The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own"

9th Annual U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop

Jul 8, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024

9th Annual U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop

Geared towards students at the graduate conducting level or in the early stages of a conducting career, The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, the premier music organization of the U.S. Army, will offer this unique workshop and provide its participants conducting opportunities with The U.S. Army Concert Band. This intensive 5-day program will include coaching with special guest clinician Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams of the University of Georgia, and COL Bruce Pulver, The U.S. Army Band’s Leader and Commander.

Sessions will include pertinent profession-related topics of score study, baton and rehearsal techniques, and open rehearsals with Dr. Williams. Rehearsals will culminate in a public concert on Friday, July 12.

Conductors will receive a complimentary recording of their sessions and the July 12 performance will be archived on YouTube. Repertoire will include standards written for symphonic band and wind ensemble; the list will be provided upon workshop acceptance.

Five (5) active participants will be accepted; however, auditors are welcome to all sessions and may have a brief conducting opportunity.

*Tuition is free; travel and accommodations are the responsibility of the participant.

Guest Clinician

Dr. Nicholas Williams

NICHOLAS ENRICO WILLIAMS is a Professor of Music and serves as the Director of Bands at the University of Georgia, where he coordinates one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive university band programs, conducts the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, and oversees the graduate wind band conducting area. Prior to his time in Athens, he was the Director of Wind Bands at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Melbourne, Australia). Before venturing to Australia, Dr. Williams flourished for sixteen years as the Assistant Director of Wind Studies, the Conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, and Concert Band, as well as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Texas. For a decade, he was the Conductor of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony and continues to be a frequent guest conductor of the Dallas Winds (formerly Dallas Wind Symphony), one of America’s few professional civic wind bands. Professor Williams earned the Bachelor of Music (music education), MM (performance-conducting), and DMA (conducting) degrees from the University of North Texas. As an advocate of chamber music, Professor Williams was the founder and conductor of the East Plano Brass and was the principal guest conductor for the Harmoniemusik chamber ensemble. In the wind band world, he has been a guest conductor with the United States Navy Band; World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Arts Camp; United States Army Field Band; Royal Australian Defence Force Bands; United States Air Force Band; Dallas Winds; Lone Star Wind Orchestra; at the annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; the College Band Directors National Association national and regional conferences; the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention; and the Texas Music Educators Association Annual Clinic/Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Williams is active in Australia, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, consultant, and arranger; his arrangements and transcriptions for wind band, percussion ensembles, drum corps, and school pageantry ensembles are performed by outstanding organizations throughout the world. A member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), he is a sought-after recording session producer, associate producer, editor, and conductor, having been involved with numerous CDs and DVDs on the Klavier, Mark Records, and GIA labels, as well as UNT projects, including the 2019 worldwide release of “FIESTAS” by the University of North Texas Wind Ensemble. In addition to his work in the recording arts, he has written several conductor study guides published in the multivolume series of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. He is a primary consultant of Women of Influence in Contemporary Music and is an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for women. His professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu, an international bandmasters fraternity.

Featured Artists

JaQuan Wiley

JaQuan O. Wiley is a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education (K-12 Certification) from Appalachian State University. Previously, JaQuan taught in the public schools of North Carolina, most recently as Assistant Director of Bands at Asheville High School where his responsibilities included conducting the Symphonic Band, directing two Jazz Ensembles, co-directing the Marching Cougars, co-teaching instrumental classes at the feeder middle schools, and frequently guest conducting the Asheville High School Wind Symphony. Under his direction, the Asheville High School Symphonic Band achieved great success, including consistent Superior ratings at District Music Performance Adjudication, performances at concert band invitationals, and a combined band performance in March 2024 with the Asheville High School Wind Symphony for the National Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall. He also served as conductor of the Western Piedmont Youth Symphony. JaQuan had the honor of guest conducting the Appalachian Wind Ensemble and Appalachian Concert Band numerous times. In 2023, he received the Ed Rooker Encore Award from the North Carolina chapter of the American School Band Directors Association, “presented to young bandmasters of distinction” within their first seven years of teaching. In addition to his work at the public school level, JaQuan has served as a counselor for Cannon Music Camp (Appalachian State University) and a conductor at the Lenoir-Rhyne University Summer Band Camp. He has been active as a clinician and adjudicator in North Carolina, presented at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference and the Maryland Music Educators Fall In-Service Conference, and served as panelist for the College Music Society’s summer 2020 webinar, “A National Conversation on Music Education in Higher Ed: At the Crossroads of Change?” He also served as Chair of the North Carolina Western Jazz Region.

Jerianne Larson

Jerianne Larson serves as Director of Bands at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where she conducts the Wind Orchestra and teaches courses in conducting as well as the repertoire of the wind band. Prior to this appointment, Larson served as a graduate teaching fellow for the Wind Studies department at The University of North Texas where she conducted the Concert Band, guest conducted the North Texas Wind Symphony, the North Texas Wind Orchestra, and the North Texas Wind Ensemble, assisted with the Green Brigade Marching Band, and taught courses in conducting. She also served as the graduate conducting studio coordinator and Wind Studies librarian. During this time, she was also involved with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra as rehearsal assistant. Larson is an active guest conductor and clinician and holds professional memberships in a variety of music organizations at the state, national, and international levels and has been invited to present at several conferences including the 2022 PMEA Conference and the 2023 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic where her presentation, "Empowering and Mentoring the Next Generation of Female Band Directors," discussed the everchanging music education landscape and the best ways to navigate mentoring the upcoming generation of band directors. She has also been featured on the podcast, Music Ed Insights, discussing similar topic materials. A native of Pennsylvania, Larson is currently pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree in wind conducting from The University of North Texas, where she is ABD, and studied with Eugene Migliaro Coproron and Dr. Andrew Trachsel. She received a master of music degree in wind conducting from Messiah University, studying under Dr. Bradley Genevro, and a bachelor of music education degree from Westminster College where she studied with Dr. R. Tad. Greig. Larson served for nine years as a public high school band director in western Pennsylvania and her ensembles consistently earned Superior ratings at assessment and earned a special invitation to perform at the state capitol.

