Keith W. Hodgson, Biography

Spring  2009

Keith William Hodgson, received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ in 1990 and his Master’s degree from Rowan University in Educational Administration and School Leadership in 2008. Over the past 20 years, he has continued to stay current with his profession through graduate studies in music education at Central Connecticut State University, Rutgers University, West Chester University as well as attending the MidWest Clinic in Chicago for fifteen consecutive years.

Mr. Hodgson, now in his nineteenth year as a high school band director, is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey where he oversees a three-tiered Concert Band program, conducting the Wind Symphony, (an nine time NJ State Gala Honor Band 2000-2008) and the Symphonic Band.  He also directs the Jazz Express, and teaches the Music Theory and Advanced Placement Music Theory classes. He has been a Marching Band director for seventeen years and recently led the Mainland Band to win two NJ State Championships in USSBA Group II in 2005 and in 2006.

In 2003, Mr. Hodgson received education’s highest honor, National Board Certification. This is a three-year certification program that recognizes highly accomplished teachers in their field.  Mr. Hodgson was the first music educator from New Jersey to receive National Board Certification. Mr. Hodgson has also worked for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in the benchmarking, training, and scoring processes for the National Board Certificate in music. He presented a session on National Board Certification in music at the NJMEA Conference in 2003 and the MidWest Band Clinic in 2007.

Mr. Hodgson is the founding Conductor and Music Director for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, an adult community band of music educators and professional musicians. In 2006, the SJAWE was awarded the “Sudler Silver Scroll Award” by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to recognize “North America’s Most Prestigious Community Bands.” As Director of the SJAWE since 1997, the SJAWE has commissioned and premiered ten works for wind band and has the ensemble conducted annually by high profile guest conductors and composers. The ensemble performs six concerts each year and explores large quantities of wind band literature.  Mr. Hodgson has studied conducting and band literature with Ed Lisk, Stephen Melillo, Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Anthony Maiello, and Dr. Mallory Thompson.

As an active guest conductor, Mr. Hodgson has conducted numerous honors ensembles and music camps from Connecticut to Pennsylvania including the South Jersey, Region III Symphonic Band, and the Laurel Summer Music Camp in Connecticut in 2006, 2007 & 2008. He is currently the Past-President for the South Jersey Band and Orchestra Director’s Association and the past director of the NJ State Gala Band Festival.

Mr. Hodgson was honored in the 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006 editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers by his former students.  Mr. Hodgson and his wife Jennifer, who is also a high school band director, also serve as Symphonic Band Director’s for the American Music Abroad Gold Tour, (annual European Tour of six countries.)  In 2009, Mr. Hodgson will serve as the Head Director for the AMA Gold Tour to Europe. Mr. Hodgson holds his supervisor and principal certificates and in 2009 was elected President-Elect to the New Jersey Music Educator’s Association.

In addition to music and educational leadership, Keith’s hobbies include photography, traveling, Apple computers, politics and history. Keith and Jennifer reside in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey with their dogs Maggie & Jazzmyne.