Master Classes, Guests Artists, Workshops, and Special Events

NEW FOR FALL 2008-2009

Conducting Symposium 2009
Conductors of bands at all levels are invited to attend the first annual Puget Sound Conducting Symposium Friday, Jan. 16-Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. Refresh your conducting skills and learn about band literature, score study, and rehearsal techniques under the guidance of Robert Taylor, Director of Bands, and distinguished guest artist Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands at Northwestern University. Participants may register as conductors or auditors. Conductors will work with a live ensemble comprised of University of Puget Sound Wind Ensemble students and memebrs of the 133rd Army Band from Camp Murray, Scott Pierson, conductor. Auditors may attend all sessions and participate in discussions, but will not conduct the ensemble. State of Washington music teachers will earn twenty WMEA clock hours for the symposium.

Serious About Singing is a one day workshop fo top regional high school solo voices who are dedicated to improving their skills and exploring their craft. Students selected for this year's workshop will have the opportunity to expand on their acting and interpretive skills in the morning session, get individual feedback on their repertoire in two small masterclasses with our outstanding voice faculty, and perform in the final afternoon concert.
Registration Materials >>

The Annual Piano Festival is an intensive workshop offered for piano teachers and students. Master classes and related music classes are led by well-known guest artists, as well as by piano faculty members from the School of Music.

Master classes are presented throughout the school year by visiting artists. Guests have included fortepianist Malcolm Bilson, organist Gillian Weir, violinists Paul Kantor, Denes Zsigmondy and Joseph Silverstein, bassists Gary Karr and Ray Brown, the Kronos Quartet, cellists Janos Starker and Nathaniel Rosen, pianists Jeaneane Dowis, Nelita True, Robert Weirich, Thomas Schumacher, and Joseph Bloch, duo-pianists Richard and John Contiguglia, vocal coach and director Benton Hess, and the contemporary group Brave New Works.

The Northwest High School Honor Choir Festival was held October 3 and 4, 2008, and featured special guest conductor Rodney Eichenberger. Students spent two days learning from Professor Eichenberger and singing in the Festival Honor Chorus comprised of the best high school singers in the Northwest. Additional sessions on vocal technique, auditioning, and leadership skills were led by Puget Sound faculty. Students were chosen by recommendation from their choir directors only. For more information please contactact Dr. Steven Zopfi (E-mail) or call the Office of Public Events at 253.879.3555.

BrassWorks is a full day event for brass players in the Fall with clinics by the brass faculty, a master class with a guest artist, and performances by brass chamber ensembles.

Women's Chorus Festival: Held annually in late winter, usually in February, this festival invites women's choirs from the region to campus for an evening of sharing performances and receiving input from the Puget Sound choral faculty.

Brass Camp: a five-day camp in June for high school students that is taught by Puget Sound brass faculty. Look for more information on this site in the coming weeks.

Music Day: This day-long event invites high school students to campus to meet with faculty, sit in on classes and auditions, find answers to questions about applying to music programs, take a campus tour, do an interview (if desired), and, for those applying for early admission to Puget Sound, to audition. Contact Kyle Haugen, our Music Admission Coordinator for more information.