GRAMMY Music Educator Award Finalist and Yamaha Performing Bass Artist Bethany Robinson currently serves as the Director of Jazz at Purdue University and the Festival Director for the annual Purdue Jazz Fest, the largest college-run jazz festival in the US.

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She began her career as a 6-12 music teacher and then high school band director in Noblesville, Indiana. In 2011, Bethany received her first Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant, exploring jazz in both New Orleans and New York City. She attended the Band Director Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center, composed her first piece for big band, and came home to Noblesville High School to implement an entirely new concept of jazz pedagogy. Putting her new-found inspiration into practice, her jazz program at Noblesville expanded from 1 to 6 high school big bands over the next 10 years. The top ensemble made regular ISSMA Indiana Jazz State Finalist appearances, was state honor band in 2023, received first place finishes at both Ball State and Purdue University Jazz Festivals over the years, and was a 2-time finalist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City.

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Outside the classroom, Bethany spends her time presenting at conferences, working with student ensembles around the globe, mentoring band directors to build dynamic jazz culture in their classrooms, directing honor bands, and co-leading Jazz Girls Day (so far in Indiana, North Carolina, and Germany). As an avid performer on upright bass, electric bass, and vocals, Bethany has recorded and performed state-side and around the globe with many artists including Todd Williams, Everett Greene, Sarah Scharbrough, Brenda Williams, Monika Herzig, Katherine Nagy, and has opened 3 times for Yamaha Artist Dave Koz. 

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Awards:

GRAMMY Music Educator Award Finalist

3x GRAMMY Music Educator Award Nominee

Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year

Teacher of the Year, Noblesville Schools

Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist

Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero

Indiana High School Music Educator of the Year

Lilly Creative Teaching Fellow #1 (Exploring Jazz in NOLA & NYC)

Lilly Creative Teaching Fellow #2 (Exploring Jazz in Brazil)

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All-State Jazz Conductor:

New York

Iowa

North Carolina (MS)

South Carolina (Combo & HS)

Missouri

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Service:

Director of Jazz, Purdue University

Festival Director, Purdue Jazz Fest

Executive Board/Vice President, Jazz Education Network

Chair, Jazz Education Network Education Committee

Member, GRAMMY Recording Academy

Immediate Past Chair, National Association for Music Education Council for Jazz Education

​Past-President, Indiana Jazz Educators Association

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Summer Camp Clinician:

Carnegie Hall Summer Music Educator Workshops

Jazz Camp West

Butler University Summer Jazz Camp

Music For All Jazz Camp

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Guest Adjudicator:

Essentially Ellington Regionals

(Newark, Orlando, North Carolina)

Butler Jazz Festival

Ball State University Jazz Festival

Purdue Ft. Wayne Jazz Festival

Mt. Hood Jazz Festival

Southeast Missouri State University

Elizabeth City State University

Western Australian Schools' Jazz Festival, Perth

Victoria Schools' Jazz Festival, Melbourne

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Presentations:

Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic

Midwest Band Clinic, Jazz Pre-Conference

Australia National Band & Orchestra Conference (keynote)

New York State Summer Music Conference (keynote)

Glasgow Music Teacher Workshops, BBC Scotland Symphony Hall

Music for All, National Festival

Music for All, Summer Directors Academy

Indiana Music Educators Conference

Oklahoma Bandmasters Summer Convention

Ohio Music Educators Association Conference

South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference

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Program Development:

Created Indiana All-District Jazz Annual Event

Created Annual Junior All-State Jazz Ensemble

Indiana All-State Jazz Combo Featured Concert at Indy Jazz Fest

Co-Leader Annual Indiana Jazz Girls Day

Co-Founder of Jazz Pre-Conference at Midwest Clinic

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Guest University Lectures:

Ball State University

Indiana University

Butler University

Vanderbilt University

Purdue Fort Wayne​​​

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Band Leader Appearances:

Carmel Jazz Fest

Victoria Schools' Jazz Festival, Melbourne

Grove City Music Festival

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Guest Jazz Ensemble Clinician/Residencies:

Atlanta area:

(Hillgrove, North Gwinnett, Cambridge)

Chicago area:

(Mundeline, Downers Grove, Oswego)

Indiana Schools:

(Carmel, Penn, North Central, Fishers, Avon, Decatur, Lebanon,

Lafayette Area Schools, Whiteland, Crown Point, Homestead) 

Perth, Australia:

(Western Australia Youth Jazz Orchestra, Scotch College,

Methodist Ladies' College, Churchlands, Hale School)

McKinney North HS: McKinney, TX

Kings Academy: West Palm Beach, FL

Area Schools Workshop: Glasgow, Scotland 

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