The first installment of the WHM Blog Series features this years’ Women In Music Speaker, Robyn Wilkes.
The Women In Music Speaker Series began during the 1997 District Convention season to tie into the mission of the sorority at that time. Continuing through the years, this series has become a staple at all conventions and has continued to be a way to encourage members to continue their support of our current mission statement and learn more about women in the music community.
The National and District Councils are proud to present the 2012 SED Women In Music Speaker as Robyn Wilkes.
Robyn Wilkes is in her third year as the Director of Instrumental Studies at the State College of Florida inBradenton where she conducts the wind ensemble, orchestra, and teaches classes in music appreciation, music history, and music theory. In addition to her responsibilities at the college, Ms. Wilkes is also the conductor of the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, former conductor of the Sarasota Orchestra Youth Symphony, conductor of the Advanced Band for the Sarasota Orchestra Music Camp, and performs at area churches on trumpet and percussion. She received her B.S. Degree in Music Education, Magna Cum Laude, from theUniversity ofTennessee,Chattanooga in 1997 and attended theUniversity ofTennessee,Knoxville as a graduate assistant for the “Pride of the Southland” Marching Band, earning a Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting in 1999. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Music Education atBostonUniversity with a research emphasis on popular music in secondary education.
Ms.Wilkes is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Orchestra Association, Women Band Directors International, and the National Band Association. She served as Treasurer for the Seventh District of the Georgia Music Educators Association for five years and is currently President of the Women Band Directors International. She has received the Silver Baton Award from that organization and has been recognized by GMEA for her outstanding contributions to music education in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, Ms. Wilkes was awarded the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association in recognition of her band’s performance at theUniversityofGeorgia’s annual Janfest event.
Prior to coming to the State College of Florida, Ms. Wilkes was the band director atRidgelandHigh School inWalkerCounty,Georgia from 1999 to 2008 where her bands won numerous region, state, and national marching and concert band competitions. During the 2008-2009 school year, she served as Instructor of Music atCovenantCollege onLookout Mountain,Georgia where she conducted the jazz band and chamber orchestra and taught classes in music history, music appreciation, and symphonic literature.
