Conn-Selmer has announced that one of the nation’s leaders in music education and highly-regarded music industry professional, Tom Bracy, has joined the company as the newly created director of educational programs within the Division of Education.
“It is with much enthusiasm we welcome Tom Bracy to the Conn-Selmer Division of Education,” says Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, vice president of Education. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the ongoing expansion of our growing outreach programs and a rich history of organizational and administrative success.”
Tom Bracy brings nearly 30 years of music education experience to the Division of Education. He began his career as a band director for the Archdiocese of Chicago while attending Northeastern Illinois University. While continuing as a band director for nearly 30 years, he also served in other positions such as Executive Director for the Association for Catholic Music Education and then became Area Manager for the Chicago Park District, one of the largest geographical and most diverse communities within the Chicago area.
For the past ten years, Bracy has held various positions at Chicago’s Merit School of Music, including music teacher, director of operations, acting director of development, COO, and most recently executive director.
Mr. Bracy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Management as well as a Master’s of Management, and a Master’s of Business Administration from North Park University.
Conn-Selmer has made an ongoing commitment to invest in its Division of Education, allowing it to reach more music educators and spread its message on a more global scale. The Division of Education continues to build and expand upon its core strategies: VIP Program, Conn-Selmer School Program, Conn-Selmer Institute and the Music Administration Collaborative. These strategies and initiatives were developed to better service and assist the music education community with the demands and challenges that are placed upon them on a daily basis. With the addition of Bracy, along with clinicians such as Paula Crider, Frank Troyka, Richard Saucedo, Larry Livingston, and Gary Markham, Conn-Selmer has amassed some of the best talent in the industry.
As Director of Educational Programs, Bracy will collaborate with Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Michael Kamphuis, Managing Director Educational Services, and key Division staff to develop, administer and communicate the vision and strategies that support the educational programs within the Division of Education, including the VIP and Conn-Selmer Institute Programs. Under Tom’s leadership, his team will work to continue to build and cultivate relationships with key educational influencers, including music administrators, band directors, and educational policy advisors.
Says Conn-Selmer President & CEO John Stoner, “Conn-Selmer has a strong vision for advancing music education, and we have built an incredible team to make significant progress towards that vision. With Tom and the rest of the Division of Education working collaboratively with all of Conn-Selmer divisions to equip music educators with resources, networks, and tools to build, enhance, and sustain music education, I am excited about the imprint we are making on music education and the legacy that we are creating for the generations that follow us.“
