HOME OF SALUTING AMERICA'S BAND DIRECTORS™
ADVISORY TEAM
ADVISORY TEAM
ADVISORY TEAM
Thanks to the following all-volunteer team members for making the Saluting America's Band Directors™ projects possible.
ADVISORY TEAM
ADVISORY TEAM
Karen Sewell, Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, President
Karen is the widow of former Pickerington (Ohio) High School Band Director Mike Sewell. She was the inspiration behind the creation of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation in 2017. Karen is the Foundation president and board member. The Foundation is the proud sponsor of the Tournament of Roses Michael D. Sewell Service Through Music Award. This award was organized by the Sewell family and the Foundation as a way to honor Mike’s dedication to using music with his students to encourage service in their schools, the community, and across the country. Karen & Mike's four children are alumni of the Pickerington High School Band program. Karen continues to support the Pickerington schools music programs in multiple ways, including the combined high school bands’ trip to march in the 2019 Rose Parade.
Tim Lautzenheiser, National Outreach
Tim began his teaching career at Northern Michigan University, moving to the University of Missouri, and then to New Mexico State University. During that time, Tim developed highly acclaimed groups in both instrumental and vocal music. Following his tenure in the college band directing world, he spent three years as Executive Director of Bands of America. In 1981, Tim created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to manage the many requests for teacher inservice workshops, student leadership seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of effective leadership training. After thirty-plus years of clinic presentations, some three million students have experienced one of his popular sessions. Tim presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He is a nationally recognized voice touting the importance of arts education for every child. His books continue to be bestsellers in the educational community. He is also co-author of popular band method, Essential Elements, as well as the Senior Educational Consultant for Hal Leonard, Inc. Tim is also the Senior Educational Advisor for Music for All, and NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants). He holds degrees from Ball State University and the University of Alabama; in 1995 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music. He continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at Ball State University, Indiana-Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he is a member of the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and the Western International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors. He is presently the Chair of the National Association for Music Education Music Honor Society.
Dan Ross, Scholastic Outreach
Dan is retired from the Ohio High School Athletic Association as commissioner and executive director. His passion, enthusiasm and tireless efforts to promote the important role that interscholastic athletics and extracurricular programs play for students helped the OHSAA become one of the most respected high school associations in the country. He has served as a superintendent, principal, teacher, counselor, college instructor and coach for 33 years, as well as a contest official for 20 years. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Ohio Dominican College in 1971 and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Xavier University in 1973. He was awarded his PhD at Bowling Green State University in 1983 in educational administration and supervision and has completed additional postgraduate work.
