Recent news
2025
Former UWWE oboist and UW School of Music graduate alumnae Jennifer Gookin Cavanaugh has been named new Dean of the College of Arts and Media at the University of Montana.
Ross Venneberg - who received his DMA in trumpet performance under the expert tutelage of David Gordon and was a member of the graduate wind conducting cohort - has been appointed Director of Bands and Brass at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado.
2024
Dr. Linda Moorhouse has been named the Suzanne and William Allen Distinguished Professor in Music at the University of Illinois! This rare and highly decorated accomplishment is conferred upon full professors who “demonstrate great expertise and academic abilities within the field of music.” She currently serves as Director of the School of Music at the University of Illinois. She received her doctorate in wind conducting at the University of Washington and served for three years as a teaching assistant for the wind ensemble.
Posted by Western Washington University Music Department chair, Tim Kirkpatrick regarding Paul Bain, MM ’09, wind conducting: "Western Washington University’s Music Department is pleased to announce the hire of Professor Paul Bain to the tenure track position of Director of Bands. He brings his artistry, excellence, commitment to our students, and the respect and admiration from colleagues around the region. We are blessed and fortunate to have him on our music faculty!”
Timothy Salzman was a clinician for the University of North Florida Annual Conducting Symposium held in Jacksonville in early September, 2024. He also served as an evaluator for the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis in March of 2025.
Jiannan Cheng (MM, wind conducting, 2016) recently returned from Romania where she competed in an international competition with 200 conductors from countries throughout the world. After advancing through each round, she finished 2nd in the finals! This competition doesn’t have an age limit, so there were some accomplished conductors from orchestras and opera houses in Italy, Germany, etc. in the field.
Former UWWE bassoonist Jamael Smith has been appointed lecturer in bassoon at San Jose (CA) State University.
2023
Jiannan Cheng (MM, wind conducting, 2016) has been selected as a cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Her responsibilities include understudying the scores for the music director and guest conductors, giving pre-concert lectures, and conducting in rehearsals and concerts as needed. Her first rehearsals with the orchestra were this week. Following an audition, Jiannan has been contracted for three programs this season. She continues in her position as Director of Orchestras/Assistant Professor of Music at Rowan University in New Jersey.
Former UW Bands TA Dr. Linda Moorhouse has been named director of the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Professor Salzman is contributing author to a soon-to-be-published book entitled Arnold
Jacobs - Artistic and Pedagogical Legacies. Mr. Jacobs was tubist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 44 years and is widely regarded as one of the foremost wind instrument pedagogues of the 20th century. Each of the 24 essay-contributing authors, all former students of Mr. Jacobs, are from major professional orchestras and leading music schools from throughout the world. Professor Salzman is the only wind ensemble conductor asked to contribute to the book.
The University of New Mexico Department of Music welcomed Dr. Emily Moss as the new Director of Bands! Dr. Moss was Professor of Music and Director of Bands at California State University, Los Angeles where she conducted the Wind Ensemble, taught undergraduate and graduate conducting and music education courses, and administrated the Instrumental Area. Prior to Cal State LA, she conducted the Wind Ensemble and taught courses in music education for the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Moss began her collegiate music studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and was a member of the UW Wind Ensemble (bassoon).
2022
Doug Morin, (DMA wind conducting, 2019) has accepted the position of Director of Athletic Bands at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Link
The University of Washington was featured in a live in-studio Classic King FM “Northwest Focus Live” broadcast. Link
2021
Ross Venneberg - who received his DMA in trumpet performance under the expert tutelage of David Gordon and was a member of the graduate wind conducting cohort - has been appointed as Assistant Professor/Director of Bands/Applied Brass Instructor at Franklin College in Indiana.
Congratulations to Chris Mathakul, who has served for the past three years as University of Washington concert band program graduate teaching assistant, on his new appointment as Symphonic Band conductor and Ensemble Programs and Public Engagement Coordinator at the University of Illinois at Chicago!
