2011 Frederick Fennell Memorial
Conducting Masterclass
Donald Hunsberger, Mark Scatterday, Michael Votta, Rodney Winther, Faculty
February 11-13, 2011
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati, OH
The Conductors Guild is proud to announce the fourth annual Frederick Fennell Memorial Conducting Masterclass. This workshop is intended for symphony orchestra conductors as well as wind orchestra conductors, held in conjunction with the Conductors Guild and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
 Donald Hunsberger is one of the world’s foremost authorities on conducting, orchestration, and music literature. He has been conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble at the Eastman School of Music since 1965. Originally from Pennsylvania, he studied trombone with Emory Remington at Eastman, where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees (BM ’54, MM ’59, DMA ’63). From 1954-58 he was a trombone soloist and chief arranger with the United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C. He is best known for championing the work of contemporary composers, invoking a higher standard of conducting practice, advocating for the full use of the possibilities of the wind ensemble, and setting the standard for wind ensemble performance through numerous publications, recordings and tours of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. As an orchestrator and arranger, Dr. Hunsberger’s additions to the wind ensemble repertoire are unique in their resourceful effectiveness. He also has arranged the orchestral accompaniments for 18 silent films, which he has conducted around the world. He currently is editor and primary contributor to the Donald Hunsberger Wind Library (Warner Brothers Music Publishing), and is publishing a series of historical and analytical articles on “Defining the Wind Band Sound” for its journal WindWorks.
 Mark Davis Scatterday is Professor of Conducting and Chair of the Conducting and Ensembles Department at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music. As only the fourth conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Scatterday joined a prestigious line of conductors in the past fifty-plus years of the famed ensemble - Donald Hunsberger, Clyde Roller, and Frederick Fennell. Since his appointment, he has led the EWE on tour to Japan, Taiwan and Macao, conducted the EWE in a highly acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall, and recorded 3 new recordings with the EWE and the Eastman Musica Nova.
Having received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music in 1989, Professor Scatterday has directed wind ensembles and orchestras throughout North America and Asia. Previous to his appointment at Eastman, Dr Scatterday was Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Cornell University. Professor Scatterday maintains an active guest conducting schedule as well as researching and writing articles involving score analysis, performance practices, and conducting. His articles on Venetian Renaissance wind music and the wind and percussion music of Karel Husa have been published in editions of Wind Works, College Band Director's National Association Journal, and Band Director's Guide. He recently conducted the premiere recording of Roberto Sierra's Cancionero Sefardi with members of the Milwaukee Symphony on Fleur De Son Classics (2001), Judith Weir's Concerto for Piano and Musicians Wrestling Everywhere with Ensemble X on Albany Records (2005), Danzante with James Thompson and the EWE on Summit Records (2006), Barcelonazo with Musica Nova on Bridge Records (nominated for a 2008 Latin Grammy) and Manhattan Music with the EWE and the Canadian Brass on Opening Day Records (2008), available at ArchivMusic.com.
 Michael Votta, Jr. joined the faculty of the University of Maryland in the fall of 2008 as Director of Wind Activities and Music Director of the UM Wind Orchestra. Critics have praised him as “a conductor with the drive and ability to fully relay artistic thoughts” and for his “interpretations of definition, precision and most importantly, unmitigated joy.” Ensembles under his direction have received critical acclaim in the United States and Europe for their “exceptional spirit, verve and precision,” their “sterling examples of innovative programming” and “the kind of artistry that is often thought to be the exclusive purview of top symphonic ensembles.” Before his appointment at Maryland, Votta held conducting positions at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Duke University, Ithaca College, the University of South Florida, Miami University (Ohio) and Hope College.
His performances have been heard in broadcasts throughout the US, on Austrian National Radio (ÖRF), and Southwest German Television, and have been released internationally on the Primavera label. In addition, his ensembles have been invited to perform at conferences of the Conductors Guild, the College Band Directors National Association and the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Numerous major composers including George Crumb, Christopher Rouse, Karel Husa, Olly Wilson, Barbara Kolb, Warren Benson, and Louis Andriessen have praised his performances of their works.
Votta maintains an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician in the US, and has appeared in Europe and Israel. He has taught conducting seminars in the US and Israel, and has guest conducted and lectured at institutions such as the Eastman School of Music, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Prague Conservatory and the National Arts Camp at Interlochen. He has also appeared at conferences of numerous organizations including the College Band Directors National Association, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference, the Conductors Guild, and state music educator’s conventions in Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Votta holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting degree from the Eastman School of Music where he served as Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble and studied with Donald Hunsberger. A native of Michigan, Votta received his undergraduate training and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, where he studied with H. Robert Reynolds.
He is the author of numerous articles on wind literature and conducting. His arrangements and editions for winds have been performed and recorded by university and professional wind ensembles in the US, Europe and Japan. He has served as Editor of the College Band Directors National Association Journal, as a member of the Executive Board of the International Society for the Investigation of Wind Music (IGEB), and on the board of the Conductors Guild.
As a clarinetist, Votta has performed as a soloist throughout the US and Europe. His solo and chamber music recordings are available on the Partridge and Albany labels.
