Everything Band Podcast

Composer Peter Meechan joins the show for a wonderfully thoughtful discussion that includes conversations about his career, music in England, the merits of self-publishing, composition, and the bar at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Topics:

• Pete’s background growing up outside of Birmingham as the son of two folk musicians who surrounded him with music.
• A discussion of the band system in England including opportunities for young musicians and the Black Dyke Brass Band.
• How the bar at the Royal Northern College of Music led to the relationships and opportunities that helped Pete launch his career.
• The value of being self-published as a composer and the importance of retaining your copyright.

Links:

• Meechan Music
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Stravinsky: Symphony of Wind Instruments
• Scott McAllister: Gone
• Melanie Brooks
• "Building Bridges through Music" Festival

Biography:

The music of Canadian-based British composer Peter Meechan is performed throughout the world. His music has been commissioned, recorded, broadcast and performed by some of the world’s leading wind orchestras, brass bands, conductors and soloists, including: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey, Black Dyke Brass Band, Dunshan Symphonic Wind Orchestra, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, RNCM Wind Orchestra, Steven Mead, Jens Lindemann, Ryan Anthony, Les Neish, Linda Merrick, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Rex Richardson, Jacques Mauger and many more. Meechan’s music is featured on over 100 commercial recordings and has been featured at festivals and clinics globally, including the Midwest Clinic, the International Trumpet Guild, the International Tuba and Euphonium Association, BASBWE conferences, and in 2014 his work “The Legend of King Arthur” was used as the set test piece at the British National Brass Band Championships, held in the Royal Albert Hall, London. Peter was the first ever “Young Composer in Association” with the prestigious Black Dyke Brass band, where he went on to serve as their “Composer in Residence”, a position he also held between 2012 – 2015 with The Band of the Coldstream Guards. He holds an undergraduate degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, a Master of Arts degree and a PhD (composition), both from the University of Salford where his principal tutor was Professor Peter Graham. Peter Meechan’s music is principally published by his own publishing house, Meechan Music.

Sean Smith is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois and a recent graduate of that program. Sean recounts his experiences at his first job, describes the transition from high school teacher to graduate student, and shares his opinion about the larger issues facing music education.

Topics:

• Sean’s experience as a young band director learning the ropes in Conneaut, Ohio, including both his best decision and his worst decision in his first year on the job.
• The decision to leave his position as a high school band director and return to school to pursue a master and doctorate.
• The history and importance of the University of Illinois band program and its influence on the college band tradition.
• The University of Illinois Band Podcast.

Links:

• Sean Smith
• The University of Illinois Bands Podcast
• Transforming Music Study from its Foundations: A Manifesto for Progressive Change in the Undergraduate Preparation of Music Majors
• The Problems of Band: An Inquiry into the Future of Instrumental Music Education

Biography:

A native of Illinois, Sean Smith is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Illinois.

Sean completed a year of coursework at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York prior to coming to the University of Illinois to continue his Master's degree with Dr. Stephen Peterson, which he finished in 2017. He has six years of public school teaching experience as Director of Bands in the Conneaut Area City Schools in Conneaut, Ohio. While in Conneaut, Sean taught bands from fifth grade through high school, directed the Conneaut High School Marching Band, and developed the music technology, guitar, and piano courses offered by the high school.

Before teaching, Sean studied at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio, where he received a Bachelor of Music Education. Sean received much conducting experience at Baldwin Wallace as Conducting Apprentice for the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and student conductor for the Brass Choir and the Contemporary Ensemble. Sean’s professional experiences include serving as Music Director of the Euclid Civic Orchestra and working as a National Director for Bugles Across America.

In August of 2015, The Instrumentalist Magazine published an article Sean authored titled “The Ideal Marching Schedule.” He had previously presented on the topic at the Ohio Music Education State Conference and at the Whalen Symposium at Ithaca College.

Cynthia Johnston Turner from the University of Georgia shares her thoughts about the importance of finding your authentic self on the podium, gender issues in the band world, and ideas for programming music.

Topics:

• Cynthia's background and the sense of belonging that band provides for young people
• Impostor syndrome and being your authentic self
• The band program at the University of Georgia
• Gender in the band world
• Working with composers
• Programming "new" music
• Technology in the band rehearsal
• Programming transcriptions

Links:

• Cynthia Johnston Turner
• Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia
• Women composers in wind band music (Google Doc)
• Women composers in wind band music (YouTube playlist)
• Candy Floss and Merry-Go-Rounds: Female Composers, Gendered Language, and Emotion
• Joni Greene: Enigma Machine
• Adolphus Hailstork: American Guernica
• Karel Husa: Music for Prague 1968
• University of Hawai'i Conductor's Workshop
• New England Band Director's Institute

Biography:

Cynthia Johnston Turner is Director of Bands, Professor of Music, Area Chair of Conducting, and Artistic Director of Rote Hund Muzik at the Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia. Turner conducts the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, leads the MM and DMA programs in conducting, and oversees the entire band program including the 430-member Redcoat Marching Band.

Before her appointment at the Hodgson School at the University of Georgia, Cynthia was Director of Wind Ensembles at Cornell University. Earlier in her career Cynthia was a high school music educator, taught middle school beginning instrumental music in Toronto and choral music in Switzerland.

James Swearingen has composed over 700 published works and is one of the most recognizable names in the wind band community. He joins me to discuss not only his music but also the story his early career as a band director and some of the wisdom he has acquired over a stellar career.

