York University Wind Conductors' Symposium
Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
Accolade Centre East, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University
9:30AM - 4:30PM
Featured Clinician:
Mark Scatterday
Mark Davis Scatterday is Professor of Conducting and Chair of the Conducting and Ensembles Department at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. As only the fourth conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Scatterday joined a prestigious line of conductors in the past fifty-plus years of the famed ensemble - Donald Hunsberger, Clyde Roller, and Frederick Fennell.
Having received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music in 1989, Professor Scatterday has directed wind ensembles and orchestras throughout North America and Asia. Dr. Scatterday also conducts the Eastman Wind Orchestra, teaches undergraduate conducting classes and supervises doctoral conducting students. Previous to his appointment at Eastman, Dr Scatterday was Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Cornell University. While at Cornell, he was one of the principal conductors of the professional new music group Ensemble X, which performed in Carnegie Hall in 2003, and was also the conductor and music director of the Cayuga Chamber Winds, a professional chamber winds ensemble in Ithaca, New York.
Professor Scatterday maintains an active guest conducting schedule as well as researching and writing articles involving score analysis, performance practices, and conducting. His articles on Venetian Renaissance wind music and the wind and percussion music of Karel Husa have been published in editions of Wind Works, College Band Director's National Association Journal, and Band Director's Guide.
Featured Clinician:
Mark Scatterday
Mark Davis Scatterday is Professor of Conducting and Chair of the Conducting and Ensembles Department at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. As only the fourth conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Scatterday joined a prestigious line of conductors in the past fifty-plus years of the famed ensemble - Donald Hunsberger, Clyde Roller, and Frederick Fennell.
Having received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music in 1989, Professor Scatterday has directed wind ensembles and orchestras throughout North America and Asia. Dr. Scatterday also conducts the Eastman Wind Orchestra, teaches undergraduate conducting classes and supervises doctoral conducting students. Previous to his appointment at Eastman, Dr Scatterday was Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Cornell University. While at Cornell, he was one of the principal conductors of the professional new music group Ensemble X, which performed in Carnegie Hall in 2003, and was also the conductor and music director of the Cayuga Chamber Winds, a professional chamber winds ensemble in Ithaca, New York.
Professor Scatterday maintains an active guest conducting schedule as well as researching and writing articles involving score analysis, performance practices, and conducting. His articles on Venetian Renaissance wind music and the wind and percussion music of Karel Husa have been published in editions of Wind Works, College Band Director's National Association Journal, and Band Director's Guide.
Featuring: Mark Scatterday
Download the York University & OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium Brochure
Directions to York University
Who Should Attend?
The workshops are open to all music educators and university students interested in improving their knowledge of wind band literature and their skills as effective music leaders. The format includes demonstration groups, open forum discussion and optional participation in a conducting master class.
Workshop Sessions
This event will provide you with new ideas and skills to enhance your conducting and music teaching.
Topics include:
- Exploring effective repertoire
- Getting the most from your school musicians
- Raising the musicality of your group
- Effective rehearsal techniques
- Artistic communication
Conductors Will Need
- A score for one of the following pieces (their choice):
- Bali - Michael Colgrass
- Yiddish Dances - Adam Gorb (Maecenas)
- Courtly Airs and Dances - Ron Nelson (Ludwig)
- Shenandoah - Frank Ticheli (Manhattan Beach)
- Baton
- Instrument
Delegates are encouraged to perform with other participants during the afternoon conducting master class, which focuses on score study.
Please contact tgomes@ucc.on.ca for more information.
Feedback
2011 YorkU/OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium
Clinician: Paula Holcomb
I was privileged to attend the OBA/York University Wind Conductors' Symposium held on March 5th, 2011, featuring Dr. Paula Holcomb. The featured ensemble, the York University Concert Band, was an excellent group that was extremely musical, generous, and enthusiastic, and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to conduct this group. The combination of the welcoming ensemble and the most personable and encouraging of instructors, Dr. Holcomb, made the experience extremely positive.
I felt very nervous prior to my turn at the podium, but was gradually put at ease by Dr. Holcomb, the band, and everyone else in attendance, once I got started. I would recommend this experience to any music educator or music education student. It can be extremely nerve-wracking, but well worth the effort and a great learning experience to conduct and play with such a wonderful ensemble among a great group of supportive colleagues.
Lara Farley
Peel District School Board Secondary Teacher &
UWO Masters of Music Education candidate
This past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium, held at York University's Accolade Centre. It's a beautiful hall and a great setting, a perfect place to meet new friends and to get reacquainted with some old ones. And that's what we did! Dr. Paula Holcomb was the guest clinician. She brought with her a wealth of experience and a catching enthusiasm. She got us going in the morning sessions with some calisthenics and tonnes of useful tips - from "finding one's own correct stance" to "holding the baton" to suggestions to "bring the ensemble to you"... and much more. Dr. Holcomb also led an afternoon conducting master-class with helpful, supportive suggestions for each and every one of the candidates. Performance duties were ably handled by the York University Wind Ensemble. A fine group indeed! It was a wonderful, inspiring day.
Tom Wade-West
Royal St. George's College
The 2011 York Conducting Symposium was an amazing experience for me. This symposium provided a great environment for teachers and students to further their knowledge of conducting and gain some experience in front of an ensemble. Not only did I learn a lot from the morning lecture, but I also learned just from watching other conductors get up on the podium. The clinician, Dr. Paula Holcomb, was incredibly energetic and her passion for conducting was evident to every person in the room. Overall, it was a great day spent with great people making great music and I can't wait to go back next year!
