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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Minnesota Area Conducting Workshop

Choral & Instrumental Sessions

Southwest Minnesota State University
June 22 - 24, 2026

Register for Workshop


This workshop is offered Free of Charge to all Music Educators!

Application Deadline - May 30, 2026 

Graduate Seminar Credit will again be available.  

Contact Dr. John Ginocchio for more information

Purpose

All musicians know that learning to sing or play an instrument at an advanced level takes years of practice, assessment, and feedback.  This is no less true for conducting, but most university programs cannot offer more than two conducting classes for undergraduates. 

The purpose of the Minnesota Area Conducting Workshop is to provide Minnesota music educators with a forum in which they can practice their conducting skills, receive feedback from trained conductors, discuss issues in music education, and network with other Minnesota music educators in a musical and supportive environment.

Choral Workshop Repertoire

To be announced in May

Instrumental Workshop Repertoire (2025)

Literature for 2026 will be announced in April.

Grade 1

  1. Silver Skies by Mekel Rogers
  2. NIght Fury by Carol Brittin Chambers
  3. Ember Skies by Kevin Day

Grade 2

  1. (not) alone by Randall Standridge
  2. Cloud Nine by Lauren Bernofsky
  3. Lullaby to the Moon by Brian Balmages

Grade 3

  1. Jumpscare Tango by Roshanne Etezady
  2. Summit by Kevin Day
  3. Dum Spiro Spero by Chris Pilsner

Grade 4

  1. Sahuaro (from Little Mexican Suite) by Nubia Jaime Donjuan
  2. Lyric for Band by George Walker (arr. Luci Disano)

Clinicians

This is a picture of Dr. John Ginocchio, Director of Bands at SMSU and lead instrumental clincian for the workshop.

Dr. John Ginocchio
Professor of Music/Director of Bands
Southwest Minnesota State University

This is a picture of Dr. Stephen Kingsbury, the Director of Choral Activities at SMSU and the lead choral clinician for the workshop.

Dr .Stephen Kingsbury
Director of Choral Activities
Southwest Minnesota State University

Instrumental Co-clinician 

 This is a picture of Dr. Benjamin Druffel, Director of Bands at Minnesota State University in Moorhead, and the instrumental co-clinician for the 2025 workshop. 

Dr. Cassandra Bechard
Director of Bands
University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN

Choral Co-clinician 

 picture of Dr. Richard Carrick

Dr. Richard Carrick
Director of Choral Activities
College of St. Scholastica, Duluth

Lodging for the Workshop

Southwest Minnesota State University Residential Life offers accommodations in the Foundation Resident Apartments for workshop participants. The apartments are located adjacent to the main campus. Units contain up to three bedrooms with a common gathering area. Workshop participants may use these facilities at a cost of approximately $30.00 per day per person. Please note that availability is limited.

Contact Jessica Bentley at (507) 537-6460 to reserve space in the apartments.

In addition, two hotels are located within easy walking distance of campus:
• EverSpring Inn & Suites (507) 532-3221
• Quality Inn (507) 532-3070
Two additional hotels are a short distance from campus:
• AmericInn (507) 537-9424
• Sleep Inn (507) 337-0103

Contact Information

For more information on the Minnesota Area Conducting Workshop, contact:

Dr. John Ginocchio
(507) 537-7209
John.Ginocchio@smsu.edu
or
Dr. Stephen Kingsbury
(507) 537-7247
Stephen.Kingsbury@smsu.edu

Last Modified: 1/27/26 1:00 PM | Website Feedback