College of Musical Arts

50th Annual Band Music Reading and
Directors Clinic

January 24–26, 2008

2008 clinic sponsored by Rettig Music of Defiance, Lima, Toledo and Westlake.

Special Guest Conductors

Dr. Vincent Polce
Associate Faculty, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne

Following 38 years of successful public school teaching in spring 2004, Vincent Polce is an instructor in music education and assistant director of bands at IPFW. Prior to this appointment, he served as director of bands at Defiance High School where he chaired the department and directed the 240-member marching band, symphonic band and concert band.

Polce has served as guest conductor/lecturer at The Ohio State, Kansas State, Morehead State, Capital and Bowling Green State universities and Vandercook College of Music. He has also served as guest conductor of honors bands throughout Ohio and the Midwest. He is an active member of the Ohio Music Education Association where he has served on the band music selection and curriculum committees and chaired district and state functions. In 2001, Polce received the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award presented by OMEA.

Under Polce’s direction, the Defiance Marching Band of Class made two appearances at the famed Tournament of Roses Parade and three appearances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Other appearances included the Citrus Bowl, Peach Bowl, Chicago Holiday Parade, Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade and performances at Disneyland and Disney World.

Dr. Donald D. Ryder
Associate Director of Bands, University of Tennessee

Donald D. Ryder is an associate professor and associate director of bands at the University of Tennessee. His duties include working extensively with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, conducting the UT Symphonic Band and teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from BGSU, and his master’s degree in music education and doctorate degree in wind conducting from the University of Iowa. Ryder studied conducting with Myron Welch and Mark S. Kelly. He was also a private conducting student of William D. Revelli. Prior to his appointment at UT, Ryder was on the faculty at Sam Houston State University in Texas.

Ryder successfully taught public school instrumental music in Ohio and Iowa for 12 years, where his marching and concert bands were nationally recognized for superior levels of musicianship and performance. He has received numerous honors and awards including Teacher of the Year. In 1991, Ryder was recognized by the American School Band Directors Association as the top high school band director in the country and was presented with the coveted Stanbury Award. The award recognized him for his outstanding levels of teaching achievements with the Troy High School Band in Ohio. In 2006, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from BGSU.

Ryder serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in the field of instrumental music education and holds membership in many professional organizations such as the College Band Directors Association, National Band Association, American School Band Directors Association, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association and the Tennessee Music Educators Association.

Dr. James Saker
Isaacson Professor and Chair: Department of Music
Director of University Bands, University of Nebraska at Omaha

James Saker has been on the music faculty at UNO since 1978. He currently serves as chair of the Department of Music, directs the wind ensemble and teaches conducting and music education. He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, M.M. at Youngstown State University and B.M. at Bowling Green State University.

Under his leadership, the UNO marching and concert bands have received regional and national acclaim. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed for state, regional, national and international conferences including the international conference of the Association of Concert Bands and the regional conference of The College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA). This ensemble has completed international tours to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Wales.

Saker received the UNO’s Great Teacher Award, a Nebraska Board of Regents Commendation and twice received the National Band Association Citation of Excellence. In 1993, he received the Donald A. Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. In spring 1997, Saker was named as the Isaacson Distinguished Professor of Music and in 1999 was presented with the Chancellor’s Medal, the highest honor awarded by UNO.

Saker has served as president of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association and the Nebraska Music Educators Association. Currently he is state chair for CBDNA and president of the NSBA Past Presidents Council. An active clinician and lecturer, he has presented sessions at state, regional and national music educators association conferences and at regional and national conventions of the CBDNA. He has conducted high school, collegiate, honors and professional groups throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Dr. Frederick Speck
Director of University Bands, University of Louisville

Frederick Speck conducts the University of Louisville Wind Symphony and New Music Ensemble, and teaches conducting and composition. Under his leadership, the Wind Symphony has been invited to perform at four Kentukcy Music Educators Association Conferences, two CBDNA Southern Division Conferences, the MENC National Conference, CBDNA National Conference and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Killarney, Ireland. His music has been performed by the Louisville Orchestra, the Denver Symphony and Speculum Musicae, and recorded by Richard Stoltzman. Twice the recipient of the University of Louisville President’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity, his work has also been recognized through fellowships and commissions from the Barlow Endowment, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission and the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s from Bowling Green State University and a D.M.A. from the University of Maryland.

Featured Bands

For More Information

Contact
Dr. Bruce Moss
Director of Band Activities
College of Musical Arts
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0290

Phone: (419) 372-2186, Fax: (419) 372-2210, Email: bbmoss@bgsu.edu

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