June 21:   Spotlight on Youth

Jeffrey Scott Doebler serves as director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University, where he also conducted the handbell choir for many years. His previous experience includes public school teaching in Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Shakopee, Minnesota. He is equally effective when working with younger students, older students, and professional musicians. Dr. Doebler earned music education degrees from Luther College (B.A.), Valparaiso University (M.M.), and the University of Minnesota (Ph.D.). He has served Lutheran Summer Music as concert band conductor, handbell choir conductor (founder), summer program director, and faculty affairs coordinator.

Professor Doebler’s career of 32 years in music education has achieved a unique balance of conducting, teacher preparation, leadership in the profession, and working with musicians from the beginning through professional levels, but all aspects of his vocation have had an ultimate focus on teaching. He has been recognized for teaching excellence by peers, colleagues and students. During the sesquicentennial year of Valparaiso University, he was named one of the 150 most influential people in VU’s first 150 years. In 2008, Dr. Doebler was the recipient of the Carlo A. Sperati Award from Luther College, for outstanding achievement in the field of music. In 2006, he was named Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association, and also received the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award from Quinlan & Fabish Music. Professor Doebler is the 2005 recipient of the Valparaiso University Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award. Also in 2005, Sigma Alpha Iota presented him its national award, Friend of the Arts. In 2001, he received the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Orpheus Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the cause of music in America.”

Professor Doebler is active throughout the year as a guest conductor, consultant, and clinician, and has appeared professionally in over 25 states, Canada, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, and China. In a typical year, Dr. Doebler works with over 3000 students. He has served as a community music conductor, church music director, and director of Royal Brass Ensembles for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. As a high school teacher, Dr. Doebler earned a reputation for leading the transformation of struggling bands into model programs. He was also active in site-based management and district-wide strategic planning. At the university level, his interpretations, repertoire selection, conducting, and leadership have been highly praised. Dr. Doebler has conducted in many famous venues around the world, including the Sydney Opera House (Australia), Severance Hall (Cleveland), and the Oriental Performance Hall (Shanghai).

Dr. Doebler is a former president of the Indiana Music Educators Association, and currently serves as state editor. He is president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association (IBA). For the IBA, he regularly conducts the All-Region and All-District Honor Bands, and he conducted the All-State Band in 2011. Dr. Doebler is founder and conductor of a professional-level concert band, Windiana, which has completed six concert tours of China, performing live and on television for millions of people.