June 10-13, 2027 // The University of Georgia The University of Georgia Conducting Symposium is a multi-day conducting and teaching workshop offers conductors of all levels an exceptional opportunity for professional and artistic growth; public school music educators are especially encouraged to attend. Our guest clinician for 2027 is Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, Director of Wind Band Studies at Penn State, and UGA Bands conducting faculty will provide individual feedback and coaching. Conductor Track participants will have podium time with the UGA Chamber Winds in recorded instructional rounds. Auditor Track participants may observe all sessions and interact with clinicians and musicians but will not receive podium time. Meet our UGA conducting faculty. Meet our guest clinician Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin Dr. Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin is Director of Wind Band Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Penn State University. In addition to conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, overseeing the graduate wind conducting program, teaching courses in wind band literature and wind conducting, she oversees all aspects of the concert bands at Penn State. Her appointment at PSU follows three years as Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina. Prior to her time at UofSC, Mitchell-Spradlin taught at Valdosta State University as Director of Athletic Bands, and was Director of Bands at Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia for four years. Mitchell-Spradlin has a diverse background as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, educator, and speaker. She is a Conn Selmer educator and frequent guest conductor with performances with several regional honor bands, Allstate bands, summer camps and clinics, and residencies at public schools and collegiate institutions. She is active in the teaching of conducting having served as clinician for the UMKC Conducting Symposium and the President’s Own Marine Band Conductor Training Program. As a presenter, Mitchell-Spradlin speaks often about programming, forming a connection with musicians, building culture, musical leadership, and inclusivity in the band medium. She has shared musical and pedagogical ideas on several music podcasts including Music for All’s Culture before Content, Everything Band, Conn Selmer’s Backstage with Dr. Tim, The Bandroom, and the Ictus Podcast. Presentations include invited sessions at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, College Music Society, the College Band Directors National Association, SCMEA, KMEA, NYSBDA, and keynote presenter for the NAfME Northwest conference. Her international speaking engagements include presenting the keynote for the Maryborough Music Conference in Australia and a session on Joan Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman for the International Society for the Advancement and Promotion of Wind Band Society (IGEB) in Oberwölz, Austria. A proponent for advancing the wind ensemble medium, she led the consortium and premiere of Aaron Perrine’s Beneath a Canvas of Green for wind ensemble and percussion quartet, which was also the subject of her doctoral dissertation. Additionally, she is active in a number of premieres and consortiums for new music. Mitchell-Spradlin holds the Agnes Scollins Carey Memorial Early Career Professorship in the Arts. This professorship funds her travel and research in Ghana, where she will interview Griots (West African storytellers) for the purpose of uncovering creation stories. Additionally, Mitchell-Spradlin will re-imagine Darius Milhaud's ballet, La Creation du Monde, with West African dance, instruments, and the added element of narration using primary material from Ghanaian storytellers. Under her direction, the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble has received several honors including a performance at the prestigious Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, PA as part of Penn State’s President’s Concert as well as an invitation to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Eastern Region Conference in Ithaca, New York. The ensemble has recorded Evan Ziporyn’s Impulse Control - concerto for drumset and wind ensemble released on Parma Records. Mitchell-Spradlin served as the National Vice President of Professional Relations for Tau Beta Sigma: National Honorary Band Sorority for two years. She serves on the National Band Association Selective Music List Committee, the College Band Directors National Association Diversity Committee, and also holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, PMEA, National Association for Music Education, and Black Women Band Directors Association. Repertoire TBA Application Process Please review the information below carefully before applying to attend. There are two tracks of involvement in the University of Georgia Conducting Symposium. Regardless of track, all applicants will submit a resume/CV. Due to high demand, participation is by invitation only. The UGA Bands conducting faculty will review all applications and notify those who have been selected via email. Payment is due by May 1, 2027. Applications Open: January 11, 2027 First Considerations for Conductors: January 31, 2027 First Considerations Invitations Sent Out: February 6, 2027 *All deadlines are in Eastern Standard Time Tracks Offered Conductor ($400) - Participants will conduct in sessions and video/audio-recorded performance. *Auditor ($95) - Participants may observe all sessions and interact with clinicians and musicians, but will have no podium time. *Auditor registration will remain open until TBA Get Started Application open January 11, 2027 Please prepare your CV/Resume as a PDF file. The application form will have fields where you can upload these documents. We would like to thank our sponsors: Pecknel and Conn Selmer
