Montclair State University
John J. Cali School of Music
presents
The 11th Annual
Weekend Wind Conducting Symposium 

Saturday and Sunday
November 18 and 19, 2017

John J. Cali School of Music
Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey

with special guest clinician
Craig Kirchhoff
Professor of Conducting / University of Minnesota
American Bandmasters Association

Download Application Form (PDF File)

Don’t miss this opportunity, before your concert band kicks into high gear, for you to refresh your conducting skills and get focused for the upcoming concert season. This symposium is designed for working Middle School, Junior High School, and High School Band Directors and will deal with topics ranging from conducting gestures to selection of repertoire. The symposium will run from approximately 9 AM – 5 PM each day.

We are honored to have Craig Kirchhoff as our very special guest clinician for both days. Dr. Thomas McCauley, Director of University Bands at Montclair State University, will assist Professor Kirchhoff.

Active Participants

Each Active Participant will conduct the Montclair State University Wind Symphony and are highly encouraged to play in the ensemble as well. Each Active Participant will have three 12-minute opportunities to conduct the group and work with the clinicians.

Active Participant Fee: $250.00
(selected on a first-come / first – serve basis)

Observer Participants

Observer – Participants are welcome. As such you will be allowed to attend all lectures and conducting sessions during the two-day event.

Observer Participant Fee: $50.00
(payable in the lobby on the first day of the event)

Recording

Each participant will be responsible for the individual video recording of his or her conducting sessions. Please bring your mobile device, etc. A student will be present to help with recording during your podium times.

All Active Participant applications and fees must be received on or before FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017.

Observers should register on the 1st day of the symposium.

Symposium Repertoire

Vaughan Williams: English Folk Song Suite (2008 edition) 
Holst: First Suite in Eb
Holst: Hammersmith
Grainger / Bainum: Spoon River
Broege: Sinfonia Six
Sheldon Lindbergh: Variations
Holsinger: A Childhood Hymn
Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy (I, II, VI)
** Please prepare at least two of the above (or two movements from the above) to conduct during your three 12-minute podium opportunities.

About The Clinicians

Craig Kirchhoff is professor of conducting at the University of Minnesota. Born and educated in Wisconsin, Mr. Kirchhoff brings to his position a wide knowledge of both traditional and contemporary literature. He has won critical acclaim from composers Warren Benson, Henry Brant, Michael Colgrass, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, George Perle, Vincent Persichetti, Stephen Paulus, Verne Reynolds, Gunther Schuller, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Elliott Schwartz, Chen Yi, and others.

Mr. Kirchhoff is past president of the College Band Directors National Association and is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and the Music Educators National Conference, and he served as the founding editor and principal advisor of the College Band Directors National Association Journal.

Professor Kirchhoff has appeared as guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and Scandinavia. Mr. Kirchhoff is a frequent guest conductor of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and has recorded with them on the Kosei Publishing label.

Thomas McCauley is currently the Director of University Bands in the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey where he conducts the Montclair State University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He has held similar positions in the states of Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois in addition to teaching high school instrumental music in Nevada for nine years. Composers including Karel Husa, David Gillingham, Joseph Turrin, Robert Aldridge, Morten Lauridsen and O’Neal Douglas have praised his work. In December of 2010, Dr. McCauley appeared as a clinician in Chicago at the 64th annual Midwest Clinic.

Dr. McCauley is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout North America. Ensembles under McCauley’s direction have appeared at national and regional conventions and conferences, and he has collaborated with artists including The Imani Winds, The Manhattan Brass Quintet, Warren Vache’, Demondrae Thurman, and Phil Smith.

Dr. McCauley has been published in The Instrumentalist magazine, several state music magazines, and in the second edition of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Vol I published by G.I.A. publications. In 1995, the Nevada Music Educator’s Association named Dr. McCauley Music Educator of the Year and in 2006, the Indiana Music Educators Association honored Dr. McCauley with an Outstanding University Music Educator Award. Dr, McCauley’s book titled, Adventures in Band Building (or How to Turn a Less-Than-It-Could-Be into a More-Than-It-Should-Be) is published by G.I.A. Publications.

The Montclair State University Wind Symphony is the most advanced group of three concert bands in the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. The group currently consists of fifty-five undergraduate students and five graduate students. Since 2006, the group has appeared at the 2017 NAfME All-Eastern Regional Conference, the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Regional Conference, the Northeast Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference (twice), and the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NAfME) State Conference, in addition to appearing in concert at Carnegie Hall in 2013. The group’s annual recruiting tours have taken them to Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. The MSU Wind Symphony has appeared with guest artists including Warren Vaché, The Imani Winds, Barry Centanni, Donald Batchelder, Anthony Mazzocchi, Demondrae Thurman, and The Manhattan Brass Quintet among many others.