Colby Powers (He/Him)
Educator// Conductor// Friend
Born and raised in Aurora Colorado, Colby has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University. He currently attends Illinois State University as he pursues his Masters of Music in Wind Band Conducting. His duties include assisting with the Big Red Marching Machine, Pep Band, assisting with undergraduate conducting courses, as well as guest conducting the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, and University Band. While his primary instrument is the clarinet, he has also taken lessons and performed on the alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, and bassoon. Colby has played in Orchestras, Wind Ensembles, Jazz bands, Jazz Combos, and Musical Pits at both the collegiate level and as a gigging musician.
Professionally, Colby has made a name for himself in Bloomington-Normal as a jazz band director, private studio teacher, performer and conductor. Since 2023, Colby has been an Assistant Jazz Band Director with the Normal West High School jazz bands, where he directs the “Jazz Katz” ensemble. In Spring 2024, Colby added an additional jazz band position as a Jazz Director at George Evans Junior High. In both positions, Mr. Powers has been responsible for leading and scheduling rehearsals, choosing appropriate music, and preparing for performances.
Outside of teaching in the public schools, Colby also is the Program Manager of the Bloomington-Normal Youth Orchestra based in Bloomington-Normal as well as the conductor of the Concert Orchestra in the Youth Music Illinois Program based in Peoria Illinois. Colby also runs a personal studio, currently made up of over 14 students all from a wide variety of backgrounds. Colby is also a teacher through Illinois Wesleyans preparatory program which supplies lessons to local kids in the Bloomington-Normal Area. As an up and coming music educator, Colby strives to inspire his students to follow their passion and go find what makes them happy in this ever changing world.
Committment to Equity,Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:
Growing up in a middle-class, white, home in a suburb of Denver Colorado, I was shown what it means to live a life of privilege. Being able to walk freely in my town, school, or park without the fear of being harassed, bullied, assaulted or killed is my way of life. Yet, as I grew older I came to accept that my position in this world was because of the privilege that many of my friends, neighbors, classmates and teachers would beg for. This prompted self reflection and study on how to do my part in providing a better world for those who look, act, and exist differently than I do.
Diversity, as defined by Merriam Webster, means “The quality or condition of having or being composed of differing elements (such as forms, types, or ideas).” Diversity as a word however, only gets us so far. Many individuals, groups and institutions acknowledge it, recognize it and accept that it is around us, yet very few dig deeper into it to better understand the true beauty that can be found within a diverse community and culture. Not only do diverse person(s), both alive and deceased, have so much to offer, but everyone around them learns so much from their stories and ideas. As someone who believes in diversity and strives to embody it, in a field and society that prospered because of it, I will work to promote, empower and elevate the voices of those who are different then me.
I strive to provide opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be heard, seen, validated and understood. Oftentimes this means stepping out of the spotlight so that those individuals may shine, I will do so unapologetically. I design educational outlets so that all youth may participate. I program repertoire to encompass works by all composers instead of sticking to the traditional canon that we often fall into. I collaborate with guest conductors, guest composers, and other educators, who strive to embody values of kindness, empathy, generosity, and sincerity to every individual. I evaluate the elements of everything that I do as an educator, musician, administrator, conductor and person, to ensure that I am sensitive and bold in my actions to provide a quality experience for everyone that engages with me as a teacher, student, co-worker and human being.
Hate, discrimination, bigotry, racism, or just the general disrespect to another individual for being different then oneself, will have no place in my classroom, in my workplace or in my immediate vicinity. Every individual deserves the right to live in a world without hate directed towards them just because they are different then another. This is not my statement on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging because mere words will make no difference. This is my commitment to Equity, Diversity Inclusion and Belonging and promise to fulfill it in any position or role that I may receive.
Teaching philosophy:
My goal as a teacher is to inspire and encourage not just a love for music but a genuine care for others we interact with. Teaching and the field of music are both great passions of mine so it only makes sense to teach people I care about with a subject I care about. It is my hope that through my dedicated passion for music, my students will find passion in not just music, but passion for a better world around them.
I believe there are a few facets to be an outstanding teacher:
Respect. Mutual respect from all parties involved allows the teaching environment to be clear and positive. I expected to be respected by students and my students can be confident in receiving the same respect. I shall respect my students and their opinions, views, interests, and time. Respect will be given unapologetically in my classroom and I expect it to be reciprocated, not just to myself but to other students, admin, guest artists and themselves.
Responsibility. I have accepted my role as an educator knowing that I am responsible for educating and fostering an environment of positive growth. I do so with confidence and simultaneous care. I shall assign work that I believe will benefit students in their musical and life long journeys. I will hold students, and myself, to a high standard of generating pride, kindness, generosity and personal responsibility as that is the job of an outstanding teacher.
Communication. One must be clear in the communication that they give and how they receive it. I will be clear in my communication of deadlines, expectations and standards from the first day of class. The expectation for all is that communication is proactive, respectful to all parties, and adjustable based upon individual preferences