Presentations

The Grad Experience: Preparing for Athletic Band Jobs an Beyond

Andrew "Tiger" Rhodes - Associate Director of Bands, University of Toledo

You’re in grad school! Now what?? There are many different tasks, events, and functions of an athletic band director. This session explores the various facets of becoming an athletic band director from the perspectives of someone who recently went through the process of job interviews and is working in the profession, and a current doctoral candidate who is about to embark on the application and interview process. Things you can do to help yourself prepare for the process throughout your graduate studies as well as items to consider for your CV, application, and the interview process will be covered. This session is designed to offer the clinicians’ recent experiences to help equip graduate students who are about to begin their job application adventure.

Meaning-Making in Music: A Hermeneutical Approach for Conductors

John Mange - DMA Candidate, Wind Conducting, University of Michigan

One of the most critical tasks of a musical leader is to convey to musicians and audiences the significance or importance of a work or program selected for performance. Why does any given work warrant a place on a concert? What does the work mean to us, and what might it have meant to the composer? How does the meaning we “draw out” of music impact its interpretation and reception? These questions are key for all conductors, but they are especially pertinent for conductors of wind bands/ensembles, who work within a highly fluid (and developing) repertoire of established works. Starting with some of the concepts and principles of musical hermeneutics - especially the three “hermeneutic windows” posited by musicologist Lawrence Kramer - we will examine this powerful interpretational toolset and then apply it to several case study scores to see what insights it yields. We will then consider some of the practical ways in which a hermeneutical approach informs gesture, rehearsal approach, programming, and framing for the audience.

Sound to Sight: Creating Immersive Multimedia Experiences for Live Wind Ensemble Performance

Nick Hinman - Associate Instructor, Indiana University

Technology is transforming how audiences experience art, and the concert hall is rapidly adapting. With countless content creators and tools at our disposal, wind bands have a world of untapped possibilities. Sound-to-Sight explores how to create immersive concert experiences that pair live performance with multi-sensory elements, transforming the traditional concert into a modern, tactile experience. This presentation calls conductors to rethink programming alongside other concert genres, encourages composers to design works with multimedia in mind, and offers practical, accessible methods for generating multimedia content. Possibilities include synchronized film projection, audience interactivity, reimagined staging, and emerging AI video generation — such as pre-rendered cinematic visuals or live video reacting to sound. Drawing on works like Steven Bryant’s Ecstatic Waters, Alex Shapiro’s Liquid Compass, and Julie Giroux’s The Blue Marble, the session highlights the next phase of interdisciplinary wind ensemble experiences. Attendees will discover strategies for designing or commissioning multimedia projects, explore tools like freebeat.ai and Luma Dream Machine, and learn budget-friendly ways to innovate concert presentations. Participants will leave with practical ideas to enhance audience engagement, spark collaboration, and propel wind ensemble performance into the digital age.

Untold Graves Forgotten: Julia Perry's Symphony Band Symphony

Emilie Bertram - MM Student, Musicology, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Symphonic Band Symphony (1967) written by Julia Perry (1924-79), the first woman of color to have a piece performed by the New York Philharmonic, is an original work for band that has yet to be performed in its entirety. This symphony is Perry’s sole published work for band and is an intersection of twentieth-century compositional techniques, completely forgoing melody in favor of texture, timbre, and form. During her career, Perry studied composition with Luigi Dallapiccola and Nadia Boulanger, received two Guggenheim Fellowships, and wrote nearly 100 compositions; including 13 symphonies. Despite her early successes, Perry’s life and music fell into obscurity following her death in 1979. This presentation will dive into Perry’s Symphonic Band Symphony, highlighting her historical and musical contribution to the mid-twentieth century wind band repertoire, while exploring her career and other compositions. Through referencing my own performance edition of the work, created in coordination with the publishers, I will demonstrate Perry’s unique orchestration and compositional techniques of serialism, minimalism, and neoclassical form. By including Perry’s Symphonic Band Symphony in performance and study, we strengthen the mid-twentieth century wind band repertoire while expanding the identities represented during this period.

