Gary Ciepluch
(Case Western Reserve University & Music Director-Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony)
Conductor, High School Honors Wind Ensemble

Dr. Gary M. Ciepluch is director of Bands and Associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, conductor for the University Circle Wind Ensemble, and founder/music director of the Cleveland youth Wind symphonies. His additional teaching responsibilities include conducting and music education.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Ciepluch received a Bachelor of music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master of Music Education/Conducting degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and a PhD in Conducting/Music Education/Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received a clarinet performance certificate from the Institute of Advanced musical Training in Crans, Switzerland.

To his current positions in the joint music program at Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Institute of Music he brings a broad knowledge and background in contemporary wind music and music education. Dr. Ciepluch was Assistant Director and Acting director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, director of Bands at the University of Dayton, and the Director of Bands at Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, High School. He appears frequently as a clinician and guest conductor in the United States and abroad including the 2001 Brisbane, Australia Allstate Honors Band. At the May, 1999 Case Commencement Ceremonies, Dr. Ciepluch was awarded the distinguished Carl F. Wittke Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by then University President Agnar Pytte.

Dr. Ciepluch has conducted numerous premiere performances and has won the praise of numerous composers including Olivier Messiaen, Karel Husa, Paul Turok and Donald Erb. In a CD release of the music of Donald Erb In Tune magazine writes that the "performances are superbly subtle. Conductor Ciepluch has emerged as a star among band director: a refined musician with a keen interest is serious modern works, and the technique to cope with avant-garde demands."

His university ensembles have appeared at numerous local, state, national and international conventions including the Fiftieth College Band directors National Association Conference in Kansas City, Missouri (1991), the 1992 Music Educators National Conference Convention in New Orleans, the Society of Composers 27th Conference, Cleveland, Ohio (1993), and the 1994 Lake Konstanz Music Festival, Kanstanz, Germany. The focus of his research and writing is identifying band/wind ensemble music for all level performing ensembles where he is co-author of Best Music for High School Band/Wind Ensemble. As a member of the National Band Association, he has served as Chairman of the Selection Committee for the annual NBA Composition Contest. In addition, he is an active member of the College Band Directors National Association and Past President for the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association.

In July 1991 he presented a paper in Manchester, England, at the Fifth Conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, and in December 1992 lectured in Russia on American Wind Music at the Moscow conservatory of Music. Since 1994, the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony (CYWS) has participated in nine International Concert Tours, performing in Germany, The Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Spain, France, Scotland and England. In July 2010, the CYWS took their ninth international concert tour to Spain and Portugal. This past January, they performed for the seventh time at the Ohio Music Education Association State Convention in Cincinnati.

Michael Sweeney
(Composer, Hal Leonard Publications)
Conductor, Honors Symphonic Band-BLACK

Michael Sweeney is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, WI one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements. Mr. Sweeney is a 1977 graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington), and prior to working for Hal Leonard he was a band director in Ohio and Indiana, working with successful concert, jazz and marching programs at all levels from elementary to high school. Mr. Sweeney has received commissions ranging from middle school and high school bands to the Eastman Wind Ensemble and Canadian Brass. His works appear on numerous state contest lists and his music is regularly performed throughout the world.

Michael resides in the Milwaukee area where he enjoys fishing and playing the bodhrán.

Michael Knight
(St. Norbert College, Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Bands, Director of Instrumental Music Education)
Conductor, Honors Symphonic Band-GOLD

Michael Knight joined the St. Norbert College music faculty during the fall of 2010. His duties include conducting the Wind Ensemble and teaching courses in conducting and instrumental music education. Dr. Knight previously held the position of Associate Director of Bands at the University of Missouri, where his responsibilities included directing the 290-member Marching Mizzou, conducting the Symphonic Band, and teaching courses in conducting and marching band techniques. He also served as conductor of the Southeast Iowa Concert Band based at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, IA. Prior to his collegiate teaching career, Dr. Knight taught public school music in Missouri.

