Webinar: Building Community in Your Ensembles by Hal Leonard

About This Webinar

The connection between music teachers and their students goes deep, and these lasting relationships tend to have tangible benefits on stage; often this is because of the community-building efforts of the teacher. Hear from our panel what steps they have taken to build community in their ensembles, and leave with some new ideas to try with your students!

Presenters

Jill Dobel

Jill Dobel directed public school bands in Iowa at varying grade levels for 17 years. She holds a degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. She is currently a Music Education Marketing Specialist at Sheet Music Plus. 

Jill continues to teach private saxophone and clarinet students, is active as a clinician and adjudicator, and performs with the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra and local North Iowa groups.

When not writing about, thinking about, or playing music, she enjoys watercolor painting, reading, and hanging out with her husband Scott, their pit bull Snickers, and their orange house goblin Hobbes.

Tanya Chanphanitpornkit

Tanatchaya (Tanya) Chanphanitpornkit, known for her joy, is a double bassist and conductor from Thailand focused on educating and inspiring young musicians. Chanphanitpornkit received her education from the Eastman School of Music.

She continued her education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where the emphasis of her Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees was on social justice through orchestral pedagogy and her pedagogy was highlighted in an exhibit for the Smith Learning Theater. Currently, Chanphanitpornkit is continuing her studies as a doctoral candidate at Teachers College studying first-generation college students in music conservatory.

Chanphanitpornkit currently teaches at Nyack Public Schools. She is the Music Director of New York Youth Symphony’s Crescendo Orchestra and conductor of Manhattan School of Music Precollege Symphony Orchestra. Her higher education positions include Teachers College, Columbia University, William Paterson University, and The College of New Jersey. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit Girls Who Conduct. She has served as the Assistant Conductor for New York Youth Symphony’s GRAMMY Award-winning Orchestra.

Recently, she was awarded the Eastman Centennial Award, where in honor of its centennial year, Eastman created the Centennial Award to recognize 100 individuals who exemplify Eastman’s mission and legacy through their commitment to artistry, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and/or philanthropy. In 2022, she was awarded the Early Career Award by Teachers College, Columbia University. As she continues on her journey in music education alongside her students, she will always base her decisions and teachings on the belief that the symphony is for everyone.

Sarah Staebell

Sarah Staebell is a proud public school music educator, serving the students and families in the Brighton Central School District in Rochester, NY for the last 15 years. In her role as a vocal music teacher, she runs a high school program that includes 9 choirs and multiple stage productions per year.

Sarah holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music. In addition to public school teaching, Sarah specializes in musical theatre for performers of all ages and is passionate about making the music experiences accessible to all. As a director of Rochester NY’s Artists Unlimited, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing musical theatre and performance opportunities for individuals with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities, Sarah founded the Voices choir, a group of over 100 singers that highlights the vocal abilities of kids and adults with disabilities.

Sarah is passionate about creating community through music, she is dedicated to making ensemble singing possible for everyone, and she is driven to help every singer she works with to succeed. Her work also focuses on preparing student teachers for life after college, as well as developing innovative and creative programming for choir. She is an advocate for all students as a coordinator of the Brighton Central Schools music department, an officer on the Rochester Area Council of Administrators of Music Education, and an active member of NYSSMA, NAFME, and ACDA. She can’t wait to connect with you!

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