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National Band Association Mentor Project

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brooke Emery
Washington, D.C. --  The United States Air Force Band is proud to announce it will serve as host and ensemble-in-residence for the National Band Association's (NBA) 2017 Young Composer/Conductor Mentor Project. Held at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling on June 13, 14 and 15, the project is the only competition of its kind that allows artists aged 29 and under to collaborate with a world-class musical ensemble and work with renowned mentors in their field free of charge.

The project pairs three young composers and three young conductors chosen from a pool of applicants from across the country.  With the assistance of their professional mentors they collaborate to rehearse, record, and present a live performance of the composers' works. The 2017 Mentor Project will culminate with a 5:30 pm concert on June 15th by the Air Force Concert Band featuring works by the composer mentees, with the conducting mentees at the podium leading the band.

The rigorous selection process included submitting a curriculum vitae, conducting samples, a written submission of a score study, a complete list of repertoire conducted, letters of recommendation and a three minute teaching video. The selected young conductors are Mr. David Regner, Mr. Daniel Cook, and Mr. DaJuan Brooks.

The application requirements for the young composers were equally stringent but substituted the submission of a full original score for wind band in place of a conducting video. The selected young composers for the 2017 conference are Mr. Paul Cravens, Mr. Zachery Meier, and Mr. Joshua Hobbs.

The National Band Association (NBA) is the largest professional organization for bands in the world. For the past fifteen years, thirty-seven young composers and thirty-one young conductors have distinguished themselves through participation in NBA's Young Composers/Conductors Mentor Project. 

Prior to the performance, project organizers Dr. Paula Crider and Professor Mark Camphouse will make remarks, as will the Commander of the United States Air Force Band, Colonel Larry Lang. Among the fifty individuals on hand to observe will be the President of the National Band Association. The concert can be live streamed by the public via https://youtu.be/KopbuUAy-MI on Thursday, June 15th, at 5:30 p.m.