Dr. Catheryn Foster
Silver Hokie Band
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 is 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, and she serves on the editorial board for Contributions to Music Education. She is also the co-founder of the Rural Band Director Alliance, a national organization to support and empower rural band directors.
Dr. Polly Middleton
Orange Hokie Band
Polly Middleton is the director of the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech and conducts the Symphony Band. Previous to her appointment at Virginia Tech, she received a doctorate in music education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She earned the master of music degree in wind conducting from Indiana University and she received a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she was a drum major for the Marching Illini. Middleton was the associate director of bands at Plainfield (Ill.) High School. She is an active clinician and serves on the conducting faculty at the Indiana University Summer Music Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana.
She is an accomplished performer, having played horn in the top ensembles at both Indiana University and the University of Illinois. Middleton is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi and was honored with the Gary E. Smith Award for excellence in the Marching Illini and Wind Symphony. After earning her doctorate, she received the A. A. Harding Award, the highest recognition for outstanding performance, achievement, and service to the University of Illinois Bands. In 2012, she was named Music Professor of the Year, and in 2024, she received the College Award for Outreach Excellence at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Michael Scott Butler
Maroon Hokie Band
Michael Scott Butler serves as the Director of Bands at Youngstown State University in the Dana School of Music. In this role, he oversees all facets of the university’s band and orchestra program, conducting the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and the Dana Faculty Ensemble, and also serves as the Music Director for the YSU Youth Orchestra.
Since joining YSU in 2021, Dr. Butler has diligently upheld the rich and strong legacy of musical excellence. Under his guidance, the Wind Ensemble has consistently earned prestigious accolades for their outstanding performances. In 2023, the ensemble received multiple honors for excellence, securing second place in The American Prize Wind Ensemble category and was selected as one of the finest small university wind ensembles to showcase at the National College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conference. Furthermore, the ensemble had the honor of performing at the 2023 Northeast Ohio Band Invitational held at Severance Hall, home of The Cleveland Orchestra. Invitations for performances at the 2024 CBDNA North Central Conference and Ohio Music Educators Association Conference underscore Dr. Butler's commitment to musical excellence. He strongly believes in offering transformative and memorable experiences for musicians through frequent collaboration with high-level musicians, composers, and conductors. Notable recent guests include conductors Colonel Jason Fettig of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Maestro Anthony Parnther, Music Director of the San Bernadino Symphony Orchestra, and acclaimed composers Michael Markowski and Andrew Boysen, Jr.
Previously, Dr. Butler served as the Director of Bands for six years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where the Symphonic Wind Ensemble was recognized twice by CBDNA as one of the finest small university wind ensembles in the nation, first in 2017 and second in 2019. The ensemble was also selected through blind peer review to perform at the 2019 Wisconsin Chapter of the National Band Association Conference in Eau Claire. Additional experience includes serving as the Associate Director of Bands & Orchestra at Spruce Creek High School, the Director of Bands at William R. Boone High School, and teaching at the University of Florida. Ensembles under his leadership flourished and received invitations to perform at the Florida Music Educators Conference and the renowned Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Butler is an active clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, including guest conducting ensembles such as the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, the United States Army Field Band, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, and the Packard Band. He regularly collaborates with composers and has received high praise for his ensemble’s performances and interpretations. A staunch advocate of new music, he regularly commissions new works to ensure talented composers contribute to the repertoire. Recent commissions include leading a consortium by Juilliard composer Wayne Oquin, which was awarded the 2018 National Band Association’s William D. Revelli composition prize, and spearheading the commission of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe’s first composition for wind band. He remains active as a researcher and academic writer, contributing articles to music educator journals and the GIA Series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.” Additionally, he serves the profession on various committees including as the Ohio State Chair for CBDNA and as a judge for The American Prize.
The National Band Association has awarded Dr. Butler multiple Citations of Excellence for his contributions to wind bands. He is an active member of the College Band Director’s National Association, the National Band Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He is also a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Mu Phi Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi, and is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Dr. Derek Shapiro
Gold Hokie Band
Derek Shapiro is director of bands and assistant professor of music at Virginia Tech where he conducts the Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting. Prior to his appointment at Virginia Tech, he has held positions at Eastern Michigan University, Georgia Southern University, and Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, FL. A strong advocate for music education with nine years of public school experience, Shapiro has taught at the middle school and high school levels.
He is the co-lead editor of the award-winning Original Études for the Developing Conductor, a peer-reviewed Creative Commons-licensed collection of supplemental études designed to enhance contemporary conducting educational resources by amplifying the voices of composers from historically excluded groups. He has been published in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series and has presented at clinics across the United States.
Shapiro received a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in conducting from The University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Keene State College. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Virginia Music Educators Association.