CSBC is proud to offer our second year of Concert Band Festival in 2024. This festival, held at Colony High School in Ontario, California will offer a unique experience for Students, Directors and Parents.
Performing ensembles will be given a 30 minute timeslot on the stage that will include 10 minutes of set-up / tear down and up to 20 minutes of performance time. The clinicians will record audio commentary of the performance in Competition Suite for each ensemble. After each performance, ensembles will receive an in-person clinic. There will be no written commentary or ratings / ranking given.
CSBC will not be issuing a prescribed music list (PML). Instead, Directors are given the opportunity to select compositions that are appropriate for their ensemble and are worthy of the performance opportunity. Directors are further encouraged to select pieces of work from an underrepresented composer. (Underrepresented composers are defined as people of color, women, or other marginalized communities). Directors may choose how to use their performance time (up to 20 minutes) by choosing one of the following methods:
CSBC only hosts concert festivals on Saturdays to encourage audience attendance. Parents, friends, family members, and members of the community are highly encouraged to attend and support all of the ensembles. Each ensemble will be required to watch a minimum of two other performing ensembles.
Registrations will be through Competition Suite. Even existing CSBC groups will need to have a new "Concert" ensemble group created. To have your group set up, e-mail [email protected].
Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore
Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore is an Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education, at The California State University Fullerton School of Music. In this capacity, Dr. Whitmore teaches in the Instrumental Music Education Program, supervises student teachers and conducts the CSUF Symphonic Winds. In addition to his work in higher education, Dr. Whitmore is in his ninth season as Music Director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (Irvine, CA). This follows appointments as Director of Bands at Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA), Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut, CA), and College of the Desert (Palm Desert, CA). Prior to his work in higher education, Dr. Whitmore spent 13 years as Director of Bands at Cathedral City High School (Cathedral City, CA). A native of Ypsilanti, Michigan; Dr. Whitmore received his bachelor ’s degree in instrumental music education from The University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While a student at The University of Michigan, Dr. Whitmore performed in the University of Michigan Bands; and led the University of Michigan Marching Band as “ Michigan’s Man Up Front” - Drum Major - from 1999 to 2001. Dr. Whitmore received his master's degree in music with an emphasis in wind conducting from California State University Fullerton studying under Dr. Mitchell Fennell. Dr. Whitmore holds a master’s degree, and a doctorate in music and music education from Columbia University (Teachers College) in the city of New York.
Dr. Whitmore has conducted ensembles in such notable concert venues as The Golden Hall of The Musikverein (Vienna), The Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna), The MuTh (Vienna), Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (Costa Mesa), Symphony Hall (Chicago), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Carnegie Hall (New York City), Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), Meng Hall (Fullerton, California), Holy Trinity Church (Stratford, England), St. John ’s Smith Square (London ), Chateau Vaux le Vicomte (Paris), and Heidelberg Castle (Germany). Under Dr. Whitmore ’s direction, the Cathedral City High School Symphony Band was selected to perform as the showcase ensemble during the 2008 California Band Directors Association Annual Convention. Dr. Whitmore is the Second Place Winner of the 2017 American Prize in Conducting.
Dr. Whitmore belongs to professional organizations that include College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, The National Association for Music Education, Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, and the California Music Educators Association.
With a research interest in music educator values as operationalized into pedagogy, in addition to investigating the concert band as an artistic medium; Dr. Whitmore has presented research at music education symposia in the United States and abroad. Dr. Whitmore’s research has been published in Visions of Research in Music Education. Dr. Whitmore is a recognized member of Academic Key’s Who’s Who in Community College Education, as well as four editions of Who’s Who Among America ’s Teachers. Dr. Whitmore has been included in the 2005/2006 Edition of the National Honor Roll ’s Outstanding American Teachers. Dr. Whitmore was selected to represent the State of California by School Band and Orchestra Magazine in the 2008 edition of “50 Band Directors Who Make A Difference” .
Learn more about Dr. Whitmore at gwhitmore.com
Dr. Christine Lundahl, Associate Director of Instrumental Studies, La Sierra University
Dr. Christine Lundahl is a dynamic and accomplished conductor with a wealth of experience working with ensembles of all levels. She recently moved to Southern California and joined La Sierra University as Associate Director of Instrumental Studies, conducting the Symphony Orchestra and assisting with the Wind Ensemble and Golden Eagle Pep Band. Additionally, she maintains an active trumpet studio and is highly sought-after as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.
Prior to her appointment at La Sierra, Dr. Lundahl resided in Ashland, Oregon where she was the Director of Bands at Southern Oregon University, the Artistic Director of the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band, and the conductor of the Ashland City Band. Under her baton, the SOU Wind Ensemble achieved prominence within the state and was invited to perform at the Oregon Music Educators Association Conference. Passionate about the next generation of musicians, she reinvigorated a thriving high school honor band program, worked with countless schools throughout the nation, and was a champion of young conductors through dedicated podium time.