Anoa Green

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Anoa Green is quickly establishing a reputation for her vulnerable yet impactful work on and off the podium. She is passionate about tearing down racial and gender barriers that face so many in the world of classical music today. Anoa is known for her musicality, creative voice, and clear conducting style. She is an advocate of new music and relishes the challenge of programming music. She enjoys a rich career of guest conducting, curating unique musical programs, adjudicating and serving as a clinician for the broader music education community. Green currently serves as Wind Studies Chair and Symphonic Wind Ensemble Director at the Baltimore School for the Arts Anoa has had the pleasure of serving as director and guest conductor for a growing list of wind and orchestral ensembles, including most recently, the OkMEA All State Orchestra and the United Nations Symphony Orchestra (NY). Her work extends regionally and nationally with organizations like the Accord Symphony Orchestra, Saratoga Symphony Orchestra (Fellow), Go-Go Symphony, DC Strings Workshop, Tri-County Middle School Honor band of Southern Maryland, Kent County, DE High School Honor Band amongst others. Green received training from the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute with Diane Wittry and Anna Edwards, as well as the Medomak Conducting Retreat with Kenneth Kiesler. Anoa has had additional studies or mentorship from Timothy Robblee, Travis Cross, Michael Haithcock, and Courtney Snyder in various wind band symposiums and workshops. Her most notable awards include an Allentown Symphony Orchestra Fellowship (2023), Maryland Arts Council Professional Development Award, and the Patricia Joseph Professional Development Award from the Baltimore School for the Arts (2022). Ms. Green’s education includes a BM in Instrumental Music Education from Northwestern University (2004) and MM in Music Education from Boston University (2016). Green’s organizational memberships include: International Conductors Guild; Minority Band Directors National Association; Association of Black Women Band Directors; and Women Band Directors International. When Anoa is not conducting she enjoys napping, time with her loved ones and her summer vegetable garden.

Dr. Giovani Briguente

Giovani Estéfano Briguente, a native of Brazil, holds degrees from respected institutions in both Brazil and the United States. From Brazil, degrees in flute performance, orchestral and wind band conducting from the Conservatory of Tatuí along with a degree in flute performance from the Technical School of Arts of the State of São Paulo. From the USA, a Master of Music in wind band conducting from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with emphasis on wind band conducting from the University of Michigan. Briguente’s conducting mentors during his training include Dario Sotelo, Mark Whitlock, and Michael Haithcock. In 2019, Briguente was selected to conduct the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington D.C. under the mentorship of Robert Reynolds. Briguente’s career as a conductor includes work both on and off the podium. As a conductor, Briguente’s knowledge and practical experience consists of work with various college and professional wind ensembles, athletic bands, percussion ensembles, chamber ensembles, string orchestras, symphony orchestras, and choruses. Since 2012, Briguente has also founded and developed several ensembles in both Brazil and the USA. Given Briguente’s dedication to community service and engagement, an important component of all his ensembles has been a focus on reaching and inspiring new audiences and revitalizing those already present. Briguente is also an accomplished flutist and piccoloist, having performed with professional orchestras, wind bands, jazz bands, and early music ensembles. His time as a professional in the Symphonic Band of the Conservatory of Tatuí (Brazil) is one of the highlights of his performance career. Over the years, Briguente has extended his musicianship to include composition as well. He is a winner of the 2014 National Composition Contest for Wind Band in Brazil in the professional ensemble category and has composed several works for his students recently, including Of Redemption: A Clarinet Concerto, premiered in 2023 under his baton and with Staff Sgt. Nicholas Thompson from “The President’s Own” Marine Band as soloist. Briguente is currently the Director of Bands & Orchestras, and Flute Instructor at Presbyterian College, SC.

Peter Bement

Mr. Peter Bement, originally from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is the Associate Director of Bands at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance and a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, where he studied under mentors Dustin Barr, Gregory Whitmore, and Kevin Mayse. Previously, he served as the Interim Director of Bands and Orchestra at California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to his ensemble duties at Cal Poly Pomona, Peter instructs undergraduate students in theory, musicianship, and conducting. He also serves as the Director of Orchestras at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, overseeing four performance ensembles and music classes for a program serving over a hundred students a week. Peter’s professional collaborations include partnerships with the Student Association of Musical Leaders (SAML), Forum Music Festivals, Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, Music in the Parks, and the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, where he serves as a substitute and cover conductor. Beyond the podium, Mr. Bement continues actively teaching and performing in and around the greater Los Angeles area. A strong supporter of the multifaceted elements of K-12 music education, Bement frequently has collaborated with high school music programs in both the concert band and marching scene, working most recently with Rancho Cucamonga High School and Garden Grove High School. A proud alumnus of Riverside City College and Alta Loma High School, Peter enjoys spending his free time with his wife exploring the outdoors, brewing specialty coffee, playing disc golf, and relaxing with their very fluffy cat.

How to Register

By March 31, email a resume, cover letter, and a video sample (YouTube is fine) to: SFC Matthew T. Evans (matthew.t.evans42.mil@army.mil). Notification of acceptance will be NLT April 30, 2024.

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9th Annual U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop

Jul 8, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024

9th Annual U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop