Ic2us: The Evolving Conductor

The season one finale of Ic2us features Professor Steven Davis who serves as the Rose Ann Carr Millsap Missouri Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Wind Ensembles at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory. Professor Davis is a lauded, versatile, and cosmopolitan conductor who has inspired ensembles around the world. In this episode we discuss life, learning, and the daily walk of being a musician.

This episode features Mr. Frank Battisti. Mr. Battisti is past president of the College Band Directors National Association, and his articles on the wind ensemble, music education, and wind band literature have been published by many national and international journals. He is author of “The New Winds of Change” and coauthor of the book “Guide to Score Study.” Faculty Emeritus, he first began his tenure at the New England Conservatory in 1969. In this episode we discuss leadership, imagination, and the need to express.

This episode features Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, DMA. Dr. Mitchell-Spradlin serves as the Director of Wind Band Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Penn State University. Prior to her time at PSU she served as Assistant Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina. In this episode we discuss the importance of communication with your ensemble, inclusivity, and consortiums.

This very special episode features Professor H. Robert Reynolds. His tremendous career includes service at the University of Southern California, the University of Michigan, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, the University of Wisconsin, and California State University at Long Beach. In this episode, Professor Reynolds discusses some of the great works for winds, depth of music making, and many great stories including a visit with Aaron Copland.

Episode 13 features Andrea Brown, DMA. Dr. Brown currently serves a the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland where she conducts the wind ensemble and leads the “Mighty Sound of Maryland.” Prior to her appointment at Maryland, she was a member of the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan where she served as the assistant director of bands. In this episode we discuss Women Rising to the Podium, great music with powerful meaning, and a fantastic way to work on your personal conducting,

Episode 12 features Jerry Junkin, Director of Bands at The University of Texas at Austin. Professor Junkin also serves as the Music Director and Conductor of the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia, and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Winds. In this episode we discuss the future of music, the concept of balance, and workshopping new music with composers.

BONUS EPISODE ALERT! Take 30 minutes out out of your day to learn more about this incredible new organization: Girls Who Conduct. GWC strives to provide mentorship, camaraderie, and training for upcoming generations of women, women-identifying, and non-binary conductors.

Episode 10 features Cynthia Johnston Turner, DMA. Dr. Turner serves as Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and co-Artistic Director of Rote Hund Muzik at the Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia. Prior to her time at UGA she served as Director of Wind Ensembles at Cornell University. In this episode we discuss sharing wind music in new and exciting ways, as well as some great musicians that you need to know!

This episode features Sarah McKoin, DMA. Dr. McKoin is the Director of Bands and Professor of Conducting at Texas Tech University. Prior to her appointment at TTU, she was the Director of Bands at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and held appointments at the State University of New York at Buffalo and SUNY Fredonia. In this episode we discuss the importance of staying open, how travel changes you, and authenticity.

Happy New Year everyone! This episode features Rodney Dorsey, DMA. Dr. Dorsey serves as professor of music in bands and chair of the Department of Bands at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Prior to his time at IU he served at the University of Oregon, University of Michigan, DePaul University, and Northwestern University. In this episode we discuss the importance of failure, imagination, and the music of Anthony Barfield.

Bonus episode alert! Happy Holidays to all, and a special Happy Hanukkah this week! Today’s bonus episode features Amy J. Bovin, PhD. Dr. Bovin has been a prominent music educator for over a decade, teaching bands at the secondary and collegiate levels, presenting at conferences and workshops across the country, conducting ensembles around the globe, and completing research on the topics of music literacy using technology and gendered experiences in music education. She also serves as the President of Connecticut Music Educators Association and the Connecticut Representative for Women Band Directors International. In this episode we discuss Hanukkah music and Dr. Bovin shares information she has found throughout her research!

Every musician has their own path, and this episode highlights what you might consider a “non-traditional” route to the podium. Episode 4 features Robert Ambrose, DMA. Dr. Ambrose has served as the Director of Bands at Georgia State University for twenty years. He has conducted professionally across the United States as well as in Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. In this episode we talk about the relationship between technique and musicianship, how to continue to grow your own musicianship, and a list of books that could be a source of inspiration for any music teacher in the upcoming winter break.

This episode features Dennis Llinás, DMA. Dr. Llinás serves as Director of Bands at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. Prior to his time at Oregon, he served as an Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands at Louisiana State University. In this episode we talk about ways passion and energy can help teach your students to truly love music, and Dr. Llinás takes us through his creative process for concert programing.

Ic2us is your source for any and everything conducting, listening, teaching, and music making. Treat yourself to a weekly dose of musical inspiration as we pick the minds of great conductors and delve into note worthy repertoire. If you’re a musician, teacher, or conductor: you’ve found your people.