January 10, 2017

We are proud to be the hosts for the 2017 Conductors Guild National Conference, which is being attended by over fifty musicians representing this premiere organization. The College will be the home for the four day conference, and we’re partnered with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as our co-hosts. Dr. Wesley Broadnax, Performing Arts Professor and Director of our Concert and Pep Bands, serves on the Board of Directors for the Conductors Guild and he was instrumental in bringing the Guild's Conference to Drexel. "Equally exciting is the partnering of this conference with the Philadelphia Orchestra's Paris Festival Concert Series," Dr. Broadnax notes. Dr. Broadnax and Dr. Miriam Giguere, Performing Arts Department Head, will present a session entitled " Martha Graham: The Chosen One" chronicling the life of the legendary American dancer and teacher, focusing on her role in Stravinsky's iconic The Rite of Spring performance in Philadelphia in 1930. Dr. Youngmoo Kim, Director of Drexel’s ExCITe Center, will also present on his program notes application, LIVE NOTES, that he helped design for use by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Conference attendees will participate in group sessions, presentations, musical rehearsals and performances, with the opportunity to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra, widely acknowledged as one of the worlds greatest.  The Conductors Guild has served music conductors from all professions since its founding in 1975, and it continues to be a driving force through its conductor training workshops, mentoring and scholarly research.

All Westphal College Faculty are welcome to attend any aspects of the conference, as well as the exciting performance of the Serafin String Quartet on Thursday, January 12 at 8PM in Mandell Theater.