Thank you to all participants and directors who helped make the 2019 Honor Ensemble Weekend such an amazing experience!
If you would like to listen to - and download - the 2019 performances, click here!
Dr. Emily Moss - Concert Band
Dr. Emily A. Moss is the Director of Bands and Director of Instrumental Music Education for the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at California State University, Los Angeles. Her duties include direction of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, teaching undergraduate and graduate conducting, and instruction in instrumental music education methods. Her previous appointment (2008-2011) was at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York where she served as Director of the Conservatory Wind Ensemble and Coordinator of Music Education.
Originally from Seattle, WA, Dr. Moss earned her Bachelors’ degrees in music and music education at the University of Washington, studying conducting with Timothy Salzman and bassoon performance with Arthur Grossman. She taught middle school band and private bassoon lessons in Chandler, AZ and Seattle, WA for six years where her bands received honors and awards from regional and state festivals. While serving as a teaching assistant with the University bands at the University of Northern Colorado, she earned her Master’s degree in Wind Conducting and the Doctor of Arts in Music Education and Bassoon Performance, studying with Kenneth Singleton, Richard Mayne and Charles Hansen.
As a conductor and clinician, Dr. Moss has been invited to guest conduct at middle schools, high schools and universities in Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and California and regularly gives band clinics throughout Southern California. She is also an accomplished bassoonist, actively performing during her degree programs in Washington and Colorado, with the Conservatory Orchestra and other ensembles at Brooklyn College, and for faculty recitals at Cal State L.A.
Dr. Moss is passionate about music education and effective teaching. As a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (CETL) at Cal State L.A., she is actively involved in exploring and finding ways to improve student learning. She was recently awarded a planning grant from the Lipton/Modarres Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to develop a Pre-Service Teaching component within the B.M. in Music Education program at CSULA. She can be seen presenting at conferences across the United States on topics ranging from effective rehearsing and good ensemble tone to practical tips for non-percussionist band directors. Her professional memberships include College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), California Band Directors Association (CBDA), National Band Association (NBA), and the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.
Originally from Seattle, WA, Dr. Moss earned her Bachelors’ degrees in music and music education at the University of Washington, studying conducting with Timothy Salzman and bassoon performance with Arthur Grossman. She taught middle school band and private bassoon lessons in Chandler, AZ and Seattle, WA for six years where her bands received honors and awards from regional and state festivals. While serving as a teaching assistant with the University bands at the University of Northern Colorado, she earned her Master’s degree in Wind Conducting and the Doctor of Arts in Music Education and Bassoon Performance, studying with Kenneth Singleton, Richard Mayne and Charles Hansen.
As a conductor and clinician, Dr. Moss has been invited to guest conduct at middle schools, high schools and universities in Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and California and regularly gives band clinics throughout Southern California. She is also an accomplished bassoonist, actively performing during her degree programs in Washington and Colorado, with the Conservatory Orchestra and other ensembles at Brooklyn College, and for faculty recitals at Cal State L.A.
Dr. Moss is passionate about music education and effective teaching. As a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (CETL) at Cal State L.A., she is actively involved in exploring and finding ways to improve student learning. She was recently awarded a planning grant from the Lipton/Modarres Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to develop a Pre-Service Teaching component within the B.M. in Music Education program at CSULA. She can be seen presenting at conferences across the United States on topics ranging from effective rehearsing and good ensemble tone to practical tips for non-percussionist band directors. Her professional memberships include College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), California Band Directors Association (CBDA), National Band Association (NBA), and the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.
Dr. Christopher Peterson - Concert Choir
Christopher Peterson is Professor of Music at California State University, Fullerton where he directs the CSUF Concert Choir, the Titan Men’s Chorus, and teaches classes in choral music education. In spring 2011 he was named the 2010-2011 Cal State Fullerton ASI Outstanding Educator of the Year. From 2001–2007 he was Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Peterson taught music in the public schools of Maine for nine years, including elementary, middle, and high school music instruction. He is a published author of professional articles, a contributing author for educational textbooks, and an editor, composer, and choral arranger for Hal Leonard Music Publishers. His choral methods textbook The Art of the Choral Music Educator: Pedagogy, Methods, and Materials for Tomorrow’s Outstanding Music Teachers will be available in fall 2016. He has held the position of State Choral Representative and Southern Section President for the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and is the former Southern Regional Representative for the California Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the present R&S Chair for Youth and Student Activities. He is also the Western Division representative for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Council for Choral Education. Peterson maintains an active schedule as a choral clinician, guest conductor, and judge for festivals and choral performance events across the United States and internationally. In that capacity he has been invited to thirty US states, five Canadian Provinces, and nine countries including England, Sweden, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, and Holland, and has conducted All-State Choirs in Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, and California. He earned the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, the Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Maine. He earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Choral Music Education and Conducting from Florida State University where he studied with Rodney Eichenberger, Andre Thomas, and Clifford Madsen.
