Dr. Gretchen Pohlman Named Washington High School Director of Bands
Dr. Gretchen Pohlman has been named the new Director of Bands at Washington High School.
Pohlman is currently the Assistant Director of Bands and Visiting Professor of Music at the University of Akron in Akon, Ohio. She has served at both the K-12 and the post-secondary level as a music educator. She has both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music from Missouri State University, and a Doctoral Degree from the University of Missouri.
Originally from Troy, Mo., Pohlman is relocating back to Missouri with her husband, Marty Bassett, also a musician and former music educator.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to come to Washington. Growing up in Troy and graduating from Troy High School, I’m very familiar with the Washington community,” Pohlman said. “Washington has a wonderful history of musical and academic tradition. I can’t wait to get there, meet the staff and the students, and be a part of the community.”
Additionally, Colton Bunkley, son of former WHS Band Director Troy Bunkley, has been hired as Assistant Director of Bands.
Prior to her appointment at the University of Akron, Pohlman served as the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at West Liberty University in West Virginia and previously taught public education in the state of Missouri.
During her tenure in Missouri, she served as an All-State Band French Horn adjudicator for 12 years, as well as a District Music Festival adjudicator for the Missouri Bandmasters Association and the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Pohlman has presented music education clinics at district (2016) and state venues (2016 and 2018), has co-authored music education research presented at the Music Research and Teacher Education national Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (2018), as well as being a published co-author of research featured in Update: Application of Research in Music Education.
Additionally, she has presented research based on her dissertation, The Mentorship Roles and Experiences of Missouri Women Band Directors at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference (2018). Pohlman is a past member of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2002) and previously served as mellophone technician (2014), and Brass Caption Head (2015) for GOLD Drum & Bugle Corps based out of San Diego.
Pohlman earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and diploma in horn performance from Southwest Missouri State University, Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting from Missouri State University, and a Doctorate of philosophy from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Gretchen Pohlman