Conducting Symposium
2025 Summer Conducting Symposium
2025 Dates announced!
July 14, 15 and 16, 2025
Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center
Seton Hill University is proud to host the third annual Summer Wind Band Conducting Symposium with special guest Dr. Andrea E. Brown, the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland where she conducts the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, serves as the Director of Athletic Bands, teaches conducting, and is the coordinator of the conducting division.
Join music educators from around the Western PA area and beyond for our three-day event filled with professional development and music-making. The workshop is designed for band directors at all stages of their careers to develop their conducting and teaching skills.
We are pleased to offer two tracks for participation: Full Participant (Max. 10) and Auditor (no limit). Full Participants will engage in all clinics and conduct several pieces with the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds (WSW). Full participants are expected to perform with the WSW while others conduct the ensemble. Auditor will participate in all clinics and observe/perform with the ensemble during the symposium. The auditor option is designed for any conductor interested in learning more about technique and teaching, without the pressure of preparing scores.
Conducting repertoire (to be announced at a later date) will represent standard works from a variety of grade levels. Daily clinics will address topics such as rehearsal techniques, literature and programming, conducting technique, and continued musical growth.
Fees:
$300 Full Participant Fee (Conducts the large ensemble twice per day, participates in all clinics)
$75 Auditor Fee (Observes and/or plays in large ensemble, participates in all clinics.)
Daily Schedule:
9 am - Clinic
10 am - Large Ensemble Conducting Session
noon - Meal (Included)
1 pm - Clinic
2 pm - Large Ensemble Conducting Session
4 pm - end
Act 48 Credit available
Clinicians
Dr. Andrea Brown - Associate Director of Bands at the University of Maryland
During her time at Maryland, the UMD “Mighty Sound of Maryland” Marching Band has collaborated in halftime shows with local artists such as the Critical Condition Band (DC GoGo), Mawty Maw (rap artist), Grace Chin (drum set), the Maryland Steel Pan Collective, and UMD Choirs. MSOM has also been a part of joint performances with the Howard University “Showtime” Marching Band and the Penn State “Blue” Band, and has participated in special performances at The Kennedy Center (DC), the Heisman Trophy Banquet (NY) and Bands of America Regionals (MD).
Brown has contributed to several books published by GIA Publications such as Women in Wind Band (Keeton-Howard & Wagner), Rehearsing the Marching Band (Meyer) and has had several rehearsal guides published in the popular series, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. She has presented at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Oxford Conducting Institute, the Yamaha Bläserklasse in Schlitz, Germany, the International Computer Music Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia and multiple times at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference. Brown completed a DMA in instrumental conducting at UNC Greensboro where she was a student of John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. While at UNCG, she was both guest conductor and principal horn on UNCG Wind Ensemble's equus!, fireworks!, and finish line! CDs released on the Equilibrium label.
Originally from Milan, Tennessee, she is a graduate of Austin Peay State University and earned a master of music degree in horn performance and a master of music education degree with a cognate in instrumental conducting from UNCG. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, Brown was the assistant director of bands at Austin Peay State University and taught public school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Dallas, Texas. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, WASBE, NAfME and CBDNA. She was awarded the Rose of Honor as a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women's Music Fraternity and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Brown lives just outside of Washington, D.C. in College Park, MD, with her dog, Carter.
Dr. Christopher Marra - Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Instrumental Activities, Seton Hill University
Dr. Christopher M. Marra is currently the Director of Instrumental Activities at Seton Hill University. As a part of his duties, Dr. Marra conducts the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds, the Griffin concert band, and teaches courses in music education, conducting, and brass. He holds a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University, a MM in Music Education with an emphasis in wind band conducting from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in wind band conducting from the University of Michigan. Prior to his university teaching, Dr. Marra taught high school band and orchestra for 10 years in San Jose, CA where he held board positions with the CMEA Bay Section and the California Band Directors Association. He is an active member and presenter at a variety of state, national, and international education organizations including: National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), Michigan Music Educators Association (MMEA), Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA), and California Band Directors Association (CBDA), and American Educational Research Association (AERA). Dr. Marra authored and co-authored several articles in the field of music education and has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education (JRME), the Journal of Music Teacher Education (JMTE), and the Music Educator’s Journal (MEJ). He is a contributing author to chapters in The Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education and Critical Issues in Music Education: Contemporary Theory and Practice both published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Marra is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for several state and national organizations including Drum Corps International (DCI). His research interests include: social influence in music education, music teacher retention, and undergraduate teacher preparation.