Ms. Susan G. Waters - Director of Bands
susan.waters@mnps.org
A native of Nashville, Tennessee Ms. Susan G. Waters is in her 30th year of Instrumental Music Education and is currently the Director of Bands at Oliver Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee.
She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University and her professional affiliations include: Tennessee Music Educators Association, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, Delta Omicron, MENC, and Phi Beta Mu International Band-masters Fraternity, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association where she currently serves as Executive Secretary.
The Oliver Middle School Band Program is in its 15th year of existence. The program has grown from a population of 1 ensemble with only 7 band students on opening day in August of 2004 to its current membership of over 350 which includes four concert bands. Ms. Waters was named “Teacher of the Year” the same year and received a $1000 grant to enhance her rapidly growing program. The Oliver Band Program has received nothing less than superior ratings at every regional, state and national concert festivals in which they have performed. They are a 13-time recipient of the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and have twice performed at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center as part of the CMA All-Stars concert. In 2010, 2015, and 2019 The Oliver Band was selected to present a concert at the Tennessee Music Education Association Conference. In 2010 the band performed at the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame concert which was the first time a middle school band was given the honor of performing for that prestigious event.
Prior to assuming her current position as Director of Bands at Oliver Middle School, she was the Band Director at Christian County Middle School in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In 1991, the Band was selected to be the featured middle school ensemble to perform at the 1992 Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. 1992 also brought Ms. Waters the honor of being selected by Phi Beta Mu as “Kentucky’s Young Band Director of the Year”. During her nine year tenure, the band received numerous superior awards at various concert festivals and individual awards at solo & ensemble festivals. The band performed several concert tours and competed at numerous concert band competitions throughout the Southeastern United States. The highlight of her tenure came when the band won the “Kentucky Governor’s Cup” at the State Concert Band competition in 1996.
Ms. Waters relocated back to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 where she served as Band Director for Hunters Lane High School and Head Magnet Middle School. Both of these programs enjoyed numerous superior ratings at regional and national concert festivals and area Solo and Ensemble festivals.
The national publication School Band and Orchestra published their 10th Anniversary edition in July 2008 with an article entitled “Making Band the Thing to Do” profiling Ms. Waters, her successful teaching practices, and the keys to her highly successful Oliver band Program. In 2010, Ms. Waters presented at the International Mid-West Band and Orchestra Conference as part of a workshop entitled: “Herding Cats” A Guide to Classroom Management in the Middle School Band Room.” In the fall of 2016 the Oliver Wind Ensemble and Ms. Waters were part of the documentary ”Find Your Groove” which will be released in the spring of 2017. Ms. Waters is frequently sought after as a professional development clinician and guest conductor.
susan.waters@mnps.org
A native of Nashville, Tennessee Ms. Susan G. Waters is in her 30th year of Instrumental Music Education and is currently the Director of Bands at Oliver Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee.
She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Western Kentucky University and her professional affiliations include: Tennessee Music Educators Association, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, Delta Omicron, MENC, and Phi Beta Mu International Band-masters Fraternity, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association where she currently serves as Executive Secretary.
The Oliver Middle School Band Program is in its 15th year of existence. The program has grown from a population of 1 ensemble with only 7 band students on opening day in August of 2004 to its current membership of over 350 which includes four concert bands. Ms. Waters was named “Teacher of the Year” the same year and received a $1000 grant to enhance her rapidly growing program. The Oliver Band Program has received nothing less than superior ratings at every regional, state and national concert festivals in which they have performed. They are a 13-time recipient of the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and have twice performed at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center as part of the CMA All-Stars concert. In 2010, 2015, and 2019 The Oliver Band was selected to present a concert at the Tennessee Music Education Association Conference. In 2010 the band performed at the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame concert which was the first time a middle school band was given the honor of performing for that prestigious event.
Prior to assuming her current position as Director of Bands at Oliver Middle School, she was the Band Director at Christian County Middle School in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In 1991, the Band was selected to be the featured middle school ensemble to perform at the 1992 Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. 1992 also brought Ms. Waters the honor of being selected by Phi Beta Mu as “Kentucky’s Young Band Director of the Year”. During her nine year tenure, the band received numerous superior awards at various concert festivals and individual awards at solo & ensemble festivals. The band performed several concert tours and competed at numerous concert band competitions throughout the Southeastern United States. The highlight of her tenure came when the band won the “Kentucky Governor’s Cup” at the State Concert Band competition in 1996.
Ms. Waters relocated back to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 where she served as Band Director for Hunters Lane High School and Head Magnet Middle School. Both of these programs enjoyed numerous superior ratings at regional and national concert festivals and area Solo and Ensemble festivals.
The national publication School Band and Orchestra published their 10th Anniversary edition in July 2008 with an article entitled “Making Band the Thing to Do” profiling Ms. Waters, her successful teaching practices, and the keys to her highly successful Oliver band Program. In 2010, Ms. Waters presented at the International Mid-West Band and Orchestra Conference as part of a workshop entitled: “Herding Cats” A Guide to Classroom Management in the Middle School Band Room.” In the fall of 2016 the Oliver Wind Ensemble and Ms. Waters were part of the documentary ”Find Your Groove” which will be released in the spring of 2017. Ms. Waters is frequently sought after as a professional development clinician and guest conductor.