KWBDA
Kansas Women Band Directors Association
Who are we?
Women Band Directors in the state of Kansas who want to foster communication, mentorship, and alliance among the women in our field of music education.
What is our "Her"story?
I, Jennifer Antonetti, went to the Texas Bandmasters Convention in the summer of 2019, and I saw that the spouse activities were: "paint 'n' sip party," "shopping at the Dallas Galleria," and "spa facials." I asked my husband if he wanted to do those things, and he said no. After walking around, I met the woman in charge of the Texas Women Band Directors and asked some questions. I remember her looking down and saying, "Oh yes, this has been a problem for quite some time." I did a little bit more research, and contacted the membership chair for the Women Band Directors International and found out that Kansas has never had a chapter...so I wanted to start one.
A long process
I started to collect information and presented at KMEA in February 2020 about if we even wanted to start a chapter of a women band directors group in Kansas. There was much interest, and I subsequently presented at the Kansas Bandmasters Association asking some of the same information to a slightly more focused group of women. Then, I started looking a bylaws from other organizations and drafting some initial bylaws. With much guidance and support from KMEA and KBA, the KWBDA is now an affiliate of KBA after almost three years of work.
We need new members!
We are just beginning to grow our chapter of dedicated, hard-working, and supportive women in Kansas in the field of being a Band Director. Please share!
