ABOUT
Our Story
In the spring of 2023, Catheryn Foster and Melody Causby met with Richard Irby, the Vice President for Band and Orchestra for Pecknel Music Company, and Jeremiah Manriquez, the CEO of Pecknel Music Company, to pitch an idea for a Rural Band Director Summit. They wanted to bring rural band directors in the southeastern United States together for a one-day professional development workshop, and they were in search of financial support. It was in this meeting that Jeremiah encouraged Catheryn and Melody to think bigger and more outside of the box. During their conversation, Jeremiah made the statement, "I actually don't hear you talking about an event, I hear you describing an organization." After the meeting, Catheryn and Melody went to work. They surveyed rural band directors, created mission and vision statements, and tried to figure out how to get a national organization off the ground.
Since that time, the Rural Band Director Alliance has over 1,400 members and primarily operates as a vibrant social media community. The organization offers monthly webinars as well as the podcast, "Rural Band Reflections," found on most major streaming platforms. In 2024, Shawn Knopp and Tim Heath were brought on to round out the RBDA Executive Board. Richard, Jeremiah, and Pecknel Music continue to be among our biggest supporters and have helped increase RBDA's visibility at several state music education in-service conferences.
Rural band programs do not necessarily fit into a specific mold, but it is our hope that RBDA can serve as a network of support for band directors, no matter the uniqueness of their program.
Mission
To advance music education in rural communities by supporting their band directors and advocating for their students.
Vision
To empower and equip band directors in rural communities to produce high quality instrumental programs.
Meet the Executive Board
Dr. Catheryn Foster
Co-Founder
Dr. Melody Causby
Co-Founder
Dr. Shawn Knopp
Board Memeber
Dr. Tim Heath
Board Member
Executive Board Bios
Dr. Catheryn Foster
Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Director for Graduate Studies in Music Education at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her responsibilities include advising and instructing graduate students in the Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program. Foster received her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her Master of Music Education (MMEd) from Valdosta State University, and her Bachelor of Music Education (BMEd) from Columbus State University. Prior to her appointment at Virginia Tech, she served on the faculty at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina as the Program Coordinator for Music Education and Lecturer in Music Education. Dr. Foster also served as the Associate Director of Bands at High Point University (NC). She taught public school in Georgia, serving as the Director of Bands at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta and the Assistant Director of Bands at Perry High School in Perry. Foster serves as a clinician, adjudicator, professional development facilitator, and guest lecturer throughout the southeast. She is the co-author of Developing Error Detection Skills in the Wind Band Educator published by GIA Publications, Inc. Her research has been published in Journal of Music Teacher Education, Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education, and Qualitative Research in Music Education. She has presented her research at state, regional, and national conferences. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education and the Virginia Music Educators Association.
Dr. Melody Causby
Dr. Melody Causby is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was recognized as the 2023 Junior Faculty Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She also serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music. Before coming to USM, she taught band in North Carolina for fourteen years at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels before earning her Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Causby's passions and research interests are in music teacher training and supporting music education programs in rural areas. She also enjoys being an active clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, author, and presenter.
Dr. Shawn M. Knopp
Dr. Shawn M. Knopp currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education, Music Education Program Director and Director of Bands at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. In his multifaceted role, he teaches a variety of courses in music education, conducting, instrumental methods and advises the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education. He is conductor of the Wind Ensemble and Campus Band and provides administrative leadership for the entire band program which includes the Wind Ensemble, Campus Band, Basketball Band, chamber wind ensembles and nine applied faculty.
While at Friends University, Shawn has collaborated with numerous artists and composers including premieres by composers Carol Brittin Chambers and Chandler Wilson. Beyond the university setting, Shawn is highly sought after as an honor band conductor, clinician, adjudicator, professional development facilitator, and guest lecturer.
Prior to his time at Friends, Shawn served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Tabor College. During his tenure at Tabor he spearheaded the development of a jazz ensemble and drumline, and established a stipend-based basketball band, all of which significantly contributed to the program's remarkable growth. Shawn has also served on the faculties of McPherson College, Central Christian College and Bethany College.
Shawn's roots in public school teaching are noteworthy, having served as the Director of Bands for the Smoky Valley Public Schools (KS) from 2005-2016, his leadership led the Smoky Valley High School Concert Band to consistent First Division-Superior ratings at the State Large Group Music Festival. The Concert Band was invited to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Convention on three separate occasions and the Jazz Ensemble once. Shawn began his public school teaching career as Director of Bands for the Solomon Public Schools (KS) from 2003-2005.
His commitment to professional organizations includes memberships in the National Association for Music Education, Kansas Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, Kansas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Within the Kansas Music Educators Association South Central District and the Kansas Bandmasters Association, Shawn has held various leadership roles, including President, Vice-President, High School Honor Band Chair, Middle School Honor Band Chair, and Intercollegiate Band Chair.
Knopp received his Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting and Bachelor of Music Education all from Kansas State University.
Shawn and his wife Libby are proud parents of twin daughters, Madelyn and Violet.
Dr. Tim Heath
Dr. Timothy Heath is the Director of Bands and an Assistant Teaching Professor of Music at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At Wake Forest, he oversees all aspects of the band program and teaches conducting and wind band history. Dr. Heath was previously the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Samford University.
As a conductor, Dr. Heath serves as a clinician across the United States for honor bands and other guest-conducting events. He recently joined the Triad Area Medical Orchestra as a conductor and music director. Dr. Heath is an active clinician and adjudicator for concert bands across the United States. As a music educator, Dr. Heath has presented sessions and research at the state and national levels, published in The Instrumentalist, The National Band Association Journal, and Percussive Notes.
As a percussionist, he regularly performs with the Piedmont Wind Symphony, a professional Wind Ensemble based in Winston-Salem, NC. His percussion background includes playing with the Tuscaloosa Symphony, the Alabama Winds, the Greensboro Philharmonia, and other concert ensembles. He is also an active drum set performer.
Dr. Heath serves on the Small College/University committee of the College Band Directors National Association and is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, College Music Society, Kappa Delta Epsilon Education Fraternity, Mu Phi Epsilon, WASBE, IGEB and is an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity at the University of Alabama and Wake Forest University.
Dr. Heath holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a Doctorate from The University of Alabama, and a Professional Artist Certificate in Conducting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Dr. Heath is a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician and proudly supports Sabian Cymbals, Blackswamp Percussion, Remo Drumheads, and Innovative Percussion.