The Bands at the UMKC Conservatory are deeply committed to sharing music in meaningful ways, and with great artistic integrity.
Composer Collaborations
Over the past decade, the UMKC Conservatory Wind Symphony has performed nearly forty world premieres and collaborated with the following composers, among others:
Robert Beaser (Juilliard, American Academy of Arts and Letters), Steven Bryant, Chen Yi (UMKC, Pulitzer Prize Finalist), Michael Colgrass (Pulitzer Prize Winner, Guggenheim Fellow), John Corigliano (Juilliard, Pulitzer Prize Winner), Michael Daugherty (University of Michigan), Osvaldo Golijov (MacArthur Fellowship, Vilcek Prize, Guggenheim Fellow), Stephen Hartke (University of Southern California, Guggenheim Fellow), Jennifer Higdon (Curtis Institute of Music, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Guggenheim Fellow), James Mobberley (UMKC, Rome Prize Winner, Guggenheim Fellow), Narong Prangcharoen (Mahidol University, Thailand), Bernard Rands (Pulitzer Prize Winner, Academy of Arts and Letters), Paul Rudy (UMKC, Rome Prize, Guggenheim Fellow), Steven Stucky (Cornell University, Pulitzer Prize Winner), Frank Ticheli (University of Southern California), and Zhou Long (UMKC, Pulitzer Prize Winner).
Artist Collaborations
The UMKC Conservatory Bands are committed to collaboration, musically, and across all art forms. Recent collaborations include:
PRISM Saxophone Quartet, Bobby Watson (saxophone), Barbara Bishop (oboe), Celeste Johnson (oboe), Jane Carl (clarinet), Tim Timmons (saxophone), Zach Shemon (saxophone), Keith Benjamin (trumpet), Ellen Campbell (horn), Martin Hackleman (horn),Tom Stein (tuba), Jim Snell (percussion), Nick Petrella (percussion), Michael Mermagen (cello), Aidan Soder (voice), Rebecca Sherburn (voice) Robert Weirich (piano), Sabrina Madison-Cannon (dance), Paula Weber (dance), Robert Bode and Charles Robinson (UMKC Choral Program), JoDee Davis (trombone), and Gary Abbott (dance).
Ensemble Performance Highlights
2017 College Band Directors National Association Conference | Kansas City, Missouri
The biennial CBDNA Conference brings together the nation’s top conductors, scholars, and ensembles
Conference Host and Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
Over 1200 guests including 500 conference attendees and 700+ performers
2016 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic | Chicago, Illinois
The annual Midwest Clinic hosts over 17,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 countries
Fountain City Brass Band Performance (Joseph Parisi, Conductor)
2016 Missouri Music Educators Association State Conference | Osage Beach, Missouri
Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2014 Beijing Modern Music Festival | Beijing, China
Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2012 College Band Directors Southwest Regional Conference | San Antonio, Texas
Conservatory Wind Ensemble Performance (Joseph Parisi, Conductor)
2012 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic | Chicago, Illinois
Youth Symphony of Kansas City Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2011 College Band Directors National Association Conference | Seattle, Washington
Conservatory Wind Symphony Chamber Musicians Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
Dvorak Serenade Op. 44: Lecture-Performance with Dr. William Everett
2010 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic | Chicago, Illinois
Conservatory Wind Symphony Tour and Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2010 Missouri Music Educators Association State Conference | Osage Beach, Missouri
Conservatory Wind Ensemble Performance (Joseph Parisi, Conductor)
2009 College Band Directors National Association Conference | Austin, Texas
Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2008 College Band Directors Southwest Regional Conference Host | Kansas City, Missouri
Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
2008 Missouri Music Educators Association State Conference | Osage Beach, Missouri
Conservatory Wind Symphony Performance (Steven D. Davis, Conductor)
Kansas City Conducting Symposium
2007-present
Over 250 participants have attended this weeklong workshop from 30 states, Norway, Singapore, Brazil, and Canada since its inception. Every year, participants are selected to participate in an inspirational program for instrumental conductors (orchestral and wind ensemble) wanting to improve at the art and skill of conducting. The Kansas City Conducting Symposium has become one of the most intensive and respected conducting symposiums in the United States.
Recent guest clinicians have included Stephen Peterson (University of Illinois), Jamie Nix (Columbus State University), Mark Scatterday (Eastman School of Music), Kevin Sedatole (Michigan State University), H. Robert Reynolds (University of Southern California, Ret. University of Michigan), Craig Kirchhoff (Ret. University of Minnesota), Mallory Thompson (Northwestern University), Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan), Eugene Corporon (University of North Texas), Frank Ticheli (University of Southern California), Michael Colgrass (composer, Pulitzer Prize Winner), Larry Daehn (composer, music educator), Larry Clark (Vice President of Carl Fisher Publishing Company), Jim Cochran (Shattinger Music Company), Kerry Taylor (Westlake High School Band Director, Austin, TX)
The Symposium also features clinics by UMKC faculty members, including Sabrina Madison-Cannon (dance), Andrew Granade (musicology), William Everett (musicology), Robert Weirich (keyboard), Jennifer Martin (theatre), Mary Posses (flute), Barb Bishop (oboe), Martin Hackleman (horn), Keith Benjamin (trumpet), Tom Stein (euphonium and tuba), Paul Rudy (composition), Jim Mobberley (composition), Chen Yi (composition), Jim Snell (percussion), Nick Petrella (percussion), Charles Robinson (vocal studies), and Lindsey Williams (music education).