Gaw Vang Williams - Vocal Jazz Choir
Gaw Vang Williams is a jazz-pop vocalist and educator native to Sacramento, California. She became the director of vocal jazz program at Sacramento State in 2014, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in jazz studies and Master of Music in voice performance. Williams studied vocal jazz performance, voice pedagogy and arranging. She began teaching in 2004, serving as a music instructor at various high schools and music organizations. Williams was a member of the 2007 world champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. She also directs the Christian Brothers High School vocal jazz ensemble and previously directed the Sierra College vocal jazz ensemble. Williams is an active private music instructor. She has been working for several years as a vocal clinician, working with middle schools, high schools and collegiate ensembles and served as an adjudicator for many music festivals.
Williams performs at numerous venues throughout Northern California. Professional appearances as an assisting artist include live performances with Nancy King, New York Voices, Ben Folds and the San Francisco Symphony.
Under Williams' direction, the Sac State Vocal Jazz program has won 7 Downbeat Magazine Student awards. In addition, the Sac State vocal jazz ensembles took first in 2016 and 2017 at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in the collegiate vocal jazz ensemble category and was invited to perform at the world renowned Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2017.
Williams performs at numerous venues throughout Northern California. Professional appearances as an assisting artist include live performances with Nancy King, New York Voices, Ben Folds and the San Francisco Symphony.
Under Williams' direction, the Sac State Vocal Jazz program has won 7 Downbeat Magazine Student awards. In addition, the Sac State vocal jazz ensembles took first in 2016 and 2017 at the Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in the collegiate vocal jazz ensemble category and was invited to perform at the world renowned Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2017.
Steve Roach - Jazz Band
Steve Roach has been the Director of Jazz Studies at California State University, Sacramento since 2001. He has also served as Director of Jazz Studies at Baylor University and has held teaching positions at the University of Northern Colorado and Northern Illinois University. Steve's duties at Sacramento State include directing large jazz ensembles, teaching jazz trumpet, administering the jazz studies degree program, and teaching courses in jazz history. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from Indiana University, a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet and jazz pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.
Professional appearances as an assisting artist include studio and live sessions with such jazz & pop musicians as Tito Puente, Dave Pietro, Louis Bellson, Billy Drummond, Alan Ferber, Conrad Herwig, Lou Rawls, Jon Tchicai, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tennille, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Jeffrey Osbourne, Carl Fontana, Paquito D'Rivera, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and others.
Steve also works as a clinician and adjudicator for jazz festivals and various workshops nationwide and has directed several California high school honor jazz ensembles including the 2016 California All State High School Jazz Ensemble, the San Mateo Honor Jazz Band, the CMEA Bay Area Honor Jazz Ensemble, the Fresno-Madera County Honor Jazz Band, the Solono County High School Honor Jazz Ensemble, the Tulare Kings County Honor Jazz Band and the Southern California Band & Orchestra Association Honor Jazz Band. Steve maintains an active schedule as a freelance artist and is a member of the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra, a group in which he co-founded.
Professional appearances as an assisting artist include studio and live sessions with such jazz & pop musicians as Tito Puente, Dave Pietro, Louis Bellson, Billy Drummond, Alan Ferber, Conrad Herwig, Lou Rawls, Jon Tchicai, Ben Vereen, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tennille, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Jeffrey Osbourne, Carl Fontana, Paquito D'Rivera, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, The Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and others.
Steve also works as a clinician and adjudicator for jazz festivals and various workshops nationwide and has directed several California high school honor jazz ensembles including the 2016 California All State High School Jazz Ensemble, the San Mateo Honor Jazz Band, the CMEA Bay Area Honor Jazz Ensemble, the Fresno-Madera County Honor Jazz Band, the Solono County High School Honor Jazz Ensemble, the Tulare Kings County Honor Jazz Band and the Southern California Band & Orchestra Association Honor Jazz Band. Steve maintains an active schedule as a freelance artist and is a member of the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra, a group in which he co-founded.