Keith Hodgson, MA

Keith Hodgson in a blue suit with a blue tie and white shirt holding a conductors baton
Faculty

Music Education (MAT)

Keith W. Hodgson is an assistant professor of Music Education at UArts. Since 2016, he has taught graduate and undergraduate conducting, percussion methods, and fieldwork experiences and as coordinator of student teaching, he has supervised graduate student teachers in their elementary and secondary field placements.

Biography 

Keith Hodgson is a doctoral candidate pursuing his EdD in Leadership and Learning with a specialization in Organizational Leadership through Aspen University in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey, and a Master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, with supervisor and principal certifications. Hodgson’s teaching career includes 26 as a high school band director in New Jersey, with the majority of his career there as director of instrumental music at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey. His experience with concert, jazz, marching, orchestra, and chamber ensembles is extensive.

Hodgson is also conductor and music director for South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble (SJAWE), an adult community band of music educators and professional musicians. He has held the principal conducting post of the SJAWE since its founding in 1997. Additionally, Hodgson is head director of the American Music Abroad Gold Tour, an annual three-week summer music tour of band, choral, and orchestra students who perform in six European countries. He has over 25 years of experience in group travel and performing for European audiences in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Further, Hodgson is an active guest conductor for high school honor ensembles, community music, and summer music camps and as a band and orchestra clinician, guest speaker, and professional development presenter. He annually presents at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. In 2007, he presented at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, about on the music certificate for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. As a conductor, he has studied with many master conductors and teachers, including Edward Lisk, Stephen Melillo, Anthony Maiello, and Mallory Thompson. His guest conducting appearances have included honors ensembles in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Alabama, and Europe.

Hodgson is a past president of the Eastern Division of the National Association for Music Education and past chair of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)’s Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps, Princeton, New Jersey; the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA)’s Crescendo Foundation, and the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble. He is proud to be a Conn-Selmer educational clinician and director of education for Zeswitz Music.

Experience

  • University of the Arts, 2016–present 

  • South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, 1997–present

  • American Music Abroad, 1998–present

  • Zeswitz Music, 2020–present

  • Mainland Regional High School, Linwood, New Jersey, 1995–2016

  • 1992-1995 - Vernon Township High School, Glenwood, New Jersey, 1992–1995

  • 1990-1991 - Pompton Lakes High School, New Jersey, 1990–1991

Visit Keith Hodgson’s website.

Awards & Accolades

  • Past president, New Jersey Music Educators Association

  • National board-certified teacher

  • Recipient, 2016 New Jersey Governor’s Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music

  • Grammy-nominated music educator quarter-finalist, 2014

  • Recipient, 2016 Distinguished Service Award, New Jersey Music Educators Association

Do what you love … love what you do!” – Ray Bradbury