tau Beta Sigma Outreach Band with North White Pep Band)

2018/19:  Pike High School, Indianapolis, IN – Aaron Burkhart, Ron Emmert, directors

(concert band and athletic band)

2018/19:  Lafayette Jefferson High School, Lafayette, IN – Chris Paulson, Bruce Knepper, Matt Finger, Jeff Parthun

(concert band and athletic band)

2018/19:  Elwood Jr/Sr High School, Elwood, IN – Paula Simmons, director of music

(concert band and athletic band)

2018/19:  (Mini-Partnership) Carroll Jr/Sr High School, Flora, IN – Allison Hopper, band director

(Tau Beta Sigma Outreach Band with Carroll Jr/Sr High Pep Band)

2019/20:  Wm. H. Harrison High School, West Lafayette, IN – Steve Cotten, Doug Koleszar, directors

(athletic band – Jazz & Concert Events were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2019/20:  Tipton High School, Tipton, IN – Matt Skiba, band director

(athletic band – Concert Events were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2019/20:  Anderson High School, Anderson, IN – Richard Geisler, Cordell Zehr, band directors

(athletic band – Concert Events were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2019/20:  (Mini-Partnership) North Montgomery High School, Crawfordsville, IN – Andy Simpkins, band director

(Tau Beta Sigma Outreach Band with North Montgomery Pep Band)

2020/21:  All Partners in Music Education events were cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

2021/22:  Tipton High School, Tipton, IN – Matt Skiba, band director

(Concert Events from Spring 2020 that were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2021/22:  Anderson High School, Anderson, IN – Richard Geisler, Cordell Zehr, band directors

(Jazz Events from Spring 2020 that were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2021/22:  Portage High School, Portage, IN – William Timmerman, Drew Rhoda, band directors

(concert band and athletic band)

(Athletic Events were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)

2021/22:  Maconaquah High School, Bunker Hill, IN – James Byrn, band director

(concert band and athletic band)

(Athletic Events were cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic.)