Wind Conductor

Last week, I had the opportunity to connect with Tim Hinton (Composer, Arranger, and Host of the outstanding padcast, Marching Roundtable). None of us are sure what the 2020 Marching Season is going to look like. However, one thing is clear: we have to be ready for all possibilities and begin planning now. In our conversation, we discussed a wide range of topics including recruiting using an online platform and social media. We also talked about what about auditions and stude

Whether in marching band, concert band, or jazz band, you may have performed one of Paul Murtha's compositions. Recently retired from composing and arranging for one of the best band organizations on the planet, I was able to talk with Paul about his journey which led him to Pershing's Own, the United States Army Band. Although, I was familiar with Paul's work from my experience as a band director, I first met Paul as a trumpet player on several gigs in the Northern Virginia

Just before everything shut down, I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite composers, Anne McGinty. As a young band director, I programmed a lot of her music with younger bands. In a small economically challenged district in Virginia, I was grateful for the Queenwood books containing several of her compositions. Years later I had the opportunity to program one of her advanced pieces, Victorious, with the Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony. Whether she is writing educatio

​ I never get tired of listening to, performing or studying the music of Percy Grainger! I remember the first time I programmed a piece written by Percy Grainger with my band at King George High School (VA). It was Bainum's arrangement of Australian Up-Country Tune. This beautiful melody was a favorite of Grainger. The original composition was for voice and was sung at his wedding, an event that was held at the famed Hollywood Bowl. Grainger, ever the showman, composed the p

As we close out the Month of Marches, WindConductor.com would like to honor a composer who may not be as well-known as Sousa and Fillmore, but made a strong contribution to the wind band idiom: George Rosenkrans. Many band directors may not recognize George Rosenkrans. However, his contributions to the the world of wind band music were significant. Over the course of his career, Rosenkrans would compose over 200 compositions for band. His music has been performed at major e

This week we take a look at a powerhouse in the march world, Karl Lawrence King. The music of Karl King was the background of countless circus performances and can still be heard today in auditoriums in the three rings of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Here are some cool facts about Karl King, the King of the Circus March! FACT #1 Karl King picked up a local newspaper route to earn enough money to purchase hi first musical instrument, a cornet, at the age of 11. Mostly self-ta

This week, in honor of the Month of Marches, we are taking a look at one of the most interesting characters in Wind Band Repertoire: Henry Fillmore. Fillmore’s life could easily be the subject of a classic American Novel by Mark Twain of John Steinbeck. The strangest thing about his life story is that it is ALL TRUE!! Check out these fun facts about Henry Fillmore: FUN FACT #1 He was shunned by his father for his love of the trombone. Fillmore loved the sound of the trombone

March has finally arrived! And what better way to celebrate than by taking a look at the March King himself, John Philip Sousa. WindConductor.com offers some fun facts about the icon of the wind band world. FACT #1 John Philip Sousa tried to run away and join a circus band when we was 13 years old! Fortunately, his father saw his strong desire to begin a musical career as a positive and enlisted him into the Marine Band as an apprentice musician. FACT #2 After performing in