Dr. Lundahl completed a DMA in Wind Band Conducting at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of world-renowned conductor, Michael Haithcock. Her research and publications delve into the topics of diverse programming and music education in Title 1 public schools. Her education includes an MM in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida and a BME in Music Education from Florida State University.
Dr. Lundahl served four years as the Director of Bands at Liberty High School in Kissimmee and two years as the Director of Band and Orchestra at Westridge Middle School in Orlando, Florida. She is an active performer, playing trumpet with the Rogue Valley Symphony, Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra, Florida Wind Band, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Hollingsworth Winds, and cornet and tenor horn with the Brass Band of Central Florida.
Ricardo Espinosa
Ricardo Espinosa most recently served as the Interim Associate Director of Bands at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Espinosa was the Director of Bands at Missouri Southern State University, leading and growing the program to wide acclaim. He was the principal conductor of the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band and directed the Lion Pride Marching Band and Lion Pride Pep Band. He instructed both beginning conducting and advanced instrumental conducting courses, composition, music technology, and marching band techniques/methods courses. He also composed and arranged for various ensembles. During his tenure in Missouri he conducted the SWMMEA District Honor Band, the SEKMEA District Honor Band, and the Texas UIL Region 14 top band - The Honor Winds.
Before moving to Missouri he served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. For six years he was an essential part of this prominent band program, leading their Courtside Players pep band to venues across the nation, serving as Associate Director of the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band, and teaching conducting courses to hundreds of students. He also served as faculty sponsor for Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, the national honorary band fraternity and sorority.
Dr. Espinosa currently serves on the Board of Directors for Vanguard Music & Performing Arts, a member of Drum Corps International. He has also been a Trumpet/Brass instructor for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Espinosa holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Master of Music degree, both in wind conducting, from the University of California, Los Angeles, studying with Dr. Thomas Lee. Additionally, Dr. Espinosa earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the California State University, Los Angeles, where he also studied wind conducting with Dr. Abel Saldivar Ramirez and composition with Dr. John Kennedy and Dr. Sara Graef. He has served in trumpet instruction and band leadership roles for the UCLA Marching Band, the Pasadena City College Lancer Marching Band, the Tournament of Roses Band and Herald Trumpets, and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and for various California high school bands.
Ricardo Espinosa recently moved back to Los Angeles and has enjoyed his time as a freelance composer, conductor, teacher, and father with his wife, Michelle, and sons Ethan & Lucas.
Giovanni Santos
Giovanni Santos serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at La Sierra University, where he directs the University Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, Big Band, and teaches courses in graduate and undergraduate instrumental music education, popular music, conducting and composition.
Dr. Santos has proudly implemented a yearly wind band conducting workshop at La Sierra University and has worked alongside H. Robert Reynolds, Thomas Lee, Larry Livingston, Travis Cross and Allan McMurray, helping some of the brightest young music educators in the United States. Santos also organizes yearly workshops. clinics and conversations with conductors and composers, such as Frank Ticheli, Mallory Thompson, and most recently, Maestro Leonard Slatkin. A strong advocate for music education, Santos frequently presents at conferences, school in-service days, classrooms, and as clinician for young ensembles across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Most recently, Dr. Santos presented at the Midwest Clinic’s High School Leadership Institute, California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC), for the California Music Educators Association’s ‘Casting a Wider in Net’ at Azusa Pacific University, for the North American Division National Teachers Convention, the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, CBDNA National Convention in Arizona, for the 2019 SCSBOA Professional Development Conference, and for the World Association of Symphonic Band and Ensemble International Conference (WASBE) in Prague. Santos also maintains a busy guest conducting/clinician schedule, with recent residencies at the Manhattan School of Music, University of the Pacific, Cal State University (Fullerton), University of Illinois (Chicago), the University of Connecticut and for the Association of Concert Bands conference in Orlando.
As a composer, Santos has premiered his works across the United States, Asia and Europe, including a premiere with the United States Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. under his baton. His works have received premieres and performances by ensembles at the University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Michigan State University, University of North Texas, Florida State University, University of Florida, Yale, Ball State University, Oklahoma State University, UCLA, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Illinois State University, Tanglewood Young Artist Wind Ensemble, Interlochen World Youth Wind Symphony and many more. His works for wind ensemble, orchestra, chamber music, and solo wind instruments are published exclusively by Murphy Music Press, LLC. His compositions and passion for music education have received many recognitions, including a Meritorious Achievement Award by the Minority Band Directors National Association for “exceptional contributions to the wind band repertory.”
Dr. Santos earned graduate degrees from the University of Southern California (MM) and Florida State University (PhD).