University of Washington wind conducting studio alumna Dr. Shayna Stahl (DMA wind conducting, 2019), newly-appointed Assistant Professor of Music/Director of Athletic Bands/Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Kentucky School of Music!
https://www.facebook.com/.../a.113348468.../4465363586817484. She is also featured in the June 2021 edition of the School Band & Orchestra magazine! https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=710784&p=1&pp=1&view=issueViewer
2) Daniel Fischer, DMA student in wind conducting, named Visiting Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte.
3) DMA wind conducting students Dan Fischer and Chris Mathakul served as clinicians at the music education conferences of Oregon, Utah, Colorado and All Northwest this past winter, presenting the results and content of the UW Wind Ensemble Alex Shapiro.
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1) UW Wind Ensemble online composition project was highlighted on University of Washington main page: (https://www.washington.edu/boundless/remote-learning/?utm_source=UW_News_Subscribers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UW_Today_row&mkt_tok=NTI3LUFIUi0yNjUAAAF8si9IleSeoYIMOVHkoNObHcd9epZafoBa2tkRprZtjVxiy_ucO8BhjKLC0h_8BdFec8C699mA-vgsj9x2JcoX3TG6u0H8fkgcw1tLxA
(scroll down)
The course content/syllabus has now been adapted by 25 universities and numerous public schools throughout the United States.
2) Professor Salzman contributed a chapter to the upcoming book, Arnold Jacobs: His Artistic and Pedagogical Legacies in the 21st Century. Scholar Publications, Chicago. The book is compilation of chapter contributions by former students of Arnold Jacobs who was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra tubist for 44 years. The vast majority of the other contributing authors are professional players from major symphony orchestras from throughout the world, all former students of Arnold Jacobs.
3) At the request of Tshinghua University (Beijing, China), Professor Salzman contributed a chapter to an upcoming book regarding the musical life of the Tsinghua University Symphonic Band, an ensemble that he has guest conducted numerous times. Tsinghua University is a global innovation partner of the University of Washington.
2020
Students and faculty at the School of Music performed and studied music in Autumn 2020 with some dramatic modifications to format and staging. With nearly all classes held online, music students worked and studied from around the globe but also in some specialized settings on the University of Washington campus. https://rb.gy/mcfkn4
Making music at a distance: Spring 2020 concert bands composition project. https://artsci.washington.edu/news/2020-05/making-music-distance
Dr. Vu Nguyen (DMA Wind Conducting 2013), director of the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble, has accepted a new position this coming fall as Associate Professor/Director of Bands at the University of the Pacific.
www.pacific.edu/academics/schools-and-colleges/conservatory-of-music/vu-nguyen-announcement.html
Jian-nan Cheng (MM Wind Conducting 2014) Director of Orchestral Ensembles at Fordham University, has accepted a new position this fall as Director of Orchestras at Rowan University.
https://cpa.rowan.edu/music/cheng-jiannan.html
Dr. Mark Montmeyer (MA, PhD Music Education), Music Education department head at the University of Northern Colorado, will be joining the faculty at the University of North Texas as an Associate Professor in Music Education.
https://music.unt.edu/faculty-and-staff/mark-montemayor
Associate Professor Dr. Eric Smedley (DMA Wind Conducting 2010) has been appointed the new director of athletic bands at the University of Indiana, where he has been on faculty since 2011.
2019
Doug Morin, (DMA wind conducting, 2019) has accepted the position of Director of Athletic Bands at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Shayna Stahl, (DMA Wind Conducting 2019) is the newly appointed Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
https://marchingband.uncc.edu/directory/dr-shayna-stahl
Dr. Christopher Chapman (DMA Wind Conducting 2008), Director of Bands at Oregon State University, has accepted a new position for this coming fall at Central Michigan University where he will be serving as Associate Professor/Director of Bands.
https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/cam/MUS/AbouttheSchool/Faculty/Pages/default.aspx
Jian-nan Cheng, former member of UWWE and an MM wind conducting studio alumnae (’14) recently accepted the position of the Director of Orchestral Ensembles at Fordham University in New York city. Jian-nan made her professional European opera conducting debut in 2018 with the Stuggart Philharmonic and is currently in process of finishing her DMA in orchestral conducting at the Cincinnati Conservatory.