Midwest Honor Band and Orchestra Festival
2008-present
The annual Midwest Honor Band and Orchestra Festival provides rewarding music experiences for middle and high school band and orchestra students and directors. In 2017, the Midwest Honor Band and Orchestra Festival welcomed over 360 students from 65 schools. Students are selected to participate in one of five ensembles, including middle school band, middle school string orchestra, two high school concert bands, and a high school symphony orchestra.
Nationally recognized guest conductors and UMKC faculty host a full schedule of concerts, master classes, and professional clinics, offering in-service time and personal growth. Guest Clinicians have included: Ray Cramer (University of Indiana, retired), Rodney Winther (University of Cincinnati, retired), Richard Floyd (University Interscholastic League – State of Texas), Eric Rombach-Kendall (University of New Mexico), Bobby Francis (Texas Christian University), Gregg Gausline (Mahidol University of Bangkok, Thailand – currently, University of Georgia at the time of his visit), William Wakefield (University of Oklahoma), Joseph Missal (Oklahoma State University), Cheryl Floyd (Hill Country Middle School, Austin, Texas), Bruce Dinkins (formerly Bowie High School in Austin, Texas), Jamie Nix (Columbus State University), Damon Talley (Louisiana State University), Robert Carnochan (University of Miami), Matthew Dockendorf (University of Colorado-Boulder), Donald McKinney (University of Colorado-Boulder), Robert Sheldon (composer, Alfred Music), and Michael Daugherty (composer).
Steven D. Davis
Professional Engagements
Local
Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s Symphony Orchestra (2009-present)
The Youth Symphony of Kansas City is comprised of six full orchestras. More than 360 young musicians participate annually.
Frequent collaborator/conductor with new music ensembles Musica Nova (UMKC) and newEar (Kansas City)
Guest conductor with many local organizations including Kansas City Civic Orchestra and many area public schools
International
2017 Tianjin Music Festival: Conducted the Tianjin Conservatory Orchestra
2016 Youth Symphony of Kansas City tour of Ireland: Performances in Dublin, Kilkenny, and Cort
2015 May-June Australia: Conducted Australian Navy Band in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania
2014 Beijing Modern Music Festival: Beijing, China
2012 Lisboa (Lisbon), Portugal. Guest conductor of the Lisboa Conservatory Wind Ensemble (top music school in Portugal) and provided instruction for twelve graduate conductors
2010 – 2012 Bangkok, Thailand, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, Music Director for the annual Thailand International Composition Festival, an annual event attended by numerous composers and musicians from across the world.
2008 Beijing, China, Conducted the top Conservatory Orchestra from the Central Conservatory (China’s top music school), for the opening concert for their annual music festival, on Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and Chen Yi’s Violin Concerto, along with Steven Stucky’s Sound and Light.
National (Recent Highlights)
Orchestra and Wind Ensemble conducting faculty of the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp (2005-present)
Northwestern University Conducting Symposium (2017)
University of Colorado-Boulder Conducting Symposium (2017)
University of Oklahoma Conducting Symposium (2017)
Lecture: From Score to Gesture at Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Chicago, Illinois (2016)
Guest conductor of Eastman Wind Ensemble (2015)
Ithaca College Northeast Conducting Symposium (2012)
Michigan State University Conducting Symposium (2011)
Ball State University Conducting Symposium (2011)
Missouri-All State Orchestra (2011)
Texas All-State Band (2010)
Thailand International Composition Festival (2010)
Beijing, China Central Conservatory Music Festival Orchestra (2008)
Joseph Parisi
Professional Engagements
Fountain City Brass Band (2006-present)
Principal Conductor and Music Director
Highlights Include:
North American Brass Band Championship Winner (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
US Open Brass Band Championship Winner (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)
International Tuba and Euphonium Conference Featured Performer (2014)
U.K. and European Tour – Invited Performer (2007, 2009, 2011)
Scottish Open Brass Band Championship Winner (2009)
Scottish Open Brass Band Championship Winning Conductor (2009)
Brass in Concert International – Invited Gala Performer (2009)
All England Masters Brass Band Championship Finalist (2007)
Summit Brass at the Raphael Méndez Brass Institute (2013-present)
Principal Conductor and Music Director
Principal conductor of Summit Brass
Student ensemble conductor
Conducting clinician
Professional mentor panelist
Off-Campus Highlights
Midwest Clinic (Chicago, IL) 2015
Morehead State University Honor Band (Morehead, KY) 2015
US Open Brass Band Championships (various locations) 2007-2014
College Band Directors Southwest Conference (San Antonio, TX) 2012
Northeast Oklahoma Honor Band (Bartlesville, OK) 2012
University of South Florida Festival of Winds (Tampa, FL) 2012
Fountain City Youth Brass Band Expo, (Kansas City, MO) 2012
Fourth Army Field Band (Kansas City, MO) 2008
Scholarly Highlights
Over fifteen commercial recordings and videos as a conductor and on trumpet
Twenty publications in National and State Music Education Journals