Sara Joy
Student, Wilfrid Laurier University
2010 YorkU/OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium
Clinician: Dr. Jack Stamp
To the members and organizers of the York Wind Conducting Symposium:
I would like to express my wholehearted thanks for the work you have done to make the Conducting Symposium such a success. Included in my thanks is the reference to the work that goes into the logistics of the Symposium. The day could not have run more smoothly. From the beginning of the registrations to the closing remarks, the day proceeded in an effortless way. However, the thanks for this organizational skill in only the beginning of the praise you deserve.
The day was an outstanding example of the creation of a solid learning environment that meets the needs of different participants at different levels of skill. As teachers, we strive to create positive environments so that our students will feel safe and included. This enables them to take large risks which allow their learning to reach its maximum potential. The atmosphere that was created at the OBA/York Wind Conducting Symposium modeled this at the highest levels. In my opinion, because of the environment that you created, every participant was able to grow fully throughout the day. The combination of the clarity in the physical and the metaphysical aspects of the symposium made it possible for the day to reach the highest levels of learning and aesthetic achievement.
I have come back to my classroom not only ready to model a safer, more inclusive classroom, but also ready to continue to develop myself and take personal risks with my classes. This can only continue to serve my students so they may reach their greatest abilities. This makes the day a landmark event, one that I will look forward to supporting and participating in again in the future.
To all of the people that were involved in making the day a success, I shout "Bravo", and call for an Encore of this outstanding performance.
Thank you for your work,
Sincerely,
Chris Dickson
(OBA Member, North Hastings H.S., and symposium conducting candidate)
The York Conducting Symposium gave me the opportunity to get feedback and take risks. It was a perfect time to bring forth my musicality and have my baton and gestural technique constructively-criticized so that I can continue to be a leader and musical while representing an ensemble.
Joshua Manuel
New Student OBA Member
Dr. Stamp and Tony Gomes |
Symposium sponsor, St. John's Music's display, with staffers Pratik Gandhi and Heather Hopkins |
Dr. Stamp in action |
Symposium participants |
Photos courtesy and copyright of Dennis Beck | |
2009 YorkU/OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium
Clinician: Richard Blatti
As a student of York University's Faculty of Music, I genuinely look forward to experiencing the Wind Conductors' Symposium every year. The extra work is always worth it because the OBA ensures that things run smoothly for everyone, and it's an amazing opportunity to work with a great guest clinician. Professor Richard Blatti made a strong impact on the attendees and band members, and the experience was invaluable.
One of the most interesting things about the symposium from my seat in the York University Wind Symphony is watching and interacting with the attendees. Whether they are students or conductors, they all come from very different backgrounds and schools with different needs to be addressed. Prof. Blatti had a knack for seeing things that others - including the conductor performing - wouldn't notice, and touched on very important and practical principles of conducting and score study.
Above all, I feel like this is a great opportunity for the students involved. There are so few chances to conduct in front of a large ensemble when learning the art, and the repertoire is always very well chosen to suit everyone's need. The symposium also prepares the performers of the Wind Symphony for future performances by teaching them to adjust to different conducting techniques and styles. There were so many important skills being taught to everyone even minutely involved, making it an event that's essential to both students and conductors alike.
Bill Thomas (York University), Chris Reesor (Yamaha Music), Professor Richard Blatti (Symposium Clinician), Dave Lum (OBA Past-President), Tony Gomes (OBA Board of Directors) |
Professor Blatti gives a participant personalized instruction. |
Professor Richard Blatti (Ohio State University) puts participants through their paces. |
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2008 YorkU/OBA Wind Conductors' Symposium
Clinician: Craig Kirchhoff
The 2008 Toronto Conductor's Symposium, presented by the Ontario Band Association, was once again a huge success. I found it odd that Sudbury (where I live) was mentioned while discussing how far people had come to participate. To me, the drive was well worth it. Over the three years that I have been participating in this specific symposium I have learned a great deal - so much so that I used much of what I had been exposed to in a workshop I led for new music educators like myself at Nipissing University.
This year's symposium was both entertaining and educational. Craig Kirchhoff's warm and humorous personality, combined with his knowledge and experience, made for a most productive day. Craig was able to put even the most nervous participants at ease and really got down to working on their conducting and more importantly, their confidence! His thoughts on good music and the emotional side of music were relevant and very important to us as music educators, in an age in which I feel the 'human' side of music can be easily neglected. Technically, he reinforced the concepts and exercises introduced last year by John Whitwell, adding his own take on them, and introducing many new ones. This continuity demonstrates to me, as a young music educator, that there are concepts that will stand the test of time - if they are implemented properly.
I look forward to next year's symposium and encourage any music educator to come and participate - you will learn something. Last year a former conducting professor of mine joined me at the symposium. He seemed to even learn a bit, and he also made some definite contributions to the discussions. It just goes to show you that no matter how effective a conductor you are, or think you are, there's always something new to learn.
I can't think of a better place so close to home to do it!
Matthew Beatty
Special Education Department, Music Department
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Sudbury, Ontario
beattym@rainbowschools.ca