Oregon Conductor's Symposium

Rodney Winther
Professor of Music; Director of Wind Studies at Cincinnati Conservatory

BMusEd, MM, University of Idaho; 2-year residency, Eastman School of Music

Prior to arriving at CCM, Winther was director of bands and professor of music at Ithaca College School of Music, where he also conducted the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble. A champion of contemporary music, he has conducted the premiere performances of works by Warren Benson, David Amram, Roger Nixon, Raymond Premru, Gordon Stout, Dana Wilson and Martin Ellerby, among others. He has made frequent appearances as a guest conductor and clinician across the U.S. and abroad, and is a cultural specialist in the Republic of Malaysia, sponsored by USIA. For the past five years, he has served as guest conductor for the Kent Youth Wind Orchestra. He directed conducting workshops in London and at the University of Kent, Canterbury, and has conducted all-state ensembles and festival bands in over 30 states.

Winther recently conducted the Taipei Symphony Orchestra Wind Ensemble in a series of concerts throughout the Republic of China. He has held teaching positions in public schools as well as at Walla Walla College, Purdue University and Oregon State University While in-residence at Eastman, he served as assistant conductor of Eastman Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra, studied privately with Donald Husberger and David Effron, and taught undergraduate conducting.

Dr. Edward Higgins
Director of Wind Studies, Portland State University

Dr. Edward Higgins is currently serving as Associate Professor of Conducting/Wind Studies and Director of Bands at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. His duties include conducting the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and teaching graduate and undergraduate conducting. He also serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, and is the founder and co-clinician of the Oregon Conductor's Symposium at Portland State University. Previous music faculty experience includes brass pedagogy and conducting positions at University of California at Davis, California State University/Sacramento, Washburn University, and the public schools of Sacramento and Stockton, California.

Dr. Higgins' instrumental career began with two seasons as a trumpeter with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra (Spoleto Italy) during which time he appeared as the Orchestra's Principal Trumpet on a Grammy-award winning recording of Samuel Barber's Anthony and Cleopatra. He went on to become the principal trumpet of the Sacramento Symphony. Higgins now performs exclusively on the tuba and currently serves as principal tubist with the La Crosse (Wisconsin) Symphony.

As a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and music educator, he has made appearances throughout the United States. While co-directing at Washburn University in Topeka Kansas, Higgins appeared on three occasions at the Kansas Music Educator's Conference and one performance at the College Band Director's National Association Mid-west regional conference. Dr. Higgins' most recent extra curricular conducting activities have included appearances with the Portland Summer Festival Orchestra, the High School for the Performing Arts of New York (The "Fame" school) the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra, and the La Crosse (WI) Symphony Orchestra Winds. His performance with the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra received critical acclaim and as a result, aired on N.P.R.

His edition of Robert Russell Bennett's Suite of Old American Dances is published by Hal Leonard Publishing, and currently serves as the model for a new line of re-issued master works.

More info and pics coming soon...

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