San José Wind Conducting Symposium

SJCWS Logo headerSAVE THE DATES!  The THIRD Annual San José Wind Conducting Symposium is happening July 6-11, 2025!

Join us this summer in the heart of Silicon Valley for the third annual San José Wind Conducting Symposium! This workshop is designed for wind band teachers of all levels and offers participants ample podium time with full wind ensemble and chamber winds in addition to extensive conducting and movement training with world-renowned guest artists and Laban/Bartentieff educators.

Artist Faculty 2025

Odds were against Cynthia Johnston Turner becoming a musician let alone a professor of music and conducting in higher education. Born in a small town in Ontario, Canada, no one in her family played an instrument or sang, although there were rumors that her great paternal grandfather was an accomplished mandolinist. Cynthia asked for a piano for Christmas when she was 8 years old, and because it was all her parents could afford, she received a toy electric keyboard from which she was pretty much inseparable until she started the ukulele in grade school. When she picked up the clarinet and saxophone in middle school, a love affair and a career were born. 

The first in her family to attend university, Cynthia received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, a Master of Education at the University of Victoria, and a Doctor of Musical Arts (Conducting) from the Eastman School of Music. She has received numerous teaching, research, and leadership awards in Canada and the United States.
Cynthia was appointed Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario July 1, 2021. She leads a school of approximately 400 undergraduate and graduate music majors with programs in traditional conservatory programming coupled with innovative programs such as the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Community Music, and Artist Diplomas in Opera Performance, Chamber Music, and the soon to be launched, Master of Music in Collaboration, Creation and Curation (MMC3).  She also oversees the Laurier Academy of Music and the Arts, a community-based school serving hundreds of children and their families in the region.
Before her appointment as Dean, Cynthia was Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble at the Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia where she conducted the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, led the Master and Doctoral programs in conducting, provided strategic leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives as well as innovative curriculum, and oversaw the entire band program including the 400+ member Redcoat Marching Band. The Hodgson Wind Ensemble performed at the College Band Directors National Association National Convention in 2017. Prior to UGA, Cynthia was Director of Wind Ensembles at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She was recently appointed as Artistic Director and Conductor of Festival Winds of “Summer Music at Saugeen Shores.” 
Cynthia has guest conducted bands, new music ensembles, and orchestras professionally, at several universities and conservatories, and state honor bands in the United States and abroad. She continues to actively promote commissions by today’s leading and emerging composers around the world with a focus on underrepresented voices. She has been invited to present her research with teaching and technology, innovative rehearsal techniques, and service-learning and music performance at numerous conferences nationally and internationally. She is published in such journals as Interdisciplinary Humanities, International Journal of the Humanities, Music Educators Journal, National Association for Music Education "Teaching Music," NewMusicUSA.org, Journal of the World Association of Bands and Ensembles, Fanfare Magazine, and Canadian Winds, and has recorded CDs with the Innova and Albany labels. 

Cynthia has served as a board member with the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) and is an active member of College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), Conductor’s Guild, College Music Society, Humanities Education and Research Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the American Bandmasters Association. She currently serves on the board of the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) and is faculty at WIBC University. She serves on the advisory boards  of the Institute for Composer Diversity (composerdiversity.com), Lift Music Fund (liftmusicfund.org), and United Sound Music (unitedsoundmusic.org). She is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and a National Arts Associate member of Sigma Alpha Iota. Cynthia is a sponsored clinician with Conn-Selmer.

Dr. David Vickerman, 2015 winner of The American Prize in Conducting and 2023 winner of the Outstanding Music Educator Award for CMEA Bay Section, is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at San José State University.  In addition to conducting the Wind Ensemble and the new music ensemble (Disrupt), he teaches undergraduate and graduate instrumental conducting. He is also the Music and Artistic Director for the San José Wind Symphony, the West Coast's premier wind symphony.

Under his artistic leadership, the SJSU Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in 2020 and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Western/Northwestern Division Conference in 2022. Prior to his appointment at San José State University, he was the Director of Bands at The College of New Jersey where the Wind Ensemble received invitations to the CBDNA Eastern Division (2014) and National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Conferences (2017). Before joining The College of New Jersey, he held the position of Director of Bands on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus where he conducted the Wind Ensemble and directed the Pep Band. In addition to his duties at SJSU, he has previously served as the Associate Conductor of Great Noise Ensemble, in Washington D.C. and he is a highly sought-after guest conductor, having conducted numerous honor bands across the country.

A fervent advocate for contemporary music, Dr. Vickerman has commissioned works by eminent composers and conducted many world premieres with The San José State University Wind Ensemble, The College of New Jersey Wind Ensemble and Great Noise Ensemble. He has also arranged several pieces for winds including Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble by Philip Glass (published through WiseMusic Classical), Ára Batur by the Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós, Observer in the Magellanic Cloud by Mason Bates and Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane. His primary conducting instructors include Dr. Edward C. Harris, Dr. Stuart Sims, Robert Ponto and Dr. Harlan Parker.

Dr. Vickerman also regularly presents at regional, national and international conferences on topics ranging from teaching social justice issues in band and embracing vulnerability in rehearsal and performance, to the development of a computer-based conducting analysis system to assist beginning conducting students.  His co-authored paper with Dr. Andrea Salgian, “Computer-Based Tutoring for Conducting Students,” was presented at the International Computer Music Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands in September 2016. He also presented “Improve Band Performance with Socially-Conscious Repertoire” along with Dr. Colleen Sears, at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference in 2017 and at the Midwest Clinic in 2018. 