Links:

• Jager: Esprit de Corps
• Nestico: Boys of Wexford
• Swearingen: Into the Joy of Spring

Biography:

James Swearingen’s talents as a performer, composer/arranger and educator include a background of extensive training and experience. He has earned degrees from Bowling Green State University and The Ohio State University. In recognition of distinguished contributions, Mr. Swearingen was recently accorded the title of Professor Emeritus from Capital University located in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to his appointment at Capital in 1987, he spent eighteen years teaching instrumental music in the public schools of central Ohio. His first teaching assignment took him to the community of Sunbury, Ohio. He then spent fourteen years as Director of Instrumental Music at Grove City High School, where his marching, concert, and jazz bands all received acclaim for their high standards of performing excellence.

Mr. Swearingen currently serves as a staff arranger for the famed Ohio State University Marching Band. In addition to his arranging responsibilities, Mr. Swearingen manages to be very active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and educational clinician. Appearances have included trips throughout the United States, as well as Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Norway, the Republic of China and Singapore.

School directors, student performers and audiences worldwide have enthusiastically received Mr. Swearingen’s numerous contributions for band. With over 650 published works, he has written band compositions and arrangements that reflect a variety of musical forms and styles. Many of his pieces, including 120 commissioned works, have been chosen for contest and festival lists. He is a recipient of several ASCAP awards for published compositions and in 1992 was selected as an Accomplished Graduate of the Fine and Performing Arts from Bowling Green State University. In March of 2000, he was invited to join The American Bandmasters Association, considered to be the most prestigious bandmaster organization in the world. Mr. Swearingen received the 2002 Community Music Educator Award given annually by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. In that same year, he became conductor of the Grove City Community Winds. This highly talented ensemble consists of many fine musicians from the central Ohio area. On June 20, 2009, The American School Band Directors Association, Inc., presented Mr. Swearingen with the A. Austin Harding Award. This prestigious award is presented annually by the organization and is reflective of valuable and dedicated service to the school bands of America. In 2011, he received the Hall of Fame Award presented by the Ohio Chapter (Mu) of Phi Beta Mu. The OMEA Distinguished Service Award was presented to him at the 2014 OMEA Professional Development Conference. Later that year, he was presented the Signature Sinfonian Award by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. On April 21, 2015, The Ohio State School of Music honored Mr. Swearingen with their Distinguished Alumnus Award. It should be noted that he is also a member of numerous professional and honorary organizations including NAfME, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu and Pi Kappa Lambda.

The Everything Band Podcast team includes the following contributors:

• Host and Creator: Mark Connor
• Outreach Manager: Colin Peters
• Creative Director: Jake Walker

I am thrilled to welcome conductor Jerry Junkin to the show for a conversation about his career, how every commission provides a new opportunity, and the importance of cultivating good relationships.

Topics:

• Jerry’s background as the son of a high school band director and being prepared to take advantage of serendipitous opportunities that helped to shape his early career.
• Collaborating with other musicians and how to ask a composer to work with your group.
• The most important bit of advice that Jerry looks to pass along to all of his conducting students at the University of Texas.
• Criteria for selecting literature for his concerts and advice for sifting through the large number of pieces that are released each year.

Links:

• Jerry Junkin
• The University of Texas Butler School of Music
• Dallas Winds
• Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
• Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia
• Cornet Favorites, Gerard Schwarz & William Bolcom
• Composers and Schools in Concert
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• Harvey Penick's Little Red Book
• Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat Major, K. 361 "Gran Partita"

Biography:

In his 25th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Winds, Jerry Junkin is recognized as one of the world’s most highly regarded wind conductors. He has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia since 2003, additionally, 2017-18 marks his 30th year on the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Vincent R. and Jane D. DiNino Chair for the Director of Bands. There, he also holds the title of University Distinguished Teaching Professor. Previously, he served on the faculties of both the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida. In addition to his responsibilities as Professor of Music and Conductor of the Texas Wind Ensemble, he serves as Head of the Division of Conducting and Ensembles and teaches courses in conducting and wind band literature. He is a recipient of multiple teaching awards, and students of Mr. Junkin hold major positions throughout the world. Since 2007, he has been the Principal Guest Conductor of the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Wind Symphony in Tokyo. Performances under the direction of Mr. Junkin have won the praise of such notable musicians as John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, William Kraft, Jacob Druckman and Michael Colgrass, among many others. Mr. Junkin has released over 30 compact disc recordings for the Reference, Klavier and Naxos labels. The New York Times named his recent release on the Reference Recordings label, Bells for Stokowski, one of the best classical CD’s of the year. His performance of Circus Maximus with The University of Texas Wind Ensemble was recently released on the world’s first Blu Ray audio disc in 5.1 surround sound by Naxos and was nominated for a GRAMMY. During the summer of 2014 he led The University of Texas Wind Ensemble on a four week tour around the world. Jerry Junkin is an enthusiastic advocate of public school music education, having conducted All-State bands and festivals in forty-eight states and on five continents. He spends his summers in residence at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, as well as appearing at major music festivals throughout the world. Mr. Junkin has served as President of the Big XII Band Director's Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of The John Philip Sousa Foundation, is Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, and is Past President of the College Band Directors National Association. Regularly making guest appearances with ensembles such as the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and the Taipei Symphonic Winds, the 2017-18 season finds him conducting throughout the United States in addition to multiple appearances in Japan, China, and Europe. In 2005 he was presented the Grainger Medallion by the International Percy Grainger Society in recognition of his championing of Grainger’s works, and he has received numerous career awards from Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, and the Midwest Clinic, among others. Mr. Junkin is a Yamaha Master Educator.