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NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium
Next Symposium: June 16-21, 2026
The NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium, founded by Dr. Robert Halseth at Sacramento State in June 1994, is back for its 29th year in 2026! The Symposium will be back again at Capistrano Hall on the Sacramento State campus. 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 (TBA) and the Sacramento State School of Music 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, June 21, 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.
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, June 26 following that morning’s rehearsal.
Info and Forms
The NorCal Wind Conducting Symposium will operate as a ‘day camp’ type activity, running 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday and ending early afternoon on Friday. 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. Submission of both the Google registration form AND the payment are required to hold your spot for the Symposium.
REGISTER (coming soon)
WORKSHOP PAYMENT (coming soon)
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
We choose music in a variety of difficulty levels to accommodate teachers at different stages of conducting expertise. THE LIST BELOW IS FROM 2025, to give you an idea of the repertoire used.
Participants will pick five pieces from the 2026 list (coming soon) to conduct with the band. Participants are responsible for procuring their own scores.
| Composer | Title | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Curnow | Canticle of the Creatures (all 6 Movements) | 5 |
| Ticheli | Rest | 5 |
| Galante | Landscapes | 5 |
| Standridge | Choose Joy | 4 |
| Sheldon | River Trail Expedition | 3.5 |
| Gillingham | At Morning's First Light | 3.5 |
| Giroux | Our Castaways | 3.5 |
| Kristofferson | In Stillness from "Transcendent Light" | 3 |
| Holsinger | On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss | 3 |
| Bernotas | Dancing Kites | 2 |
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 to reserve your parking permit.
Directions
- Click the Purchase Parking link below and select "Guest Login". This should open a window titled "Virtual Parking Permits". Sometimes the Login screen glitches and goes to the wrong window. If this happens, close the window and click on the Purchase Parking link below again
- Clicking "Next" at the bottom of the screen should show you the weekly $16 permit option, then a calendar to select the start date (select June 8), and then your registered vehicle. Follow through the steps to the purchase section to finish the transaction.
- After you complete the permit checkout process, you will be emailed a receipt confirming the details of your virtual parking permit. You don't need to display a permit on your vehicle; your license plate is your parking permit. If you need assistance, email parking@csus.edu
*NOTE: Volunteers in the workshop band will receive a link later to reserve their parking
About Our Clinicians
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.