KEITH W. HODGSON - Conductor/ Music Director
Keith W. Hodgson is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Since 2016, he has taught graduate & undergraduate conducting, percussion methods, and fieldwork experiences and supervises graduate student teachers in their elementary and secondary field placements as Coordinator of Student Teaching.
Mr. Hodgson is a Past President of the Eastern Division of the National Association for Music Education and past Chair of NAfME’s Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee (PLPC). He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Bushwackers drum and bugle corps, NJMEA’s Crescendo Foundation, and for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble. Mr. Hodgson is proud to be a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician and Director of Education for Zeswitz Music.
Mr. Hodgson is a doctoral student pursuing his Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Organizational Leadership through Aspen University in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from William Patterson University, NJ, and his master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Rowan University, NJ, with supervisor and principal certifications. Mr. Hodgson’s teaching career includes twenty-six years as a high school band director in New Jersey, the majority of which were as Director of Instrumental Music at Mainland Regional HS in Linwood, NJ. His experience with concert, jazz, marching, orchestra, and chamber ensembles is extensive.
Mr. Hodgson is the Conductor and Music Director for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, an adult community band of music educators and professional musicians. Mr. Hodgson has held the principal conducting post of the SJAWE since its founding in 1997. Mr. Hodgson is also the Head Director of the American Music Abroad Gold Tour, an annual three-week summer music tour of band, choral, and orchestra students performing in six European countries. He has over 25 years of experience in group travel and performing for European audiences in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Mr. Hodgson is an active guest conductor for high school honor ensembles, community music, and summer music camps, and as a band and orchestra clinician, guest speaker, and professional development presenter. He annually presents at numerous state, regional and national conferences. In 2007, he presented at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago on the music certificate for The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. As a conductor, he has studied with many master conductors and teachers, including Edward Lisk, Stephen Melillo, Anthony Maiello, and Mallory Thompson. His guest conducting appearances have included honors ensembles in NJ, CT, MD, NY, PA, AK, AL, and Europe.
Mr. Hodgson is a Past-President of the New Jersey Music Educators Association; a National Board Certified Teacher; the recipient of the 2016 New Jersey Governor's Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music; a Grammy Nominated Music Educator Quarter-Finalist in 2014; and was honored as the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Music Educators Association. Mr. Hodgson lives in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, with his wife Jennifer, a high school band director, and their four dogs… Jack, Buddy, Mya, and Mindy.
Mr. Hodgson is a Past President of the Eastern Division of the National Association for Music Education and past Chair of NAfME’s Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee (PLPC). He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Bushwackers drum and bugle corps, NJMEA’s Crescendo Foundation, and for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble. Mr. Hodgson is proud to be a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician and Director of Education for Zeswitz Music.
Mr. Hodgson is a doctoral student pursuing his Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Organizational Leadership through Aspen University in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from William Patterson University, NJ, and his master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Rowan University, NJ, with supervisor and principal certifications. Mr. Hodgson’s teaching career includes twenty-six years as a high school band director in New Jersey, the majority of which were as Director of Instrumental Music at Mainland Regional HS in Linwood, NJ. His experience with concert, jazz, marching, orchestra, and chamber ensembles is extensive.
Mr. Hodgson is the Conductor and Music Director for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, an adult community band of music educators and professional musicians. Mr. Hodgson has held the principal conducting post of the SJAWE since its founding in 1997. Mr. Hodgson is also the Head Director of the American Music Abroad Gold Tour, an annual three-week summer music tour of band, choral, and orchestra students performing in six European countries. He has over 25 years of experience in group travel and performing for European audiences in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Mr. Hodgson is an active guest conductor for high school honor ensembles, community music, and summer music camps, and as a band and orchestra clinician, guest speaker, and professional development presenter. He annually presents at numerous state, regional and national conferences. In 2007, he presented at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago on the music certificate for The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. As a conductor, he has studied with many master conductors and teachers, including Edward Lisk, Stephen Melillo, Anthony Maiello, and Mallory Thompson. His guest conducting appearances have included honors ensembles in NJ, CT, MD, NY, PA, AK, AL, and Europe.
Mr. Hodgson is a Past-President of the New Jersey Music Educators Association; a National Board Certified Teacher; the recipient of the 2016 New Jersey Governor's Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music; a Grammy Nominated Music Educator Quarter-Finalist in 2014; and was honored as the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Music Educators Association. Mr. Hodgson lives in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, with his wife Jennifer, a high school band director, and their four dogs… Jack, Buddy, Mya, and Mindy.