Neighbor News
Northern Virginia Youth Winds Announces New Directors
The City of Fairfax Band Association welcomes two exciting new young directors to the Northern Virginia Youth Winds Ensemble
The City of Fairfax Band Association welcomes a new NVYW leadership team: Mr. Brett Dodson, Director, Senior Winds and Mr. Martin Blount, Director, Junior Winds.
Brett Dodson, a former FCPS Band Director at Kilmer Middle and Woodson High Schools, holds degrees from James Madison University and Bowling Green State University. His ensembles were twice featured at the Virginia Music Educators Association State Conference. In 2015 the Kilmer Middle School Band was one of only three programs in the country recognized as a National Program of Excellence by the National Band Association. He currently maintains a private trumpet teaching studio and is an active clinician and coach throughout Northern Virginia.
Martin Blount is currently a band director in the Loudoun County Public Schools system. He opened Loudoun County's newest middle school, Brambleton Middle School, in 2017. The band program at Brambleton has grown to over 500 students in just two years and features five concert bands and a percussion ensemble. Previously, he served as Band Director for two years at Stone Hill Middle School (Loudoun County), six years at Gildersleeve Middle School (Newport News), and three years at Woodside High School. Mr. Blount was the 2015 Newport News Public Schools Teacher of the Year (middle school division).
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Both Mr. Dodson and Mr. Blount bring to NVYW a proven track record of success and a tremendous enthusiasm for working with young people in developing their musical skills and training. Both are very active not only as teachers but as performers with various musical
organizations in the local area and beyond.
Auditions for Northern Virginia Youth Winds will be held the last two weeks of May. Current members who wish to continue on with NVYW will be accepted into next year's ensembles without audition, with placement auditions occurring in the fall. Rising 9th graders will
automatically be placed in Senior Winds for the 2019-2020 year. Visit https://www.fairfaxband.org/nvyw-auditions/ for details and to sign up for participation in next year's ensemble.
