Chris Behrens, Director of Bands, Beloit Memorial High School, WI

"Music is more than playing in a band rehearsal every day."  During the pandemic, Chris and his music teacher colleagues created a series of four-week short courses students could take in addition to their ensembles to learn more about music. He also took an idea from one of his students and developed a summer jazz mentoring program.  Oh, and did I mention his jazz ensemble has received nine invitations to Wynton Marsalis' Essentially Ellington Festival in New York?  There's a lot to unpack during our conversation and it is a good one!