2023 Conducting Symposium

Dr. Brittan Braddock completed her D.M.A. in Wind Conducting and Literature at the University of Colorado Boulder after earning her M.A. in Wind Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) from Concordia University Chicago. She comes to Mercer from the University of West Florida’s Dr. Grier Williams School of Music, where she served as visiting assistant professor, director of bands and music education. She is active nationally and internationally as a conductor, clinician, presenter, clarinetist, and adjudicator. Passionate about mentoring the next generation of conductors, she is a co-chair of the mentorship committee through Women Band Directors International. As a clarinetist, she has performed with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Winds, the International Youth Wind Ensemble, and at Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Wind Orchestra. She taught music and band in the public school systems in Chicago, IL. and Westcliffe, CO. and is dedicated to inspiring young musicians and future music educators.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Dr. Tom Davoren has held conducting positions with famous British style brass bands including the Fairey and Desford Colliery bands, as well as winning the 2014 section 1 National Brass Band Championship with his own band, Filton. He taught conducting and directed bands at the University of Salford from 2015 to 2019 and has appeared as a guest conductor, composer, and adjudicator in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Serving as Director of Bands at Benedictine College since 2021 he supervises the band area, teaches courses in conducting, and conducts the wind ensemble, concert band, brass band, and percussion ensemble.

Noted performances of Tom’s music have been given by the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, ‘The President’s Own’ United States Marine Band, United States Air Force Concert Band, ‘West Point’ Band of the United States Military Academy, Bands of the British Royal Air Force and Royal Corps of Army Music, trumpet soloist Jens Lindemann, and euphonium soloists Hiram Daiz and Steven Mead to name a few. His music is performed wherever bands play, including multiple times at New York’s Carnegie Hall, at CBDNA, ITEA, and ITG conferences, and at the WASBE, Jeju, and WMC international festivals. There are over 25 commercial recordings of Tom’s music, his ‘A Midwestern Suite’ was awarded the National Band Association Merrill Jones Composition Prize for 2020 and was performed at the Midwest Clinic 2021. His ‘Kneller’s Legacy’ was commissioned in 2021 to commemorate the decommissioning of the British Army School of Music at Kneller Hall, he composed a fanfare to open the National Assembly for Wales in 2016, and his piece ‘Legacy’ commemorated the 75th Birthday of the British National Health Service with a performance at the Houses of Parliament.

Tom completed his doctorate in wind conducting at the University of Kansas, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Popiel, and holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in composition from Cardiff University School of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Dr. Emily Moss will be joining the University of New Mexico as a Professor of Music and the Director of Bands starting in August 2023. She is currently the Director of Bands at California State University in Los Angeles. As Director of Bands, she conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses and conducting, and oversees the Instrumental Area. Prior to her current position, she conducted the Wind Ensemble and taught courses in music education for the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Moss began her collegiate music studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. After teaching middle school band for six years, Dr. Moss served as a teaching assistant with the University Bands at the University of Northern Colorado, earning her Master’s degree in Wind Conducting and the Doctor of Arts in Music Education and Bassoon Performance, studying with Kenneth Singleton, Richard Mayne, and Charles Hanson.

As a conductor and clinician, Dr. Moss is in high demand across the United States and Canada, and regularly gives band clinics at middle and high schools throughout Southern California. Her style of teaching and rehearsing shows everyone in the room her commitment to music education, specifically to the musical skills and high-level performance ability of each student with which she gets to work. She is also an accomplished bassoonist, actively performing during her degree programs in Washington and Colorado, with the Conservatory Orchestra and other ensembles at Brooklyn College, and for student and faculty recitals at Cal State LA.

Dr. Moss has presented at conferences across the United States on topics ranging from effective rehearsing and good ensemble tone to practical tips for non-percussionist band directors. Her professional memberships include College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) where she serves as the President of the Western Division, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) where she serves on the Board of Directors, National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), California Band Directors Association (CBDA), and the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi.

“I could not be more thrilled to be joining the faculty at UNM as the Director of Bands. Their reputation of excellence was a huge draw, and to have the opportunity to continue the stellar legacy of Eric Rombach-Kendall and the other exceptional former DOBs is an incredible honor. Joining the team of amazing colleagues and students that make up the department and band program is a dream for me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!” – Dr. Emily Moss