Music : Wind Festival Clinicians

Dr.Gillian MacKay

Dr. Gillian MacKay is an Associate Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting and trumpet.  She is also the coordinator of the Performance Division for the Faculty of Music.  An award-winning teacher, Gillian has an active professional career as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.  She has conducted honour bands throughout Canada and the United States, including the National Youth Band of Canada.  A sought-after adjudicator, Dr. MacKay has judged Canadian band festivals at local, provincial, and national levels, as well as competitions in Singapore and Thailand.  In 2007, Gillian was the conductor of the Southeast Asian Youth Wind Ensemble in Bangkok.   

Dr. MacKay has presented clinics and workshops at provincial and state conferences in Canada and the United States, and is known for her work on the relationship between conducting and mime.  Also recognized as a conducting pedagogue, Gillian leads the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium each July, and has been the guest instructor at other symposia in Canada.  As a trumpeter, she is active as a recitalist and chamber musician, and has a particular interest in the French solo trumpet and cornet music of the 19th century.   Gillian is on the executive of the Lambda Iota chapter of Phi Beta Mus in Ontario, as well as the board of the Ontario Band Association.  She is also on the editorial board of Canadian Winds, the journal of the Canadian Band Association.   Gillian holds degrees and diplomas from the University of Lethbridge, McGill University, the University of Calgary, and Northwestern University.  Previously, she served as Instructor of Brass at Medicine Hat College, and Director of the School of Music at the University of Windsor.  

Dr Donald Peterson

Dr. Peterson received both his B.M. and M.M. degrees in music education from Brigham Young University followed by the D.M.A. degree in instrumental music/conducting from Arizona State University. During his nine years as director at American Fork High School; the concert, marching, and jazz bands were recipients of more than 100 awards and recognitions. He was also recognized with the Utah Music Educators Association Superior Accomplishment Award" in 1982 and awarded both the Utah state and southwest regional Stanbury" awards in recognition of outstanding young band directors by the American School Band Directors Association. Don is currently in his seventeenth year at B.Y.U., where he serves as associate professor in music education and director of both the Marching and Symphonic Bands. He has published articles in both Bandworld magazine and Band Director's Guide and is currently involved in research of Russian band music. His groups have premiered Russian band works and his edition of Zaparozshki March" has been performed in much of the U.S. as well as Europe. He maintains a very active schedule as adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, while continuing to mentor many of his graduates teaching in the Utah public schools

Dr. John Stanley Ross

Dr. John Stanley Ross is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Appalachian State University where he conducts the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, the Appalachian Concert Band, frequently guest conducts the Appalachian Symphonic Band, teaches courses in wind literature and band techniques, and guides all aspects of the ASU BANDS program. The Appalachian Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the Annual North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference in Winston-Salem in November, 2007. This performance featured the World Premiere of River Songs of the South by William Harbinson, and the North Carolina Premiere of Fildfire by Elaine Ross. From 2003-2006, Dr. Ross was Director of Bands and Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota-Morris where he conducted the University Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Chamber Winds and taught courses in conducting, woodwind techniques, fundamentals of music, introduction to music, and applied clarinet. In 2005, the UMM Bands enjoyed a successful tour to Hawaii where they performed on Oahu and Kauai in collaboration with the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Kauai Community College Wind Symphony. During his residence in Minnesota, Dr. Ross was also the music director and conductor of the Prairie Winds, an adult concert band located in Willmar, Minnesota, and the conductor of the First Lutheran Church Senior Choir in Morris, Minnesota.