On Thursday, October 27, Madison Scouts Educational Director, Nick Monzi, joined by Madison Scouts Alumnus and Wisconsin band director Sean Conway, will present “Marching Band Playbook – Foundational Strategies for Success.” The presentation will be from 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. in Rooms E/H at the Monona Terrace. Sean and Nick are familiar with the many struggles a band director might face as they inherit or build a marching program. No matter your goal (parade, competitive, homecoming, etc.), the tools provided in this session will ensure directors are equipped with the knowledge they need to run a successful program of any size and function.

Sean Conway is Director of Bands at St. Croix Central High School in Hammond, WI, where he has been teaching since 2017. Previously, he performed (2009-12) and worked (2013-18) for the Madison Scouts as a member of the brass education team. Sean also spent two years as an assistant director at Waukesha North High School and Butler Middle School in Waukesha, WI.

Sean has extensive experience in a variety of marching arts settings. He graduated from Rosemount High School, 15-time Minnesota State Marching Band Champion. Afterward, he participated in UW-Eau Claire’s Blugold Marching Band, a non-competitive band that boasts over 450 members. Sean taught both the River Falls H.S. (student teacher and staff member) and Waukesha North H.S. marching bands, programs that have a long tradition of success in WSMA competition.

When Conway arrived at St. Croix Central H.S., the program’s marching band component of the curriculum was minimal. Given his belief in the value of marching band as a part of a well-rounded music education, Sean made the jump to engage his students in the activity. From the get-go, his intention was not to engage the band in competition, but rather to provide another path to music-making and engagement.

“There are wonderful opportunities to engage in marching band in our state through programming provided by WSMA. It is my hope that we can inspire young educators to start a marching band of any kind; homecoming, parade, and/or festival or competitive performance, and to feel competent and confident in teaching and operating the program,” said Conway.

“Given Sean’s extensive experience in both drum corps and Wisconsin marching music education spaces, he is uniquely qualified to bring helpful tools to our music education community,” said David Lofy, Forward Performing Arts Programs Director. David is a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (music education) graduate and also the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at UWEC. David called upon his own experiences when considering how to best utilize the stage provided by WSMA; an opportunity Forward Performing Arts receives annually as part of a partnership between both organizations. 

The 2022 Wisconsin State Music Conference is being held Wednesday, October 26 through Saturday, October 29, 2022 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center at One John Nolen Drive, Madison, Wisconsin.

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