Dr. Linda Moorhouse, former UWWE teaching assistant and alumnae, was named President of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. Linda is currently Associate Director of the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
http://www.americanbandmasters.org/
2018
Dr. Vu Nguyen (DMA Wind Conducting 2013) accepted an appointment as Director of the Wind Ensemble/Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut.
https://music.uconn.edu/person/vu-nguyen/
Dr. Erin Bodnar (DMA Wind Conducting 2014), accepted an appointment as Director of Bands/Assistant Professor of Music at the University of North Florida.
https://www.unf.edu/coas/music/Conducting.aspx
Paul Bain, a 2009 Master’s degree graduate in Wind conducting and a former member of the UW Wind Ensemble trumpet section, accepted an offer to join the faculty of Central Washington University as Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education.
Jian-Nan Cheng, (MM wind conducting/2014), will be serving as assistant conductor for the Opernfestspiele Heidenheim in Heidenheim, Germany this summer. The Stuttgarter Philharmoniker will be the orchestra for the productions. Jian-nan is currently a teaching assistant at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where she is enrolled in the DMA program in orchestral conducting. She will be serving as a conducting fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra this coming season.
Professor Salzman discusses Arnold Jacobs
September 27, 2018
Professor Salzman was interviewed about his teacher Arnold Jacobs, former tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Check out the clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt0ZmMO8IdM&t=5s
Professor Salzman at the Music for All National Festival
April 16, 2018
Professor Salzman presented the keynote address at the 2018 Music for All National Festival. The address was titled “Caring for Our Dreams”:
Spring 2017
Dr. Eric Smedley has recently received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, our nation’s largest school of music. Eric serves as Associate Director of Bands at IU. Eric was a graduate teaching assistant for the UW Athletic Bands from 2007 - 2010.
Dr. Linda Moorhouse was recently elected to the office of Vice President of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. Linda currently serves as Associate Director of the School of Music and Senior Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Linda was UW Concert Band program teaching assistant for three years in the 1990’s.
Richard Clary was elected to the office of President of the College Band Directors National Association. Rick serves as Professor of Music and Director of Wind Ensemble Studies at Florida State University. Rick was teaching assistant for the UW Concert Band program from 1990-1993.
Jianan Cheng, MM grad in wind conducting and currently a teaching assistant in the DMA program in orchestral conducting at the Cincinnati Conservatory, has been appointed as so serve this summer as assistant conductor of the National Music Festival, Chestertown, Maryland.
Professor Salzman conducts the United States Army Field Band
August 15, 2015
Here's a taste of "Precious Metal," a flute concerto by DJ Sparr. Guest conductor Timothy Salzman and soloist Staff Sgt. Sean Owen were both involved in commissioning this work. #nfaflute
The National Flute Association University of Washington School of Music
https://www.facebook.com/FieldBand/videos/10153045045836088/
Professor Salzman profiled by Music for All
March 27, 2015
In celebration of Music for All’s 40th Anniversary in 2015, 40 music educators from throughout the United States who have made a difference in band education were identified. Professor Salzman’s profile is at the link below:
Michael Colgrass
March 9, 2015
Michael Colgrass reflects on his involvement with university wind ensembles versus profession symphonic orchestras.
http://colgrassadventures.com/the-musical-ensemble-of-the-future-2/
Professor Salzman inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame
August 7, 2014
Professor Salzman was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame for his outstanding work with corps such as the Santa Clara Vanguard and The Cavaliers. Info about his induction here: https://www.dci.org/static/timothy_salzman
Professor Salzman on KING FM98.1
October 5, 2012
Professor Salzman on King FM!KING FM was delighted to feature Timothy Salzman with co-host Mike Brooks on Musical Chairs, Friday, October 5. Each week, Musical Chairs features a different guest from the Northwest Arts scene who joins Mike in the studio to share favorite works and personal stories and background on these special selections. Listen to a recording of the broadcast here:
The University of Washington hosts the CBDNA Conference
March 23-26, 2011
Full Program
Check out these UW WIND ENSEMBLE videos from the CBDNA 2011 conference!
