THE SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
TWO DAY INTENSIVE
The Summer Leadership Institute fosters growth within the leadership of high school music programs. During this two-day event, 400 students from around the Southeast come together to learn effective leadership strategies and skills that will better equip them for leading themselves, their sections, and their ensemble.
The 2024 Institute sessions included keynote speaker Peter Boonshaft with special guest Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser in sessions designed to motivate and inspire young musicians. The 2025 keynote speakers will be announced soon! Breakout sessions with institute faculty focus on communication, team building, problem solving, public speaking and more. Directors attending the Director Track actively discuss new teaching methods focusing on highly effective and practical teaching techniques.
The Summer Leadership Institute is the place to get a head start on next year’s thinking today, make connections, get new ideas and learn new strategies from experienced educators and clinicians in the field.
2025 SCHEDULE
Monday
Registration Opens
Keynote Session #1
Tim Lautzenheiser
Meet your Group Leader
Breakout #1 & Lunch
Breakout #2
Keynote Session #2
Breakout #3
Breakout #4 & Dinner
Camp Photo
Campus Greenway
Keynote Session #3
Dismissal
Tuesday
Doors Open
Keynote Session #4
Breakout #5
Breakout #6 & Lunch
Report to Sports Arena for Special Topics
Special Topics
Drum Majors
Color Guard
Percussion
Orchestra
Choir
Woodwinds
Brass
Brass
Keynote Session #5
Dismissal
2025 SCHEDULE
Monday
Registration Opens
Keynote Session #1
Breakout #1
Lunch
Breakout #2
Keynote Session #2
Breakout #3
Breakout #4
Dinner
Camp Photo
Campus Greenway
Keynote Session #3
Dismissal
Tuesday
Doors Open
Keynote Session #4
Breakout #5
Breakout #6
Lunch
Report to Sports Arena for Special Topics
Special Topics - Observe a Session
Drum Majors
Color Guard
Percussion
Orchestra
Choir
Woodwinds
Brass
Keynote Session #5
Dismissal
2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bobby is Director of Bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Originally from Cherokee, North Carolina, Mr. Lambert attended Western Carolina University to obtain his Bachelors Degree in music education and then the University of Massachusetts to receive a graduate assistantship and a Masters of Music Degree in saxophone performance.
From 2001 until 2013, Mr. Lambert was the assistant band director at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois where he enjoyed great success in both the marching and concert arena. The marching band was a consistent finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and a repeat winner of the 2A National Championship. At the state level, the band continued its winning streak as the Class Champion for the State of Illinois Marching Band Championship begun in 1980. Under his direction, the Concert Band at Marian found great success in performance assessment: consistently receiving superior ratings and being named overall champion at The State of the Art Catholic Concert Band Festival, and class champion at The Illinois State University Concert Competition and The University of Illinois Superstate Concert Festival.
In 2005, he founded the school-wide leadership program at Marian, designing the curriculum and coordinating its implementation to over 1200 students with over 50 faculty members. Drawn from the world of business, finance, and psychology, the Leadership Program curriculum gives every student practical experience with communication skills, group dynamics, and ethical leadership.
Since 1997, Mr. Lambert has directed student leadership camps around the country. In 2013, Mr. Lambert headed the inaugural Bands of America Drum Major Institute at Ball State University as part of the BOA Summer Symposium. This contemporary camp brings the most experienced staff and the latest information to student leaders from across the country. Over 1000 high school students participate in various leadership programs with Mr. Lambert each summer. In 2017, he began the Charleston Band Director Institute which brings high school and middle school conductors to the campus of Wando to work with high school students as well as clinicians such as Greg Bimm on the art and craft of band direction.
In addition to serving as a consultant with several programs across the country, Mr. Lambert has worked with the All-American Marching Band sponsored by the U.S. Army and the Bands of America Tournament of Roses Marching Band. He has also served as guest conductor for honor bands in several states including Texas, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Illinois.
The Bands of Wando have continued to thrive under the direction of Mr. Lambert and his fellow directors. Since his arrival in 2014, the marching band has won every state championship for which it has competed (2015, 17, and 19) and placed at BOA Grand Nationals each appearance (2014-7th, 2016-8th, 2018-6th). The concert bands have performed at the SC State Music Educators Convention (2017), the USC Band Clinic (2017), and the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2019). As a program the Bands of Wando has seen the highest number of All-State membership every year along with consistent membership in the Bands of America Honor Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Band of America. The second concert band has performed at the SC State Music Educators Convention (2016) and was accepted to perform at the Bands of America Southeast Regional Concert Festival. The jazz bands have earned consistent superior ratings and also performed at the SC State Music Educators Convention (2018).
Mr. Lambert’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, ASBDA, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha. He has been honored with an induction to the Marian Catholic Fine Arts Hall of Fame in 2013 and voted a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2009. He now lives in South Carolina with his wife Alysia, who is a choral director, and their daughters, Maria and Olivia.
GEORGIA STATE FACULTY
T. Devin Reid is currently an active musician and educator throughout the southeast. A native of Fayetteville, NC, Mr. Reid is a 2005 recipient of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship. He holds a Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
In 2018 Mr. Reid accepted the position as Assistant Director of Bands at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Prior to this, Mr. Reid served as the interim assistant director of bands for two years. In this capacity he co-teaches the Panther Marching Band, conducts the Basketball Band, conducts the University Concert Band, teaches undergraduate and graduate level conducting courses, and supervises student teachers in the field. Since his arrival, the GSU Concert Band has grown to become the largest instrumental concert ensemble at the university. With Mr. Reid’s direction, the GSU Panther Band performed in 2019 as part of the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, been accepted as a CBDNA Southern Region top marching band in 2020, and been accepted to perform in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade.
Mr. Reid has presented clinics and workshops at numerous state music conventions. He is a recurrent guest conductor at the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival. He is also an active concert band and marching band clinician and adjudicator throughout Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, American String Teacher’s Association and is an endorser for Sabian Cymbals.
FEES
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN JAN 30
Student registration fees are based upon the group size. Registration includes access to all Student Track sessions, all materials for the Institute, Institute T-Shirt, lunch and dinner on Monday, and lunch on Tuesday. The registration deadline is May 17.
Student Group Size:
1-9 students: $105.00 per student
10-19 students: $100.00 per student
20-29 students: $95.00 per student
30+ students: $90.00 per student
In compliance with the University System of Georgia's Minors on Campus Policy, the Summer Leadership Institute requires all participants who will be under age 18 at the time of the program to have an adult director or adult chaperone present for the entire Institute.
Adult registration fees are per person and include access to all Keynote Sessions, lunch and dinner on Monday, and lunch on Tuesday. Directors are also provided access to all Director Track sessions and materials for the institute in addition to the Keynote Sessions and indicated meals. The registration deadline is May 17.
Adult Registration Cost:
$55 per person
Those who wish to be housed close to campus are responsible for booking their own rooms. Directors aiming to bring a body of students should plan to reserve a hotel block. There are numerous housing options near campus.