Dr. Amy J. Bovin is a nationally and internationally recognized and awarded music educator who has spent her life gaining as much diverse experience as possible through education, experience, and employment in various fields in order to make herself one of the most unique individuals that you will ever meet. Hyperlinks can be found embedded throughout her bio in bold words so that anyone reading this can learn more about the incredible companies, schools, organizations, and individuals that Dr. Bovin has had the extreme pleasure and privilege to be a part of and work with over the course of her life and career. 

Currently, Dr. Bovin spends her time as a frequent guest conductor and clinician at schools, universities, and community ensembles and has been featured on numerous podcasts. As a leading researcher on the topic of the experiences of female band directors, her research can be found in peer-reviewed journals and other publications and has been presented at dozens of workshops and conferences around the globe. Dr. Bovin is a Clinician for Pinellas County Schools and the globally recognized Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts, an Advisor to the Board of Dunedin Music Society, and the President of the Women Band Directors International Chapter in Florida. She is also the Performance and Event Director for Animado Events, a company that specializes in 100% custom performance opportunities, where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Educational Advisory Board and is the company representative for the National Association for Music Education’s Music Education Policy Roundtable. Prior to her in-company move to Animado Events, Dr. Bovin was the Performance and Product Manager for Kaleidoscope Adventures, where she served as the Chair of the Sustainable Tourism Committee, charged with creating a program for clients that met the world needs of sustainable tourism and global engagement. 

Dr. Bovin began her career in student performance travel as a Performing Arts Specialist for WorldStrides, where she served as a Producer for NCAA Bowl Game Halftime Shows and was chosen by her peers to be the Performing Arts Representative on the Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Prior to jumping into the world of student performances and travel, Dr. Bovin worked at the University of South Florida as a Learning Facilitator in the previously named Office of High-Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research, a Member of the Administrative Advisory Council, and Director of the Global Citizens Award, a student program aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

During her tenure as a full-time band director, Dr. Bovin had the privilege of being the Interim Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Javelina Marching Band at Texas A&M, Kingsville, which made her the first female head marching band director at any Texas A&M campus. She also worked with bands across the State of Utah, including the award-winning American Fork Marching Band, when she lived in the area. Before moving to Utah to complete post-doctoral research during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Bovin was a Director of Bands in Connecticut at Ridgefield High School, Bristol Eastern High School, and Greenwich High School.

Dr. Bovin completed her Ph.D. in Music Education at The University of Hartford’s The Hartt School where her dissertation was “The Experiences of Female High School Band Directors: A National Survey Study”. During her residency, she assisted with the instrumental method courses and was the instructor on record for the undergraduate instrumental conducting courses. Prior to her doctorate, Dr. Bovin was the first female to complete the degree of Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Connecticut, where she was a student of Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw, making her second generation in the Frederick Fennell conducting family, and Dr. David Mills, one of her primary mentors throughout her education and career. In addition to her Masters, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Science in Education. Dr. Bovin also holds course certifications in Educational Law and Leadership (two separate topics) from Harvard University. 

Beyond her degrees, Dr. Bovin attended conducting workshops with Mallory Thompson, Eugene Corporon, Glen Adsit, Frank Ticheli, Michael Haithcock, Michael Colgrass, Charles Peltz, and Frank Battisi at The Hartt School, Northwestern University, and the New England Conservatory. She had the pleasure and privilege of conducting the United States Coast Guard Band at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, and was a conductor for the Hartford Opera Theater’s New in November Series. Dr. Bovin was chosen as a participant at the 2019 International Conducting Workshop Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, as a recipient of a 2018 CBDNA Mike Moss Conducting Grant, and as one of three conductors internationally to participate in the 2015 Cortona Sessions for New Music in Cortona, Italy. At the 2016 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Dr. Bovin received the Citation of Merit award from Women’s Band Directors International for outstanding contribution to bands and band music. 

Dr. Bovin is a Past President of Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA), a state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education, a past Connecticut State representative for Women's Band Directors International, and an editorial board member for Philosophy of Music. Dr. Bovin is a member of The National Association of Music Education, the International Society for Music Education, Instrumental Music Teacher Educators, the Society for Research in Music Education, the Society for Music Teacher Education, College Band Directors’ National Association, the National Band Association, a life member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, where she held offices on the National, District, and Chapter level, and an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Dr. Amy Bovin was born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, which is the birthplace of Charles Ives, the previous “Hat Capital of the World”, and home to the oddly named“John Oliver Memorial Sewage Plant”. Dr. Bovin now resides in Florida with her husband Dr. Timothy Sexton, Associate Director of Bands at Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts, along with their new kittens Sunny and Rosy, which you can follow on Instagram.