Conducting

Thomas McCauley conducts the Montclair State University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. Ensembles under Dr. McCauley’s direction have appeared at national and regional conventions and conferences. He has collaborated with artists including the Imani Winds, Manhattan Brass Quintet, Warren Vaché, Demondrae Thurman, and Phil Smith, and been praised by composers including Karel Husa, David Gillingham, Joseph Turrin, Bruce Yurko, and O’Neal Douglas. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Windhaven; an intensive, week-long performance opportunity for wind players and percussionists ages 18-28 (Kinhaven Music School, VT). His publications include articles in The Instrumentalist, a chapter in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, 2nd Ed., Vol I, and a book, Adventures in Band Building (or How to Turn a Less-Than-It-Could-Be into a More-Than-It-Should-Be). In 1995, the Nevada Music Educator’s Association named him Music Educator of the Year and in 2006, the Indiana Music Educators Association honored Dr. McCauley with an Outstanding University Music Educator Award. Dr. McCauley currently serves on the Executive Board of the New Jersey Band Association, the New Jersey State Representative of the College Band Directors National Association, and is the former New Jersey State Representative of the National Band Association. He is also an active member of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and the National Association for Music Education.

Heather J. Buchanan, PhD, conducts the 170-voice Chorale, 60-voice University Singers, and 24-voice Vocal Accord. Choirs under her direction have won critical acclaim for their “vibrant sound,” “eloquence”, and for singing with the “crispness and dexterity of a professional choir.” Her choirs have collaborated with many international artists including Meredith Monk, Mícheál ÓSúílleabháin, Tarik O’Regan, Joseph Flummerfelt, Sarah Hopkins, Chen Yi, members of the Vienna Philharmonic strings, Richard Alston Dance Company, and conductors Neeme Järvi, Jacques LaCombe, John Maucceri, and Susie Benchail Seiter with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Buchanan holds degrees from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Australia), Westminster Choir College of Rider University (U.S.), and the University of New England (Australia). A licensed Andover Educator, she teaches Body Mapping and somatic pedagogy for musicians. Her publications include co-editing and compiling Teaching Music through Performance in Choir (GIA), a chapter in Teaching Singing in the 21st Century (Springer), a DVD Evoking Sound: Body Mapping & Gesture Fundamentals (GIA), and choral octavos in the Evoking Sound Choral Series (GIA). A vibrant teacher, dynamic performer and passionate musicians’ health advocate, Dr. Buchanan is in demand as a guest conductor, somatic educator and choral clinician in the U.S. and abroad.

New York City-based conductor Kyle Ritenauer is quickly becoming a rising presence in the classical music world. Kyle is currently on the conducting staff of the Manhattan School of Music, conducts regularly at The Juilliard School, and works with orchestras across the nation. This season Kyle makes appearances as a finalist for music director of both the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and NYC’s Camerata Notturna. Ritenauer has worked with organizations including Opera de Montreal, Orchestra Metropolitan, Des Moines Opera, the Utah Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, among many others. Kyle is a graduate of The Juilliard School.