Dr. Knight has an extensive background in both concert and marching band performance and education, and has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Most recently he served as guest conductor for the MU Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s tour of China in the Spring of 2010. Dr. Knight is a contributor to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band reference series and has also designed marching band programs for many major bowl games, including the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Alamo Bowl. His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Dr. Knight has performed on bass trombone with both the Missouri Chamber Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids (IA) Symphony. He was also a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, WI.

Carol Hayward
(Bowling Green State University)
Conductor, "Ohio" Middle School Honors Band

Dr. Carol Hayward is currently an associate professor of music education at Bowling Green State University where she conducts the Concert Band, teaches in the music education department and serves as the director of the Falcon Marching and Athletic Bands. Dr. Hayward received a Masters degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University in 1994 and a doctorate in conducting from OSU in 2004. Before joining the faculty at Bowling Green, Dr. Hayward was the Doctoral Associate in Conducting at The Ohio State University. Dr. Hayward served as a high school band director for 21 years. During her high school teaching career, bands under her direction have performed at the state conferences of the Ohio Music Education Association and the American School Band Directors Association as well as at the national convention of the American School Band Directors Association.

Dr. Hayward was awarded the National Band Association "Citation of Excellence" in 2000, received an Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associate Award at The Ohio State University for 2002-2003, was a recipient of the Merrill McEwen Award at BGSU for 2006 and the Pro Musica Outstanding Service to Students Award in 2011. She is a past state chair of the American School Band Directors Association and is a member of Phi Beta Mu, National Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Ohio Music Education Association. Dr. Hayward also served two terms as President of the MidAmerican Conference Band Directors Association and was on the instructional staff for the 2008 and 2009 MENC/US Army All American Band which performed at the All American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Hayward is a frequent guest conductor and band clinician and has presented at state and national conferences.

Natalie Steele
(Iowa State University)
Conductor, "Iowa" Middle School Honors Band

Natalie Steele is the Music Education Instructor at Iowa State University. She teaches courses in Music Education and coordinates practicum placements and student teachers. Prior to her current appointment, Dr. Steele served for three years with the Iowa State University bands, most recently as Associate Director of Bands, Director of the Cyclone Marching Band (ISUCF'V'MB), director of the women's basketball Pep Band, and conductor of the Concert Band. Previously, she served for six years as Associate Director of Bands at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and taught in the public schools of Ohio for six years where her ensembles received consistent superior ratings at district and state events.

Dr. Steele received a Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Wind Conducting from Ohio University and a PhD in Music Education from the University of North Texas. Her biography is published in several recent editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She has held memberships in Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, Mu Phi Epsilon, Music Educators National Conference, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Iowa, Ohio, and Texas Music Educators’ Association.

Dr. Steele is an active clinician and researcher. She has presented at conferences and research symposiums across the country and is published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education, The Southwestern Musician, and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education.

Christopher Werner
(La Crosse Central High School)
Conductor, "Wisconsin" Middle School Honors Band

Conductor Dr. Christopher Werner is from Medford, Wisconsin and is Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at La Crosse Central High School a position he has held since 2005. In addition to the responsibilities at CHS, Dr. Werner is a guest conductor for the La Crosse Concert Band, adjudicates for the Wisconsin School Music Association, is President for the National Band Association-Wisconsin Chapter, a Vice-President for the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, and is the State Honors Band Coordinator for the Wisconsin State Music Association Honors Project.

Werner holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting degree from the University of Nebraska where he studied with Director of Bands Dr. Carolyn Barber and Director of Orchestras Dr. Tyler White. He has the distinction of being the first University of Nebraska DMA recipient of the Wind Conducting degree and also the first Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts F. Pace Woods Scholar in Music. Werner is also a proud degree holder from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee where he earned his Master’s Degree in Conducting while studying with Professor Thomas Dvorak.

Dr. Werner and his ensembles are active in commissioning new works for wind band. The Central Bands have participated in or organized consortiums with new music coming from David Maslanka, Kimberly Archer, Travis Cross, Roy Magnuson, Kevin Krumenauer and Rusty Banks. Ensembles under his direction have appeared at the Wisconsin State Music Conference (2008), Wisconsin Convention of the National Band Association (2008, 2006), Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention (2004), and the Nebraska Bandmasters State Convention (2005).