Lessons Learned from Wind Band Leaders: Building Connection in Rehearsals
Clinic Synopsis:
In this clinic, veteran conducting pedagogues will share the lessons they have learned about how to cultivate connections within their ensembles—connections that will lead to deeper artistry and a better experience for your musicians at all levels. These insights will allow the teacher-conductor to develop higher creative engagement for all participants in the collaborative music-making experience.
Matthew Roeder
- Biographical Information
Matthew Roeder is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Enrollment Management in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder. Additionally, Roeder is an Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education, teaching both graduate and undergraduate instrumental conducting courses. For 17 years prior to this administrative appointment, Roeder held the position of Associate Director of Bands and Director of the CU "Golden Buffalo" Marching Band. Before arriving at CU Boulder in the fall of 2000, Roeder taught instrumental music as the Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department chairman at Parkville High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. As a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, Roeder has developed an international and national presence with numerous professional appearances in Canada, France, and the United Arab Emirates as well as across the United States. Roeder has been published as a contributing author in multiple volumes of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series available through GIA Publications. He is a co-author in The Journal of Research in Music Education, Volume 57, No. 4 and produced the CU Boulder Wind Symphony’s recording entitled “Of Love and Life.” Roeder earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting and literature from the University of Colorado Boulder. He received his Master of Music in Music Education with a conducting emphasis from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Richard Floyd - Biographical Information
Richard Floyd is Texas State Director of Music Emeritus at the University of Texas in Austin. He is presently in his 63rd year of active engagement as a conductor, music educator, and administrator, and has enjoyed a distinguished career at virtually every level of wind band performance and music education. Mr. Floyd is a recognized authority on conducting, the art of wind band rehearsing, concert band repertoire, and music advocacy. As such, he has toured extensively, including appearances in 44 American states and in 9 other countries. The Austin Symphonic Band, under his leadership, performed at the Midwest International Clinic in Chicago on three occasions. Recent honors include induction into the National Band Association Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts, considered to be the Academy Award for wind music performance, and Phi Beta Mu International Band Fraternity honored him with the Outstanding Contributor Award recognizing individuals for outstanding contributions to band music education. In 2021, the College Band Directors National Association established the Richard Floyd CBDNA Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his decades of service to that organization, and in 2024 honored him with the CBDNA Lifetime Achievement Award. Floyd is a Yamaha Master Educator and is the author of the critically acclaimed books The Artistry of Teaching and Making Music and The Seven Deadly Sins of Music Making, published by GIA Publications.
Craig Kirchhoff - Biographical Information
Craig Kirchhoff is Professor Emeritus of Conducting and Director Emeritus of University Bands at the University of Minnesota, where he conducted the University Wind Ensemble and guest conducted in the University Opera Program. Prior to his appointment to the faculty of the University of Minnesota, Professor Kirchhoff served in a similar capacity as Director of Bands at The Ohio State University for fourteen years, as Director of Bands at Washington State University for two years, and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for one year. Mr. Kirchhoff was the recipient of The Ohio State University Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award and The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award. Professor Kirchhoff has appeared as guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and Scandinavia. He enjoyed a long association with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra during Frederick Fennell’s tenure as Music Director, and he has recorded with them on the Kosei Publishing label. Professor Kirchhoff was awarded the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference Medal of Honor in 2018, was presented with the College Band Directors National Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, and was awarded the Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster of the Year Award at the 2019 Midwest Clinic. Professor Kirchhoff serves as a Yamaha Master Educator.
Allan McMurray - Biographical Information
Allan McMurray is Distinguished Professor and Professor of Conducting Emeritus at the University of Colorado. He served for 35 years as Director of Bands and Chair of the Conducting faculty before retiring from CU at the end of the 2013 academic year. Prior to this position, he was on the faculty of the University of Michigan, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. Considered one of the world’s leading teachers of conducting, Professor McMurray has guest conducted and taught conductors in 48 states and 15 foreign countries. He has been a featured visiting professor and conducted over 200 universities and conservatories internationally. During his tenure at Colorado, the University of Colorado Wind Symphony performed by invitation at major conferences and conventions, including the First International Conference for Symphonic Bands in Manchester, England; the all-Japan Band Conference in Nemo Nu Sato, Japan; the College Band Directors National Association (twice) , and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Hamamatsu, Japan. With a strong commitment to new music, Allan McMurray has been a strong proponent in commissioning and performing new compositions by American composers. He has won praise for his interpretive and expressive conducting by many composers, including Pulitzer Prize winners Michael Colgrass, George Crumb, John Harbison, Karel Husa, and Steven Stuckey.
Shanti Simon - Biographical Information
Shanti Simon is director of bands at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she oversees the band program, conducts the CU Boulder Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind conducting program, and teaches undergraduate conducting. In addition to her role at CU Boulder, she serves as associate conductor of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Prior to joining the CU Boulder faculty, Simon was director of bands at the University of Oklahoma. Before that, she served as flight commander and associate conductor with the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., where she conducted performances across the country and around the world. She was on the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory as associate director of bands for the 2013-14 academic year. In 2016, Simon deployed to the Middle East with the United States Air Forces Central Band as officer in charge–overseeing musical troop support, community outreach and partnership-building missions in seven countries. Hailing from Florida, she served as associate director of bands at Vero Beach High School for four years, during which her ensembles consistently earned top ratings in all areas of district and state assessment.
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