Ben Northey is the conductor clinician for a seminar, master class and video workshop for school band directors. We are proud to be able to celebrate Ben’s appointment as Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This special event is presented by The Grainger Wind Symphony in partnership with the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association (Victoria branch). Ben’s services is provided by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the event is assisted with sponsorship from Allans Music + Billy Hydes.

On Wednesday 8 June, at 5.30pm the public Seminar has Ben talking and answering questions about Exploring the Art of Conducting. At 6.30pm, the full participants have a public Conducting Master Class with Ben as clinician but without piano or any instrumentalists. At 7.30pm finger food is provides free. From 8.30pm each full participant in turn conducts The Grainger Wind Symphony in a public Video Workshop with maestro Northey as clinician.

All three sessions are open to the public. You are all encouraged to come to congratulate Ben for his appointment and learn from his experiences in music and conducting from his youth in Ballarat to his studies at University of Melbourne with John Hopkins and at the Sibelius Academy in Finland.  Entry fee includes membership of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association (Victoria). Apply to come by the due date so catering can be arranged for you

Full participants will conduct in the one hour Master Class a concert band work of their choice, and conduct the same in front of The Grainger Wind Symphony with about 12 minutes of podium time. There is a strict limit of 8 full participants. The first eight places will go to the suitable applicants who pay their fee first. Applications for full participants will close on Friday 1 June.

The venue is the De Young Performing Arts Centre at Carey Baptist Grammar School, 349 Barkers Road, Kew.

Application form, fees and more information can be download from the GWS website, www.graingerwindsymphony.asn.au.