Navigating Neoliberalism: cultivating Community in Contemporary Music

Emily Trapani - DMA Student, Conducting, Michigan State University

Rooted in the findings of Navigating Neoliberalism: Cultivating Community in Contemporary Music, this presentation seeks to share the data and practical implications of how contemporary chamber ensembles have adapted to the rapidly shifting economic and socio-political changes of the past 25 years in American culture. This presentation unpacks a case study of contemporary chamber ensembles and non-profits including Eighth Blackbird, Newfound Chamber Winds, and No Divide KC, to better understand how they crafted their identities via their branding, programming, and embodied values across time in order to find success and cultivate community. This presentation examines how neoliberalism has reshaped cultural expectations, values, and behaviors surrounding classical music consumption; traces how visionary performing arts organizations adapted in ways that reimagine community engagement; and invites audience members to consider transferring these lessons into their personal artistic practices as collegiate band directors.

The Continents: Chick Corea's Globally Inspired Concerto for Jazz Combo and Wind Ensemble

Michael Gabriel - DMA Student, Conducting, Michigan State University

Though best remembered for helping shape modern jazz, Chick Corea embodied a lifelong commitment to cross-genre innovation, including experimentation in avant-garde, third stream, and neoclassical styles. A significant example of this innovative practice is his 2006 orchestral work The Continents, which Corea described as one of his “musical dreams” conceived “in the spirit of Mozart. Commissioned for Mozart's 250th birthday celebration by the Vienna Mozarthaus, the six-movement concerto breaks genre barriers by combining a wide variety of styles within both jazz and classical idioms. This presentation introduces a 2024 transcription of The Continents for jazz combo and winds, a forward-thinking addition to the wind ensemble repertoire, with the hopes that it will inspire future collaborative efforts across genres and disciplines. The session will include an analytical performance guide to the work, and explore Corea’s profound and often neglected contributions to concert music.

Leading Ensembles & Building Student Leaders the Lasso Way

Malcolm Burke - DMA Candidate, Wind Conducting, University of Minnesota 

Zach Deininger - Assistant Director of Bands, Kansas State University

A dynamic session inspired by the values and leadership philosophy embodied in the television series Ted Lasso. It emphasizes that leadership is not about titles but about intentional actions and character. Drawing from values such as humility, passion, unity, servanthood, thankfulness, and accountability, the session explores how to cultivate trust and build thriving, innovative ensemble cultures. Participants will learn that leadership exists at every level—on the podium, within a section, or in day-to-day actions. Through interactive discussions and activities, attendees will identify their leadership style, define core values, clarify their personal operating system, and articulate their vision and goals. They will also reflect on the support systems that shape their growth. The session equips participants with tools to lead authentically: embracing vulnerability, building meaningful relationships, staying curious, and leading with kindness and belief in others. Ultimately, it offers a personalized blueprint for becoming an impactful leader in music education and beyond.

Pedagogical Creativity in the Band Room: Insights from a Multiple Case Study of Concert Band Directors

Rachel Maxwell - Band Director, Traughber Junior High School

This session explores how concert band directors enact pedagogical creativity within the traditionally rigid structures of school ensemble programs. Drawing from a multiple case study of experienced middle and high school directors, the research examines how these educators navigate and reframe tensions between conventional large-ensemble norms and student-centered, innovative practices. Using qualitative data from interviews, observations, and artifacts, the study identifies patterns of “creative deviations” that directors employ—such as structured improvisation, fluid teacher identity, and metaphorical thinking—to enhance musical learning and engagement. Findings suggest that pedagogical creativity emerges not from abandoning ensemble traditions, but from intentionally disrupting and reimagining them in ways that align with students’ diverse needs, interests, and identities. Attendees will gain a framework for recognizing and cultivating creative pedagogical moves in their own practice, along with practical strategies to foster flexibility, risk-taking, and artistic agency within band settings. This session is designed for music educators, ensemble conductors, and teacher educators seeking to balance high-level performance expectations with innovative, student-centered approaches.

