The Coe College Festival of Bands 2009:

Click here for Ticket Order Form!Robert W. Smith, Guest Conductor/Composer

April 2-5, 2009

Click here for information about the Elementary Honor Band

William S. Carson, D.M.A.

Director of Bands

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Click here to see a copy of the poster - print as many as you like and help publicize these great concerts!

The Coe College Festival of Bands 

Traditionally held each year in April, Coe's Festival of Bands brings a major guest conductor to campus to assist in the celebration of the many facets of band music. 

The Guest Artists

Robert W Smith

Robert W. Smith (b. 1958) is one of the most popular and prolific composers of concert band and orchestral literature in America today. He has over 600 publications in print .  He is currently published exclusively by the C. L. Barnhouse Company and serves as the Director of Product Development for C. L. Barnhouse and Walking Frog Records.
 

Mr. Smith's original works for winds and percussion have been programmed by countless military, university, high school, and middle school bands throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. His Symphony #1 (The Divine Comedy), Symphony #2 (The Odyssey) and Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual have received worldwide critical acclaim. His educational compositions such as The Tempest, Encanto, and The Great Locomotive Chase have become standards for developing bands throughout the world. His music has received extensive airplay on major network television as well as inclusion in multiple motion pictures. From professional ensembles such as the United States Navy Band and the Atlanta Symphony to school bands and orchestras throughout the world, his music speaks to audiences in any concert setting.
 

As a conductor and clinician, Mr. Smith has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe and Australia. He is the principal conductor of the American Symphonic Winds and the American Festival Philharmonic Orchestra, professional recording ensembles based in Washington D.C. He is currently working on the production of Symphony No. 3 (Don Quixote), the fourth in a series of compact disc recordings of his best-known works for concert band. In addition, he is co-creator of the Expressions Music Curriculum. This comprehensive Pre-K through 12 music program includes Band Expressions, an innovative new approach to teaching music through the band.
 

Mr. Smith is currently teaching in the Music Industry program at Troy University in Troy, AL. His teaching responsibilities are focused in music composition, production, publishing and business.  In addition, he is a managing partner and conductor/producer for American Audio Unlimited, an audio production company specializing in recordings for concert band and orchestra.
 

  

The Festival Concerts

On Saturday, April 4, at 8:00 p.m. in Sinclair Auditorium, Robert W Smith will conduct the Coe College Concert Band in several of his own compositions.  Smith will also work with the Elementary Honor Bands, which will perform at 4:00 p.m. that day and with the Coe Junior and Senior Honor Bands, who will present their Festival concert on Sunday, April 5, at 4:00 p.m.  Also featured during the Festival, on Thursday, April 2, at 8:00, will be a free concert by the Kirkwood Community College Concert Band, directed by Dr. Beth Zamzow, and the New Horizons Band of Cedar Rapids, conducted by Alan Lawrence. Tickets for the Honor Band concerts will be available through the Cedar Rapids Symphony Box Office (319-366-8203) and tickets for the Coe College Concert Band performance will be available at the door.

The Coe College Festival of Bands, under the administration of Dr. Carson, was established in 1994 and has featured a number of respected composers and conductors:

 
| Coe College Bands | Coe College Instrumental Music Schedule |
| Dr. William S. Carson | Carson Biographical Information |
| Coe College Bands History | Coe College Honor Bands |
| Coe College Jazz Summit | Coe College Festival of Bands |
| Cedar Rapids Municipal Band |


This Web Page was designed by Dr. William S. Carson

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Click below for the 2007 Festival of Bands Press Release
Click here for the 2005 Festival of Bands Press Release