Sonoma Summer Wind Band Conducting Symposium

Overview

The Sonoma Summer Wind Band Conducting Symposium focuses on the development of movement and gestural skills as a means for communicating musical interpretation. Conducting participants work with a live ensemble each day and receive feedback from master teachers. Additional activities include seminar sessions dealing with rehearsal techniques, score study, repertoire, ensemble motivation and personal growth.

Enrollment Information

Conducting Participant

Conducting Participants will conduct a live wind ensemble, as well as attend all sessions. Participant status is designed for music educators currently working with high school, middle school  and community college ensembles and for graduate-level students in conducting. Registration is limited to 16 Conducting Participants.

The Sonoma Summer Conducting Symposium supports one conducting participant through the CBDNA Mike Moss Conducting Study Grant. 

For more information, visit the CBDNA website.

Observer

Observers attend all sessions and participate in all workshop events and activities, but do not conduct the ensemble. Observer status is open to conducting students and musicians at all levels. There is no limit to the number of Observers.

Cost

• Conducting Participant | $700
• Observer | $425
• 1 Units of College Credit | $75

2025 Repertoire

COMPOSER                         TITLE                                              LEVEL

Kelijah Dunton                     Stillwater                                         Grade 3

Hugh Stuart                         Three Ayres from Gloucester        Grade 3

Frank Ticheli                       Cajun Folk Songs                            Grade 3

J.S. Bach/Moehlmann        Prelude & Fugue in G minor           Grade 3

Cait Nishimura                    Wilderness                                       Grade 3                                

William Schuman               Chester Overture                             Grade 4

Carol Brittin Chambers      Tarantella                                          Grade 4

Gustav Holst                       2nd Suite in F                                   Grade 4

Joaquin Turina/Reed          La Procession du Rocio                  Grade 5

Darius Milhaud                   Suite Française                                Grade 5

Symposium Schedule

MONDAY June 23                                                                                                    

7:45 am                   Orientation meeting for all Participants & Observers: GMC 1027

8:30 – 1:00 pm      Live Conducting Rounds: GMC 1028

1:00 – 2:30 pm      Lunch                                                                                            

2:00 - 3:30 pm       Session 1: The Four S’s of Organic Gesture: an exploration the many ways in which we can play with Space, Speed, Shape, and Sharpness to create a vocabulary of gestures that look like they interact with the world around us

4:00 – 5:30 pm      Individual Video Reviews: Conductors #1-4 w/Jason; #5-8 w/Andy

TUESDAY June 24

7:50 – 8:15 am      Conductor Calisthenics

8:30 – 1:00 pm      Live Conducting Rounds: GMC 1028

1:00 – 2:30 pm      Lunch                                                                                            

2:30 – 4:00 pm      Session 2: Default Detours: experiments in determining our "defaults" as conductors, how to analyze why we do them, and how to expand the options at our disposal to deviate from them.

4:00 – 5:30 pm      Individual Video Reviews: #9-12 w/ Jason; #13-16 w/Andy

6:15 pm                   Dinner/Social TBA

WEDNESDAY June 25

7:50 – 8:15 am      Conductor Calisthenics

8:30 – 1:00 pm      Live Conducting Rounds: GMC 1028

1:00 – 2:30 pm      Lunch                                                                                            

2:30 – 4:00 pm      Session 3: Conducting with Empathy: An exploration of our relationship with music, composers, musicians, and ourselves, in the pursuit of more authentic and expressive artistry.  A walk-through of strategies for refining our rehearsal technique and communication, empowering ensemble autonomy, and enjoying the process more often.  

4:00 – 5:30 pm      Individual Video Reviews: #5-8 w/ Jason; #1-4 w/Andy

THURSDAY June 26

7:50 – 8:15 am      Conductor Calisthenics

8:30 – 1:00 pm      Live Conducting Rounds: GMC 1028

12:30 – 2:00 pm    Lunch

2:30 – 4:00 pm      Session 4: Strike Up the Band: Stories from a career at the helm of the United States Marine Band and lessons learned from a career in teaching, service, and musical diplomacy.

4:00 – 5:30 pm      15-min. Individual Video Reviews: #13-16 w/ Jason; #9-12 w/Andy

6:30 pm                   BBQ/Social TBA

FRIDAY June 27

8:30 – 1:00 pm      Live Conducting Rounds: Weill Hall

1:00 – 2:00 pm      Session 5: Q & A

Housing

Housing is not provided on campus. There are several hotels in the Rohnert Park area. Recommended hotels:

Doubletree Hilton Wine Country in Rohnert Park

Oxford Suites in Rohnert Park

Contact

Andy Collinsworth, Workshop Coordinator