USF Band Directors' Symposium
The University of South Florida’s School of Music is proud to host the 3rd annual Band Directors’ Symposium on June 4-5, 2024. This year’s clinician, Alex Kaminsky, is one of the most respected and admired band directors in the country. Before accepting his current position as Director of Bands at the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Kaminsky had a storied career as a high school band director in Florida where he took bands from three different high schools to perform at the Midwest Clinic. You can read more about Alex below.
Participants in the symposium will play in a lab band (no performance) led by Mr. Kaminsky that will focus on rehearsal techniques that were used to develop his outstanding bands, and the methods discussed will be useful for middle school through collegiate musicians. In addition, there will be several sessions led by area teachers and/or university professors that concentrate on specific issues that are problematic for many teachers including:
- Conducting
- Brass (Trumpet)
- Woodwinds (Oboe)
- Percussion (Auxiliary Instruments)
- Developing the Jazz Rhythm Section
- Warm-ups / Fundamentals
- Time Management
- Repertoire Selection
- And Much, Much More
All clinics will be hands-on. In addition to playing in the lab band, directors are encouraged to bring instruments to actively participate in clinics and masterclasses. This symposium is open to current and future middle or high school directors. Please note that you are not required to be at all sessions to attend. You can do whatever you need to make it work for you.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
FEE = $150
$50 for current college students and those about to enter their first year of teaching
ITINERARY – (Work in Progress)
CLINICIAN
Alexander Kaminsky was appointed Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at VanderCook College of Music in 2019 after a highly successful tenure at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Previous to that, Kaminsky led the band programs at Buchholz High School, Lincoln High School, Auburndale High School, and Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School, all of which excelled under his direction. He holds degrees from the University of Florida and Indiana University, is active as an adjudicator, and is in demand as a guest conductor/clinician across the country.
Throughout his 30-year career as a high school band director, Kaminsky’s ensembles consistently earned Superior ratings at all levels of evaluation. In addition to earning straight Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) State Concert Band Assessment for an unprecedented 21 years (the last 11 years with both his first and second bands), he is the only director in the history of the FBA to have had three concert bands from one school earn straight Superior ratings at State, and he achieved this three times (2009, 2018, and 2019).
Kaminsky’s high school bands performed at the Midwest Clinic (2005, 2009, 2014, and 2018), ABA National Convention (2014), CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference (2004 and 2014), FMEA State Conference (2014), Music for All National Concert Band Festival (2002 and 2012), and the National Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall (2009 and 2018). In 2018, the Stoneman Douglas Wind Symphony was named a Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors winner as one of only ten 6A bands in the nation. His marching bands consistently placed in the Florida Marching Band State Championship Finals, winning several FMBC State Championships (including 4 of his last 6 years as a high school band director), as well as being named a finalist band at BOA regional competitions.