Precious Metal: A Concerto for Flute and Wind Ensemble – D. J. Sparr Donna Shin, flute
Solitary Confinement – Cuong Vu (orch. T. Salzman) Cuong Vu Trio
Harvest: Concerto for Trombone – John Mackey Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, trombone
The University of Washington hosted the 2011 College Band Directors National Association conference an event attended by 350 collegiate wind band conductors from throughout the United States. This biennial conference had not been held on the west coast since 1976 (UCLA). Several ensembles performed at the event - in Meany Hall on the UW campus and in Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra - and a number of research presentations were given. The ensembles chosen to perform at the conference were:University of Miami-Frost Wind Ensemble, Gary Green Hartt Wind Ensemble, Glen Adsit Ball State University Wind Ensemble, Tom Caneva Boise State University, Marcellus Brown California State University - Long Beach, John Carnahan Central Washington University, Larry Gookin Texas State University, Rodney Schueller University of Washington Wind Ensemble, Tim SalzmanSmall College Intercollegiate Honor Band, Lowell Graham (retired conductor, United States Air Force Band)The UW Wind Ensemble performed twice. The first concert, in Meany Hall on Saturday afternoon, March 26th, consisted of new works by Huck Hodge, Cuong Vu, Martin O'Donnell, John Mackey and D.J. Sparr with Donna Shin, Cuong Vu and Ko-ichiro Yamamoto as soloists. At the final convention concert that evening the UW Wind Ensemble, at the invitation and under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, performed in Benaroya Hall as a part of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s regular Saturday evening concert, a culmination of the orchestra’s week-long celebration of the music and life of Alan Hovhaness.
The UW Wind Ensemble performed twice. The first concert, in Meany Hall on Saturday afternoon, March 26th, consisted of new works by Huck Hodge, Cuong Vu, Martin O'Donnell, John Mackey and D.J. Sparr with Donna Shin, Cuong Vu and Ko-ichiro Yamamoto as soloists. At the final convention concert that evening the UW Wind Ensemble, at the invitation and under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, performed in Benaroya Hall as a part of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s regular Saturday evening concert, a culmination of the orchestra’s week-long celebration of the music and life of Alan Hovhaness.
Nearly 100 email/Facebook messages/letters were received congratulating the UW on the conference. Samples of these letters can be found here:
The University of Washington Wind Ensemble DVD SERIES!
Filmed in 2008, the University of Washington Wind Ensemble's educational DVD series, "The Architecture and Responsibilities of the Wind Ensemble” - produced by Nihon PALS of Osaka, Japan - contains 5 1/2 hours of filmed rehearsal techniques and interviews with Professor Salzman and students in the UW Wind Ensemble. It is designed to help wind conductors interested in establishing a uniform approach to ensemble sonority, intonation and interpretation. The series was nominated in 2009 for a research award by the Japan Educational Music and Culture Association. Each year the Association nominates performing organizations, composers, publishers, instrument manufacturers and audio/DVD producers for awards. Thirteen nominees were chosen and all of the nominees were from Japan except for the world-famous Orchestre de la Garde Républicain from Paris (in the performance category) and the UW Wind Ensemble's DVDs (research category). This organization gives a total of four awards annually from all categories. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Band*, composer Chansu Kou, Roland (one of the worlds' leading manufacturers of electronic instruments and music gear) and the Accord Publication Company received the 2009 awards. Two other 'lifetime achievement awards' were given to two legendary Japanese high school bands, Yodogawa and Naroshino.
Copies of each volume the DVD set are available through Nihon Pals. Ordering information, in English, is available at the following links:
http://palsmusic.jp/englishpage/PADVD-0837.html
http://palsmusic.jp/englishpage/PADVD-0838.html