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Alain Barker
IU Jacobs School of Music
abarker@indiana.edu
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Linda Cajigas
IU Jacobs School of Music
musicpub@indiana.edu
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Last modified: Friday, April 11, 2008

IU Wind Ensemble to perform at Music Educators National Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Wind Ensemble, conducted by Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Professor Stephen W. Pratt, will perform as a featured ensemble at the Music Educators National Conference in Milwaukee, Wis., April 12. Jacobs School Assistant Professor and saxophonist Otis Murphy will solo with the ensemble.

Also represented at the conference are members of the IU Jacobs School of Music's Music Education Department, led by Department Chair Associate Professor Lissa May, who is current president of the Indiana Music Educators Association, the statewide chapter of the MENC.

Stephen Pratt and the IU Wind Ensemble

Print-Quality Photo

"This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the educational work of our faculty and the abundant talent that exists in our student ensembles," said Gwyn Richards, dean of the Jacobs School. "With the inspiring leadership of Steve Pratt in the Band Department and the number of music education colleagues presenting at the conference this year, we are able to share the richness of performance and pedagogy that exists in our school."

Music Education Department activities at the convention include presentations by May, Associate Professor Patrice Madura Ward-Steinman, Associate Professor Brent Gault, a panel discussion led by Professor Estelle Jorgensen, a performance by undergraduate student Whitaker Blackall -- who won an MENC composition competition -- poster presentations by current doctoral students Sarah Robinson and Kevin Watson, and numerous presentations and panel discussions by alumni of the Jacobs School of Music.

MENC is the world's largest arts education organization and the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 130,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. The national conference, taking place April 9-13, brings together state music education associations and thousands of delegates and musicians.

The IU Jacobs School of Music Department of Bands traces its history back to the founding of the Marching Hundred in 1896 (although official university records indicate a start-up fee in 1832 for a "university band"). The department is represented in performance by three music-major concert ensembles (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band), various small ensembles (taken from the above groups), the All-Campus Band (a non-major band), The Marching Hundred, The Big Red Basketball Band and the Crabb Pep Bands (men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and women's basketball). The IU Summer Music Clinics are also housed in the department.

Faculty members are Director of Bands Stephen W. Pratt, Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands David C. Woodley, Assistant Director of Bands Paul W. Popiel and Visiting Associate Director of Bands Patrick F. Casey. The department recently announced the appointment of Jeff Gershman to its faculty (see https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/7983.html).

As one of the leading departments of its kind in the country, the Jacobs School of Music Department of Music Education is chaired by Associate Professor Lissa May and includes Assistant Professor Brenda Brenner, Associate Professor Brent Gault, Professor Estelle Jorgensen, Associate Professor Patrice Madura Ward-Steinman, Professor Charles Schmidt, Pam and Jack Burks Professor Michael Schwartzkopf, and Assistant Professor Katherine Strand.