With Special Guest: Elevating Standard Repertoire Through Community Collaboration

As directors navigate declining enrollment, shifting student interests, and increased competition for audience attention, concert programming must do more than fill a calendar date—it must create meaningful artistic experiences. “With Special Guest” concerts provide a replicable framework for deepening musical rigor while expanding relevance, connection, and community investment. This model demonstrates how arƟsƟc integrity and innovative engagement can strengthen—not compete with—each other.

Erin Mahr

Erin Mahr is in her first year teaching high school and junior high band in the Rock Island-Milan School District in Rock Island, Illinois. Previously, she taught all things band at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa, for 13 years. She graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2008 and earned her Master of Music Education from Kansas State University in 2019. She is a proud member of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), serves as the Region 2 Representative. Outside of school, Erin leads the Black Hawk College Community Band (Moline, Illinois) and performs with the Quad City Wind Ensemble and ComedySportz Quad Cities. Erin lives in Davenport with her husband, Jeremy, and two cats named Ripley and Sousa.

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