Dr. Vickerman graduated from the Peabody Institute with a DMA in Wind Conducting in 2014, studying with Dr. Harlan Parker and a Master’s Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Oregon in 2010, where he studied with Bob Ponto. Prior to his work at the University of Oregon, he taught high school in California for 6 years after receiving a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and teaching credential from California State University Stanislaus in 2002, where he studied conducting with Dr. Edward C. Harris and Dr. Stuart Sims.

Alexandra Beller choreographed “Sense and Sensibility” (Sheen Center, Judson Gym, Folger Shakespeare Library, American Repertory Theater, Portland Center Stage), (Helen Hayes Award, Lortel Nomination, IRNE Best Choreography), the Off Broadway musical, “The Mad Ones” (59E59), Bedlam’s “Peter Pan” (Duke Theater), “Two Gentlemen of Verona” (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), “As You Like It” (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Folger Shakespeare Library), “How to transcend a happy marriage” by Sarah Ruhl (Lincoln Center Theater), “Pride and Prejudice (Dorset Theater Festival, Actor’s Shakespeare Project), “Antonio’s Song” (CATF, Milwaukee Rep, Goodman), “Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes)” (La MaMa/La Jolla/touring), Directing/Choreographing “Make Thick My Blood,” a two-person adaptation of Macbeth (Theater Row), and A Midsummer NIght’s Dream (Folger Shakespeare Library at The National Building Museum, DC). 

Her international performance career includes 7 years with the Bill. T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, projects with Martha Clarke, John Turturro, and others. Alexandra Beller/Dances formed in 2001 and she has created over 40 original Dance Theater works, for her own and other companies. Her choreography has been presented at theaters throughout the US and in Korea, Hong Kong, Oslo, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, and Poland.

Alexandra holds a BFA/Dance (University of MI), MFA/Dance (University of WI at Milwaukee), and CMA (Certified Movement Analyst) in Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff Fundamentals (LIMS).  She is on faculty at Princeton University, Rutgers University, and The Laban/Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies, and guest teaches nationally and internationally. 

Upcoming projects include “Let The Right One In” at Boston University with Actor’s Shakespeare Project, “Antonio’s Song” at The Goodman (Chicago), a workshop of “Perfect World” (Director: Karen Carpenter), and a devised adaptation of “Waiting for Godot” (Alexandra Beller/Dances).

She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two kids, is writing a book, studying guitar and is currently training in Intimacy Direction with TIE.

Costs/Offerings

There are three levels of participation for SJWCS.  You can read more about each level below:

  • Participant (18 spots)

  • Observer (unlimited)

  • Undergraduate Fellowship (4 spots)

All three levels above include:

  • access to conducting observation in both wind ensemble and chamber wind sessions
  • movement classes
  • lecture/discussion sessions
  • SJWCS T-Shirt

PARTICIPANT = $650 (18 spots)
*Cost goes up to $700 after January 3

  • 4 podium experiences (3 with symposium wind band, 1 with chamber winds)
  • Feedback from our symposium artist faculty
  • Video footage of your conducting

OBSERVER = $150 (Unlimited spots)
Conducting Workshop observation.  Observers are expected to perform on their primary instrument during the workshop.

UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP = $200
This program will enable up to 4 undergraduate student conductors to attend at a significantly reduced cost. This will provide an introduction to the conducting workshop experience and invaluable opportunities to network with more experienced teachers.

Undergraduate Fellowship Participants will receive:

  • 1 podium experience: conducting the chamber winds

Students interested in this program should ask their college band director or conducting teacher to email a brief letter of recommendation for their participation to Dr. David Vickerman. Applications will be reviewed on the same timeline as the other full applications.

Private Movement Session = $50 (10 spots only)
In this 30-minute session, we will look at one of two things (this will be your choice):

  • Physical choice-making as it relates to comfort, sustainability, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. This uses Biomechanics to tune into habits and patterns that are keeping the body from operating as efficiently as it might. Faculty will provide you with exercises to re-pattern your movement, and potentially come up with a short warm-up you can do on your own.

OR

  • Emotional and expressive dynamics through movement choices. We will look at what qualities (quick/sustained, free/bound, strong/light, direct, indirect) help you find the clearest expression of your emotional and narrative intention, and how to use the dynamic choices of the body to tell the story you want to tell.

* must be purchased along with Participant or Observer

 

Registration for the Symposium

2025 Registration Form

Deadlines:

  • Participant Level: April 1, 2025
  • Observer Level: July 1, 2025

Housing

On Campus

SJSU Summer Guest Housing Information

Off Campus

San José Downtown Information
San Jose AirBnBs
*check location of hotels or homes before booking.  San José is a very large metropolitan area!

Getting Around

San Jose VTA Light Rail Map [pdf]
If you plan to stay off campus, you maybe be able to find a hotel or B&B near a light rail stop.  If so, you can use VTA Light Rail to get to SJSU easily.

2025 Repertoire

Wind Ensemble

COMING SOON!

Chamber Winds

COMING SOON!

 

Questions?

Please email, conducting SJSU Bands graduate assistant: Patricia Danielidis