Director of Bands/Professor of Music (Wind Symphony)  Dr. William K. Wakefield is coordinator of the division of ensembles and conducting at The University of Oklahoma. His responsibilities include directing all aspects of the University Bands, conducting the Wind Symphony, coordinating personnel for instrumental ensembles, and guiding the doctoral and masters wind conducting program. Wakefield also team-teaches the undergraduate conducting sequence that is integrated with secondary teaching methods in the music education program. Since 1985, the OU Wind Symphony has performed for fifteen national, regional, and state conventions of the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the American Bandmasters Association, and Oklahoma Music Educators Association. Most recently, the ensemble performed for the 2004 MENC conference in Minneapolis, 2003 OMEA Conference in Tulsa, the 2000 ABA and 1999 CBDNA conferences in Austin, Texas. In January of 2007, will perform for the Oklahoma Music Educators Convention in Tulsa. The OU Wind Symphony has cultivated new music for wind ensemble through commissions for composers Roland Barrett, Donald Grantham, Dan Welcher, Cindy McTee, David Maslanka, Stephen Rush, Steven Stuckey, Carolyn Bremer, Daron Hagen, and Charles Rochester Young. Wakefield is a frequent guest conductor and clinician for university ensembles, all-state bands, and honor groups throughout the United States. His awards include the OU College of Fine Arts Outstanding Faculty Award and Phi Mu Alpha's Orpheus Award for significant and lasting contributions to the cause of music in America. Wakefield has also been recognized for his teaching excellence by the Blue Key Society of honor students. In 1998 he was nominated and selected for membership in the American Bandmasters Association. He currently is President-elect for the College Band Directors National Association and Treasurer for the Big 12 Band Directors Association. Previous elected offices have included President of the CBDNA Southwestern Division, President of the Big12 Band Directors Association, and State Chair for CBDNA OKLAHOMA. BM—Manhattan School of Music |
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