Pushing the Medium Forward: Original Works for Wind Band Composers from Female Composers

Jerianne Larson - Assistant Director of Bands, Troy University

Since the early 1900s, wind band conductors have encouraged composers to write original works for the medium. Historically, these commissions have heavily favored male-identifying composers, and it was not until the last several decades that contributions from female composers regularly occurred. This session reviews early female wind band composers and the societal standards of the early-20th century that limited female composer output in a male-dominated field, discusses the initial wave of female composers commissioned to write for wind band, investigates contemporary wind works from female composers, and presents aspirations for the future of female wind band composers. 

Demystifying the Digital Stage: Engaging New Audiences Through Livestreaming

Tyler Ehrlich - Assistant Director of Wind Studies, University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music

As collegiate band programs navigate an increasingly media-rich world, live streaming has become a vital tool for community engagement. This session will outline practical strategies for designing and maintaining an effective concert streaming workflow. Topics include understanding technical setups, collaborating with recording services staff, developing score-based directing skills for multi-camera coordination, and creating sustainable post-production practices. By embracing thoughtful, musician-informed approaches to streaming, ensembles can stay current with contemporary media trends while expanding the educational and artistic reach of their performances.

Audiation for Conductors: A Research-Informed Approach to Score Reading Skill Development

R. Louis Vajda - DMA Student, Conducting, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Many conducting texts emphasize the importance of score reading, yet few present practical methods for developing the audiation skills necessary to form a vivid aural image of a score. This interactive session will present a framework for incorporating audiation into a conductor’s daily score study routine through an examination of Florence Price’s String Quartet in G Major. Participants will take part in exercises designed for use with instrumental ensembles or conducting classes to foster audiation growth and deeper musical understanding.

Athletic Band Video Halftime Presentations

"SMB on Broadway"

Michigan State University "Spartan" Marching Band - David Thornton, Director

"Hamil-ten"

Iowa State University "Cyclone" Marching Band - Christian Carichner, Director

"Wizard"

South Dakota State University "Pride of the Dakotas" Marching Band - Kevin Kessler, Director

College Band Directors and Instrumental Music Teacher Education: Collaborations and Connections

Colleen Conway - Professor of Music Education, University of Michigan

Scott Jones - Associate Director of Bands, The Ohio State University

Kimberly Fleming - Assistant Director of Bands, Illinois University

Mike Vecchio - Assistant Professor of Music Education, Illinois University 

Join members of the CBDNA Music Education Committee in a panel discussion of successful collaborative partnerships and projects aimed at preparing the most qualified BM, MM, DMA, and PhD graduates in instrumental music.

The Art of Collaboration: A Conversation with Michael Daugherty and Michael Haithcock

Doris Doyon - PhD Fellow, Music Education, University of Michigan

Composer Michael Daugherty and conductor Michael Haithcock shared a decades-long, collaborative relationship during their overlapping tenures at the University of Michigan. Moderated in an interview format, this session will explore how their sustained partnership fostered a creative environment that not only led to significant commissions, premieres, and recordings, but also helped shape a culture of composer-conductor collaboration at UM. Their work together has had a lasting impact on generations of student composers and conductors, many of whom have gone on to pursue similar collaborations in their own careers. While anecdotes from their various projects will be shared, broader discussion will center on the values of artistic collaborations, mutual encouragement, and the role of higher education in championing new music.

Transforming Small College Band Programs Through Recruitment, Skill-Building, and Strategic Collaboration

Onsby Rose - Director of Instrumental Activities, Dordt University

This presentation explores strategies for building and sustaining a vibrant small college band program, addressing recruitment, musical development, program growth, and collaboration with university stakeholders. Attendees will learn effective methods to attract both music and non-music majors through targeted outreach, campus visibility, and partnerships with high school band programs. The lecture will also cover tailored approaches to enhance students’ musical abilities, balancing the needs of music majors and non-majors, while offering practical solutions to increase program size through diverse ensemble offerings, student retention strategies, and resource advocacy. Additionally, it will highlight collaboration with university admissions and administration to integrate the band program into recruitment efforts and elevate its profile within the university and regional high schools, fostering a thriving musical community.