Guest Clinicians
Band: Dr. John Stewart
Choir: Dr. Frank Watkins
Orchestra: Steve Amundson
Dr. John R. Stewart is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Concert Bands at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire where he conducts the Wind Symphony, teaches courses in conducting and repertoire, supervises student teachers, and coordinates the concert band program. Under his leadership the Wind Symphony has performed at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference (2014) with soloists Dr. Brian Bowman, Andreas Hofmeir, Timothy Northcut, and Dr. Jerry Young, and the CBDNA/NBA North Central Division Regional Conference (2016). Dr. Stewart maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the upper Midwest. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education (2013) at the University of Minnesota while studying conducting with Craig Kirchhoff. Dr. Stewart earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Florida (1996) and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of South Florida (2009).
Prior to his appointment at UWEC, Dr. Stewart was Interim Conductor of the St. Cloud State University Wind Ensemble (Minnesota). Dr. Stewart served as Director of Bands at Saint Cloud High School (Florida) from 1996-2010 where he directed the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Winds, Percussion Ensemble and Marching Band. In 2006, he earned his National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and in 2008 was named the St. Cloud High School "Teacher of the Year."
Dr. Stewart contributed to Teaching Music through Performance in Band: Solos with Wind Band Accompaniment published by GIA Publications, Inc., and has published articles in Contributions to Music Education and the Minnesota Music Educators Association Journal. His current research interests include Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) and repertoire. His professional affiliations include College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Dr. Stewart lives in Eau Claire and enjoys spending time with his wife, Crisinda and daughter, Hannah.
Frank A. Watkins, a native of Omaha Nebraska, taught secondary choral music in Texas for six years. He holds degrees in piano performance from Jackson State University (BM), the University of Arkansas (MM), and choral conducting from Northwestern University (MM) and Michigan State University (DMA). Watkins is in demand as guest conductor and clinician. Recent engagements include the 2013 Mid-Michigan Honor Choir, University of Nebraska Omaha Collegiate Choir Concert Series (2014), Dunn St. Croix Honor Choir (2015), Lakeland All-Conference Honor Choir (2015), University of Nebraska Omaha Middle School Honor Choir (2016), and the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra (2016). Future engagements include the 2017 Great Northern Conference All- Conference Choir, the 2017 Red Cedar Honor’s Choir, and the 2017 Big Nine Festival Honor Choir in Red Wing, MN. He has presented workshops on choral methods for the International Music and Christian Arts Conference, Michigan State University, and the Ohio State University. In 2015 he presented at both the Wisconsin Music Educators State Convention and the National Collegiate Choral Organization National Conference. Watkins joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2014. In 2016, he was appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A dynamic young conductor, Watkins’ love and passion are teaching. He believes that in order to educate, you must first inspire! It is his goal to make an impact…not just an impression on the lives of those that follow his baton.
Steven Amundson is in his 36th year on the faculty of St. Olaf College where he serves as Professor of Music and Conductor of the St. Olaf Orchestra, which recently won the 2013 American Prize in Orchestral Performance among colleges and universities. Under his direction, the orchestra tours nationally and internationally, and has been featured on NPR, PBS and twice on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.
In addition to his conducting duties, Amundson teaches courses in music theory, aural skills, and conducting. He is the founding conductor of the Twin Cities' based Metropolitan Symphony and served as Music Director and Conductor of the Bloomington Symphony from 1984 – 1997. Amundson has guest conducted professional ensembles in Minnesota including the Duluth Symphony and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He has also served as conductor for the Interlochen Arts Camp. He is a frequent conductor of all-state orchestras throughout the United States.
His orchestral compositions have received over 750 performances by university, civic and professional orchestras in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. His music has been recorded by both the Houston Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
A 1977 graduate of Luther College, Amundson obtained the Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University and did further studies at the University of Virginia, the Aspen Music School and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.
In the 1980 International Conducting Competition hosted by the Mozarteum and Austrian National Radio, Amundson placed first earning the Hans Haring Prize. In 1992, the Minnesota Music Education Association named him "Minnesota Orchestra Educator of the Year."