Biography of Dawn Forsythe Dawn Forsythe has been the Director of Bands at John Adams High School & Jefferson Intermediate Center in South Bend since 1996. Mrs. Forsythe was selected for inclusion into the 2004 “Who’s Who among America’s Teachers.” She was also nominated three times for Teacher of the year at John Adams High School and once at Jefferson Intermediate Center. She received a Masters degree in Saxophone performance from Indiana University in 1999 and a Bachelors of Music Education degree (Clarinet) from Northern Illinois University in 1991.
Prior to teaching at John Adams & Jefferson, Mrs. Forsythe worked at the Selmer Company in Elkhart on Clarinets and was the Customer Service Woodwind Specialist at the Woodwind and the Brasswind in South Bend. She was the Marching Instructor at Northern Illinois University for two years and taught the Penn High School Band Camp for three years. She also was a private clarinet & saxophone studio instructor. Forsythe was the Director of Bands at St. Joseph High School in South Bend for five years where she was a nominee for teacher of the year 1994.
Mrs. Forsythe is a member of the Federation of Musicians which has employed her to perform with many different types of groups at the Morris Civic Auditorium in South Bend. Recently she has performed for the Rockettes, Bobby Vinton, Regis Philbin, & Manhattan Transfer. She has performed in Hello Dolly, City of Angels, Chicago and State Fair Broadway Musicals.
Forsythe also performs with some local groups: St. Joseph Municipal Band in Michigan, I.U. Wind Ensemble, I.U. Jazz Ensemble, Truth in Jazz (Elkhart), The Classic Jazz Society, Elkhart Municipal Band, Twin City Concert Band, Michiana Symphonette & the Elkhart County Symphony. The “Senohpoxas Saxophone Quartet” was Semi-finalist of the 1993 Fischoff National Chamber Competition upon which she is a member.
Mrs. Forsythe is an active adjudicator and is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, International Association of Jazz Educators, Indiana Bandmasters Association and the Indiana Music Educators Association.
A note from Mrs. Forsythe…… Teaching young musicians is a commitment I take very seriously. I believe that teaching is the most important and most rewarding career that has made a profound difference in my life. We, as educators are teaching the leaders of our tomorrow. My goal is not only to inspire your child to love playing and creating music, but also to respect others and to learn how to work together to achieve the same goal. Band students gain the self confidence and the belief he/she can aim high and achieve their highest musical potential; and to develop the skills to transfer this belief and attitude to the rest of his or her life. I will forever be grateful to JAHS, the outstanding students and parents past and present, whose lives have enriched mine both professionally and personally. No teacher could hope for a more pleasant, rewarding and satisfying experiences than those I have been afforded during my tenure at JA. From the bottom of my heart, thank you one and all.
Dawn.Forsythe@comcast.net or dforsythe@sbcsc.k12.in.us |