2026 Conducting Symposium

Dr. Dylan Maddix is originally from Summerside, Prince Edward Island and is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s. In this role, he conducts the Memorial University Wind Ensemble and Concert Winds, teaches conducting at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition to his work at Memorial, he serves as Artistic Director of CALOS Youth Orchestras.  

Prior to his appointment at Memorial, Dr. Maddix was Professor of Music and Head of Wind and Brass Studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, where he conducted the Cambrian Wind Ensemble and taught courses in music theory, wind/brass methods, and pedagogy. He also served on the conducting faculty at Laurentian University.

An active leader in the Canadian band community, Dr. Maddix serves on the Board of Directors for the Newfoundland and Labrador Band Association and is a past Chair of the Canadian Band Association. He is also the founder and co-host of The Band Room Podcast with composer Cait Nishimura, and the host of Changing Your Pattern, a podcast exploring leadership and conducting.

A Yamaha True North Master Educator, Dr. Maddix has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for ensembles across Canada, including work with the CBC Music Class Challenge, MusicFest Canada, and the National Music Festival. He has adjudicated and conducted honour bands in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, and has also contributed his expertise as a conducting and music consultant for television productions such as Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy and Global TV’s Private Eyes.

As a versatile and accomplished trumpeter, Dr. Maddix has performed with artists and ensembles including Sarah McLachlan, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, The Video Games Live Orchestra, Johnny Reid, The Broadway Tenors, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, the Toronto Concert Orchestra, Hogtown Brass Quintet, and the Vox Aeris Trio.

Dr. Maddix enjoys presenting clinics and workshops and is known for his work integrating Servant Leadership principles into conducting and music education. Recognized as a conducting pedagogue, he leads the Memorial University Wind Conducting Workshop each October. 

Dr. Maddix holds a Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison University, a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Toronto, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from Arizona State University. 

Dr. Kristen Zelenak is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of North Florida and serves as the Interim Director of Bands. She teaches the UNF Wind Symphony, “Sound of the Sky” Osprey Pep Band, conducting classes, and applied lessons.

 

Zelenak is an active educator, conductor, and chamber musician from New Baltimore, Michigan. She maintains an active schedule as a concert and marching band clinician and adjudicator. Along with her conducting endeavors, she also performs with her saxophone/piano duo, ZelenArch and teaches saxophone at Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach.

 

Her favorite projects include commissioning new works from composers of “non classical” spheres. Her debut saxophone album Taking Flight is set to release soon, and it features composers Annie Booth, Ayn Inserto, Katelyn Vincent, Aida de Moya, Yoko Suzuki, and Sam Spear. As a continuation of the project, she is leading a consortium with Annie Booth for a new work for concert band in Fall 2025.

 

Prior to her appointment at UNF, she was the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She received her DMA in Saxophone Performance and MM in Wind Band Conducting from Arizona State University. Her MM in Saxophone Performance from Michigan State University and her BME at Central Michigan University. Her teachers include Jason Caslor, Christopher Creviston, Joseph Lulloff, and John Nichol. Prior to finishing her advanced degrees, she taught middle school band in Huntsville, TX.

Dr. Erin Bodnar is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the University of North Florida where she conducts the Wind Symphony, leads the graduate wind band conducting program and provides administrative leadership for the UNF Bands. Under Dr. Bodnar’s baton, the UNF Wind Symphony performed at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in January 2025, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Buñol, Spain in July 2019. The UNF NuMIX, co-directed by Dr. Bodnar and Dr. Venet, performed at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference in February, 2022. Prior to her appointment at UNF, Dr. Bodnar was Director of Bands at Graceland University for four years during which time the Symphonic Band performed at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. During 2013-2014, Dr. Bodnar was the conductor of the Wind Symphony and Orchestra at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Bodnar maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician, traveling to Argentina, Thailand, Indonesia, and throughout the United States and Canada. Dr. Bodnar has contributed to A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band, Volume 5, the GIA Teaching Music Through Performance Series for Volume 7 and the revised Volume 1. She excelled at teaching both middle and high school band in Alberta, Canada for which she received the Keith Mann Young Band Director’s Award and the Edwin Parr First Year Teacher Award. Dr. Bodnar has presented at conferences in Canada, the United States, Scotland, Thailand and Austria. Her research interests include conducting pedagogy and motor cognition, and her articles have been published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education and Music Perception. An avid runner and group fitness instructor, Dr. Bodnar has completed 63 marathons, including 6 Boston marathons, ten 50 km races and one 100 km race.