PLATTEVILLE — The UW–Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts will host the sixth annual Band Conductor’s Art Workshop symposium June 29–July 1.
Presented in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Military Bands, the event includes a 1- or 2-credit workshop for wind conductors of all levels and a free concert by the Wisconsin 132nd Army National Guard Band in the Center for the Arts Saturday, June 30 at 7 p.m.
The performance, which is open to the public, features a variety of musical selections directed by each of the attending conductors.
According to their website, the 132nd Army National Guard Band is a reserve component unit located in Madison, and is comprised of 60 part-time musician soldiers. Dr. Barry Ellis, event organizer and UW–Platteville director of bands, said many of the members are professional musicians or music educators, while others hold a variety of other professions. In addition to performing for military ceremonies, the 132nd Army Band performs in concerts and marches in parades throughout Wisconsin.
Resident workshop clinicians for the symposium include Ellis and Matthew Gregg, UW–Platteville associate director of bands and music lecturer. Michael Haithcock, University of Michigan director of bands and professor of music who conducts Michigan’s internationally renowned symphony band, is this year’s guest clinician.
The ultimate goal of the symposium, Ellis said, is to aid and augment participants’ conducting knowledge and skills by investigating and improving techniques of conducting and exploring other topics of interest to the serious wind conductor.
Ellis added that attendees develop their leadership skills, overall musicianship, nonverbal communication skills, conducting and rehearsal techniques, and are exposed to a broad range of wind band repertoire by attending lectures and discussions focused on repertoire selection, score marking, score study, conducting technique, musical interpretation and conducting from the composer’s point of view.
Each attending conductor also prepares two contrasting works from the pre-approved repertoire to be conducted with a live ensemble during the event.
For more information, contact Ellis, 342-1017, ellisb@uwplatt.edu, or access www.uwplatt.edu/music/bandconductorsworkshop/index.html.