 Rodney Winther is currently in his thirteenth year as Director of Wind Studies and Professor of Music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His duties at CCM include conducting the Wind Symphony, Chamber Winds and the CCM Chamber Players, while also teaching Masters and Doctoral students in Wind Conducting. Mr. Winther’s frequent appearances as guest conductor and clinician have taken him across the United States and abroad, including England, Ireland, the Republic of Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Venezuela and Canada. He has been invited to conduct many of the world’s finest ensembles, including the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Summit Brass, The U.S. Navy Band, The U.S. Naval Academy Band, Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra Wind Ensemble, the Taipei Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Winds, Kent Youth Wind Orchestra (England), World Youth Wind Symphony (Interlochen) and the Taller para Bandas del Tachira (Venezuela). His conducting workshops, both in the United States and abroad, have been critically acclaimed, helping young conductors around the world for the past twenty-five years. His workshops and concerts in Venezuela were recently recognized when he was awarded the Otorga Botón Honor al Mérito by the Governor of the State of Tachira – the first American to receive this honor. In the summer of 2005, he and CCM were awarded the 14th WASBE Convention, which will be held in Cincinnati in July of 2009. In addition, he was elected to the International Board of Directors of WASBE, whom he will serve for the next six years. He has been a leader in the commissioning and performing of new works for the wind band, including premiere performances and recordings by such distinguished composers as Karel Husa, Joseph Schwantner, Warren Benson, Samuel Adler, Dana Wilson, David Amram and Adam Gorb, among numerous others. His two recordings with the CCM Wind Symphony on the NAXOS label feature world premieres of works by Bruce Adolphe and Samuel Adler, with the Adolphe recording being awarded a Grammy for “Producer of the Year”. Equally impressive reviews have been written about his two CD set of Karel Husa’s works on Mark Records with the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble. He has been invited to conduct at numerous conventions, including the 2009 Midwest Clinic, as well as the 2007 National CBDNA Convention (University of Michigan), 2007 International WASBE Convention (Ireland), 2008 International Tuba/Euphonium Conference, International Women’s Brass Conference, 2002 50th Anniversary of the Eastman Wind Ensemble (Rochester), 2000 National MENC Convention (Washington D.C.), the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute, the International Saxophone Convention (Montreal), the International Saxophone Symposium of the U.S. Navy Band, the National Saxophone Alliance, the National Trumpet Guild, the Eastern Trombone Workshop of the U.S. Army Band and the 1995 and 1997 BASBWE conventions in England. His book - An Annotated Guide to Wind Chamber Music - has been hailed as a much needed and valuable resource in this ever-growing area. Both this book and his new edition of Ruth Gipps Seascape have been published by Warner Brothers Publications as part of the Donald Hunsberger Wind Band Library. His reputation and experience recently resulted in his being selected for inclusion in “Who’s Who in Fine Arts Higher Education”.
Accepted participants will conduct the following repertoire:
Martinu: Nonet
Varese: Octandre
Mozart: Serenade in E-Flat
Kurka: Good Soldier Schweik Suite
Participants are urged to study all of the listed repertoire in preparation for this masterclass. Participants will be given some choice of the particular segments to conduct at the actual workshop, in consultation with the faculty.
Participation is limited to a maximum of 15 participants and a number of auditors. All participants will have the opportunity to conduct the full ensemble in several podium sessions and experience at least 45 minutes of podium time. The podium sessions will focus on conducting and rehearsal techniques, as well as interpretive approaches to the selected works. Supplemental sessions will include discussions of analytical and interpretive aspects of the repertoire, as well as the similarities and differences in conducting orchestras and wind ensembles.
Application Deadline: Thursday, September 16, 2010. The completed application form, video, and application fee of $50 should be mailed to: Conductors Guild, 719 Twinridge Lane, Richmond, VA 23235.
Please note that submission of a video is strongly recommended, and applicants should furnish one whenever possible. In the case of a large number of applicants, video evaluation will be a determining factor in the selection of participants. Consult the CG Video Guidelines for suggestions regarding the preparation of a conducting video. Please make sure your DVD will play in most DVD players (not just a computer). Videos will NOT be returned. Please do not include originals. It is your responsibility to clearly identify your video. The CG Workshop website also contains important information about workshop application review procedures, and about the goals and format of CG Workshops.
$50 - Application Fee
$300 - Auditor Fee
$500 - Participant Fee
Up to 15 participants and additional auditors will be notified of acceptance no later than Monday, October 18, 2010. The masterclass fees are due upon notice of acceptance and must be paid in full not later than Thursday, November 4, 2010 by a credit card or by a check payable to the Conductors Guild. The fee will act as a deposit to reserve each participant/auditor’s place in the masterclass. Fees will be refunded only if the withdrawing applicant’s place in the masterclass is filled by another participant/auditor.
This masterclass is sponsored by the Conductors Guild and is opened to members of the Conductors Guild only. However, if you are not currently a member of the Conductors Guild, you have the option of becoming a member by including a separate membership application with your masterclass application. You may also apply online. The Conductors Guild does not accept masterclass applications from non-members.
You may download the application here (PDF).
This workshop is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. |
