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NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium
Next Symposium: July 7-12, 2024
The NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium, founded by Dr. Robert Halseth at Sacramento State in June 1994, is back for its 27th year in 2024! Open to adult conductors, the six-day Symposium will provide a safe, nurturing environment of professional development in which to improve conducting skills, rehearsal techniques, and wind literature awareness.
Work one on one with our Guest Artist Clinician, Eugene Migliaro Corporon, and our current Sacramento State Director of Bands, Dr. Matthew Morse.
The Symposium provides a unique opportunity for up to 20 Participant/Conductors to receive podium time and instruction in front of a 45-piece wind ensemble. Additionally, an unlimited number of Auditor/Observers will also be accepted. Registration is required.
The Symposium will begin on Sunday afternoon, July 7, with an approximately two-hour readthrough/rehearsal of the repertoire set with the band, which will be made up of the Symposium Participant/Conductors and Auditor/Observers, and local Sacramento musicians, conducted by our clinicians, Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Dr. Matthew Morse, and our Symposium Founder, Dr. Robert Halseth.
Following the rehearsal, we will have pizza and an informal meet-and-greet, where you will meet the clinicians, staff, and each other, and hear about the topics to be discussed during afternoon seminars Monday through Thursday.
The Symposium will wrap up on Friday, July 12 following that morning’s rehearsal.
Info and Forms
The NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium will operate as a ‘day camp’ type activity, running 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Thursday and ending early afternoon on Friday (July 7-12, 2024). Those participants coming from out of town will be responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
FEES
- $600 - for Participant/Conductor (limited to 20)
- $300 - for Auditor/Observer (unlimited)
REGISTER FOR THE SYMPOSIUM
Please complete the Google form asking for registration information. Contained in the Google form is a link to the payment site – please also ensure that you also complete the payment process to reserve your place as a Participant.
Continuing Education Units will be available through the Sac State College of Continuing Education for attendance/participation in the NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium. Conductor/Participants will be eligible for 3 CEUs and Auditor/Observers will be eligible for 1.5 CEUs. Registration for these units will be taken care of as the Symposium ends and will incur an additional fee, payable through the Registrar’s office.
What to Expect
Mornings are devoted to podium time for Participant/Conductors with a 45-piece band. Each conductor will conduct the band daily for 10-15 minutes and have their session recorded. During conducting, one clinician provides audio comments on the recording while another works with the conductor in front of the ensemble. Each conductor will be in front of the band five times during the Symposium.
Afternoons will be spent in seminars and activities presented by our clinicians supporting a wide range of subjects pertaining to wind bands. All of this will happen in the School of Music’s Capistrano Hall on the beautiful 300-acre park-like Sacramento State campus in the heart of Sacramento.
For more information or further questions, please email Dr. Matthew Morse.
Repertoire List
Participants should pick five pieces from the list below to conduct with the band – movements of the multi-movement pieces (Milburn, Jacob, Camphouse, or Holst) will count as one piece. Participants are responsible for procuring their own scores.
We have chosen music in a variety of difficulty levels to accommodate teachers at different stages of conducting expertise.
| Composer | Title | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Dwayne S. Milburn | American Hymnsong Suite (4 Movements) | 5 |
| Gordon Jacob | William Byrd Suite (6 Movements) | 5 |
| Michael Barry | Grayscale | 5 |
| Mark Camphouse | Three London Miniatures (3 Movements) | 4 |
| Gustav Holst | Second Suite in F for Military Band (4 Movements) | 4 |
| Randall Standridge | Imaginarium | 3 |
| Yukiko Nishimura | Northern Lights | 3 |
Parking
Parking is available in the six-story parking structure adjacent to our building (Capistrano Hall). Registered conductors and observers can purchase a $16 virtual weekly permit. You will need to create a parking Guest Account, if you don't already have one, then use the link below (available after June 1) to reserve your parking permit.
*Parking will be available for purchase after June 1
*NOTE: Volunteers in the workshop band will receive a link later to reserve their parking
About Our Clinicians
Clinician: Eugene Migliaro Corporon
Eugene Migliaro Corporon is currently the conductor of the Wind Symphony and Regents Professor of Music at the University of North Texas. His career, which spans six decades, includes collegiate positions at California State University, Fullerton, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Northern Colorado, Michigan State University, and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has recorded over 1000 works, including many premieres and commissions, and his groups have released over 150 recordings (three of which have appeared on the Grammy nomination long ballot). Professor Corporon was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2014, and is a recipient of the International Grainger Society Distinctive Contribution Medallion, the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Award, the Phi Beta Mu International Band Conductor of the Year Award, and an Honorary Life Membership granted by the Texas Bandmasters Association. He was awarded the Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor in 2015 to recognize his unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of bands and orchestras worldwide. Mr. Corporon also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College Band Directors National Association in 2019.
Clinician/Host: Dr. Matthew Morse
Dr. Matthew Morse is currently Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Conducting at Sacramento State, where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, oversees the Marching Band, and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. He is also the Music and Artistic Director for the Sacramento Symphonic Winds and is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Prior to his appointment at Sac State, Dr. Morse earned degrees in conducting from the University of North Texas as a student of Eugene Migliaro Corporon, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a student of Dr. Jack Stamp. Dr. Morse also served for 25 years as a performing musician and bandmaster in the U.S. Army, culminating with his capstone assignment as Associate Bandmaster of the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, NY.