Full Schedule
2026 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference, February 19-21
Ritmos y Vientos: Honoring Traditions and Expanding Horizons
Thursday, February 19, 2026
7:00 AM – TBA: ON-SITE REGISTRATION, USF Concert Hall Lobby
Active CBDNA Membership Required for Collegiate Band Directors
CBDNA RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS, MUS 207 & Barness Recital Hall
8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Julia Perry: Life, Legacy, and Symphony No. 6 for Band (1966) – Patty Saunders, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MUS 207)
- Banda Nacional de Conciertos de La Habana, Cuba: History & Repertoire – Darrell Brown, Georgia Southern University & Jeffrey Hadfield, West Virginia University (Barness Recital Hall)
8:30 – 8:55 AM
- A String of Perle's: The Forgotten Symphony for Band by George Perle – Benjamin Pouncey, University of South Carolina (MUS 207)
- Quintessentially Cuban: Identifying the Characteristics of Cuban Wind Music and Best Practices for an Authentic Performance – David Ramos, University of Miami (Barness Recital Hall)
9:00 – 9:25 AM
- An Examination of Influences on Collegiate Music Teacher Identity – Jay Juchniewicz, East Carolina University & Steven N. Kelly, °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ State University (MUS 207)
- From One Repertoire to Two: How American Wind Band Repertoire Separated between High School and College Bands – Jason Ladd, Nicholls State University (Barness Recital Hall)
9:30 – 9:55 AM: COFFEE BREAK – Concert Hall Lobby
Sponsored by the Stetson University School of Music
10:00 – 10:25 AM: CBDNA/NBA GENERAL SESSION, Barness Recital Hall
- Opening Remarks & Business Meeting
10:30 – 11:15 AM: CBDNA/NBA GENERAL SESSION, Barness Recital Hall
- Beyond the Clave: Unlocking the Nuances of Latin American Music for Wind Ensembles,
Guest Artist, José Valentino
A deep dive into the rhythmic, harmonic, and stylistic intricacies of Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Venezuelan, Argentine, and Caribbean wind ensemble repertoire.
11:15 – 1:00 PM: LUNCH
1:00 – 1:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Barber Middle School
Robert Grogan, Conductor
1:30 – 2:00 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Bumpus Middle School
Josh Lynch, Conductor
2:00 – 2:30 PM: WATER / SNACK BREAK – Concert Hall Lobby
Sponsored by the University of North °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ School of Music
2:30 – 3:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Ocean Springs High School
Kevin Shira, Conductor
3:30 – 4:00 PM: WATER / SNACK BREAK – Concert Hall Lobby
Sponsored by the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Southern College Bands
4:00 – 5:00 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Austin Peay State University Wind Ensemble
John Schnettler, Conductor
5:00 – 6:45 PM: DINNER
7:00 – 8:00 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, University of Central °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Wind Ensemble
Scott Lubaroff, Conductor
8:30 – 9:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Wind Ensemble
Matthew McCutchen, Conductor, featuring José Valentino on Ricardo Lorenz’s Found Connections Concerto
9:30 – 10:30 PM: RECEPTION – Concert Hall Lobby & Conference Room
Sponsored by the University of Central °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Band; Live music by USF Jazz Combo
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026
7:30 AM – TBA: ON-SITE REGISTRATION, USF Concert Hall Lobby
Active CBDNA Membership Required for Collegiate Band Directors
CBDNA RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS, MUS 207 & Barness Recital Hall
8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Conductor STRONG: How to Avoid Injuries, Pain, and Unnecessary Surgeries – Justin White, Scott Mullen, MK Campbell, University of Georgia (MUS 207)
- More than the ‘Second’ Band: Cultivating a Unique Culture in Every Ensemble – Marc Decker, °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Atlantic University & Tremon Kizer, University of Central °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ (Barness Recital Hall)
8:30 – 8:55 AM
- Band Director Burnout: The Signs to Be Aware Of, and How to Heal from Them – Marcus Morris, University of Georgia (MUS 207)
- More than Music: Building Community Through Collaborative Wind Band Projects – Jack Eaddy, University of Georgia & Chandler Wilson, Stetson University (Barness Recital Hall)
9:00 – 9:25 AM
- Marching into the Future: Using AI to Power Social Media Campaigns for College Band Programs – Sean Murray, University of Alabama at Birmingham (MUS 207)
- Conducting Without the Ensemble: A High-Impact, Research-Based Model for Small Conducting Classes – Cliff Towner, Georgia College and State University (Barness Recital Hall)
9:30 – 9:55 AM: COFFEE BREAK – Concert Hall Lobby
Sponsored by the University of Louisville Bands in memory of Brad Rogers
10:00 – 10:45 AM: CBDNA/NBA GENERAL SESSION, USF Concert Hall
- Revolutionizing Music Education: Improvisation as a Core Competency for Wind Musicians,
Guest Clinician José Valentino with the USF Symphonic Band, Guest Artist, José Valentino
Breaking traditional barriers, empowering musicians to develop improvisational fluency in Latin jazz, classical, and contemporary settings.
11:00 – 11:45 AM: CBDNA/NBA GENERAL SESSION, Barness Recital Hall
- COMPOSER FORUM
11:45 – 1:45 PM: LUNCH
2:00 – 3:00 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Youth Performing Arts School of Louisville
Kevin Callihan, Conductor
3:00 – 3:30 PM: WATER / SNACK BREAK – Concert Hall Lobby
Sponsored by the FAMU Department of Music
3:30 – 4:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Appalachian State University Wind Ensemble
John Stanley Ross, Conductor
5:00 – 6:30 PM: CBDNA/NBA BANQUET – Conference Center (Pre-Registration Required)
7:00 – 8:00 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble
Margaret Underwood, Conductor
8:30 – 9:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ State University Wind Ensemble
Patrick Dunnigan, Conductor
9:30 – 10:30 PM: RECEPTION – USF Concert Hall Lobby & Conference Room
Sponsored by FSU College of Music; Live Music by José Valentino Band
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026
7:00 – 7:55 AM Doughnuts & Coffee, USF Conference Center
Sponsored by the University of °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Bands on behalf of José Valentino
Live Piano Music Kenny Haelsig, Pianist from the Bern’s Steakhouse Dessert Room
8:00 – 8:25 AM CBDNA/NBA SESSION, Barness Recital Hall
- The Entrepreneurial Musician: Navigating Business, Branding, and Financial Sustainability,
Guest Artist José Valentino
Practical strategies for musicians and educators to build successful careers through business acumen, branding, and revenue generation in the modern music industry.
8:30 – 9:30 AM CBDNA/NBA SESSION, Choral Rehearsal Hall
- Juried Marching Band Presentations (Six Collegiate Marching Band Programs to be Featured)
10:00 –11:00 AM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, Tara Winds
Andrea Strauss, Conductor
11:00 – 11:30 AM: BREAK
Sponsored by the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Chapter of CBDNA
11:30 – 12:30 PM: CONCERT – USF Concert Hall, James Madison University Wind Symphony
Christopher Cicconi, Conductor
12:30 PM: CONFERENCE CONCLUDES – Safe Travels!