ABC....American Band College (aka Adult Band Camp)

Vince attended 2 weeks of his masters program at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR. The program is known as ABC, the American Band College. It is the largest masters program in the country for band directors. At the end of three summers, Vince will have a masters in conducting (band, not electricity).

The program is super practical; none of that educational philosophy stuff. Each day he had classes with world class clinicians, conductors, guest soloists, and composers. He played his trombone 3 hours a day, performed in two concerts, slept fitfully in a non-airconditioned dorm room, and met some really great folks from all over the country. He also learned what "skpye" is!

He has two big projects to complete before August 11th and the '08-'09 school year will also involve working on his second year projects.




Tony, Kevin, Mike, Brad, Aaron, & Vince before the July 4th extravaganza.

The 200 member ABC Band performed on July 4th. This piece (Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett) was conducted by Robert Ponto, director of bands at the University of Oregon. (The video engineer apologizes for the shaky camera work. She had to film and keep track of a 2 year old!)