Episode 48 - Max McKee

Max McKee is the founder of the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) and the American Band College (ABC). In this episode, the longtime educator tells the story of how and why he founded WIBC and explains how the curriculum he developed at Southern Oregon University eventually became the American Band College. Topics: Max's musical background and his early experience at the Gunnison music camp that set his course and has served as the inspiration for much of what he does. The story of the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) including the story of the it's founding, it's format, and what a director should expect if they go. How Max's belief in experiential learning for his music education students at the Southern Oregon University  led to the American Band College. The American Band College program. Links: Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) Bandworld Bandworld Top 100 American Band College Download Center Overtone Series Videos Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry Biography: Editor of Bandworld Magazine and co-founder of Western International Band Clinic, he is Professor Emeritus of Music at Southern Oregon Univ. where he served as Director of Bands from 1967 to 1994. He is now Executive Director of The American Band College masters degree program in which over 200 candidates from over 47 states and 8 foreign countries are enrolled. Max also continues as a WIBC Board member, has served on the Oregon Arts Commission and in 2014 was elected Chairman of the Board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He received the NBA Citation of Excellence and is a two-time recipient of the Sousa Foundation's Sudler Certificate of Merit. In 1999 he was inducted into the Northwest Bandmasters Assoc. and received the Sousa Foundation's highest award, The Medal of Honor. He is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, hosted its 1988 national convention in Ashland and served on its Board of Directors from 2000-2002. Max was also presented the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic's Music Industry Award, the WBDI World of Music Award and the A.A. Harding Award by the ASBDA.