Conducting Workshop Annual Summit at Butler University

Registration/Application opens: November 7, 2026

Conducting Participant applicants notified of acceptance: December 12, 2026

Summit Dates: February 19–21, 2027

• Friday, February 19 – 5:30–9:00 PM
• Saturday, February 20 – 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Sunday, February 21 – Noon–2:30 PM
  • 3:00 PM, Butler University Wind Ensemble Concert, Schrott Center for the Arts

Registration/Application opens on November 7, 2026 (for Conducting Participants and Auditors).

A registration link will be shared on this website and on our social platforms for all interested in applying. Once the application is received, a confirmation email will be sent within 24 hours. Final acceptance of conductors will be notified by December 12, 2026.

Cost (due at registration)

$250 for Conducting Participants, includes:

1. Conducting three times throughout the weekend with feedback from the clinicians
2. All lecture and discussions
3. Thiry minutes of conducting time and feedback with clinicians

$50 for Auditors, includes:

1. Observing and attending the conducting, lecture and discussion sessions
2. Opportunity to develop, refine, and nurture individual conducting and rehearsing techniques through observation, personal note taking, and reflection

Stephen Meyer is currently the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Northern Arizona University. He is also the music director for The Tempe Winds and on the conducting staff for the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras. While at NAU, the Wind Symphony has been twice invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Regional Conference, and the Lumberjack Marching Band performed at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Meyer previously served on the faculties of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and the University of South Carolina. During his tenure as Director of Bands at Clear Creek High School, the Clear Creek Wind Ensemble was a featured performer at The Midwest Clinic (2013), a three-time National Winner in the National Wind Band Honors project, and a two-time national finalist for The American Prize in Wind Ensemble Performance. Before Clear Creek, Meyer taught at Harrison High School in Cobb County, Georgia, where he assisted with performances at The Midwest Clinic (2007), the Georgia Music Educators Association conference, and the University of Georgia. With Meyer as co-director of the marching band, the ensemble was a consistent Bands of America Regional and Super Regional Finalist, a BOA Grand National Finalist in 2007, and invited to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2009. Meyer graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He earned a master’s degree in music education and a doctorate in wind band conducting from the University of Michigan. Meyer is the author of Rehearsing the High School Band, volumes 1 and 2, Rehearsing the Middle School Band, and Rehearsing the Marching Band

Dr. Trae Blanco currently serves as Director of Bands in the School of Music at Butler University. His teaching responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaching undergraduate and graduate conducting, and overseeing the band program. Previously, Dr. Blanco has served as  the Director of Bands at Murray State University, and the University of Southern Maine; where he was the conductor of the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, Casco Bay Wind Symphony, and cover conductor for the Portland (ME) Symphony.

A native New Mexican, Dr. Blanco received his undergraduate degree in music education from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, a Master of Music in conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied with Professor Stephen Pratt, and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from The Herberger Institute at Arizona State University. Dr. Blanco also served as Director of Bands at Las Cruces High School, where both the jazz ensemble and wind ensemble were selected as Honor Bands for the New Mexico All-State Convention in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

As a clinician, Dr. Blanco has worked with bands and orchestras in Maine, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as presented at state conferences in Maine, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Dr. Blanco served as the conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra for the annual Quad State String Day at Murray State, as well as the Paducah Symphony Summer Music Camp Orchestra in 2019. In summer of 2019, Dr. Blanco was an invited presenter to The Midwest International Clinic, and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Bunol, Spain. He currently serves as a conductor for the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, directing the Symphony Band, and Festival Band for the Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival. Dr. Blanco has served as a leadership clinician to marching bands throughout the country including Texas State University, Murray State University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Pearland High School. In 2023, Dr. Blanco was invited to conduct the Maine All State Band.

A strong proponent for new music, Dr. Blanco has commissioned new music for winds from Jim (James) Bonney, Steven Bryant, Aaron Perrine, Roshanne Etezady, Onsby Rose, Steve Danyew, James Syler, Jim Stephenson, Brett Kroening, David Dzubay, and others. Dr. Blanco’s research on BCM International has appeared in the National Band Association Journal and the WASBE Journal.

Dr. Blanco was the recipient of the New Mexico Music Educators New and Emerging Teacher Award for 2010. He is currently a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, College Band Directors Association, WASBE, NBA, and the Percussive Arts Society. He has continued conducting studies with workshops across the country and in July 2015, Dr. Blanco was a guest conductor with the United States Army “Pershing’s Own” Concert Band in Washington, D.C. In both 2015 and 2016 Dr. Blanco was a finalist in the American Prize in Wind Conducting. Currently, Dr. Blanco resides in Indianapolis, IN, with his wife, Kelsey, and their two children, Ophelia and Ellis.

Conducting Participants

Potential Conducting Participants must include the following on their registration/application form:

• CV/Resume uploaded as a PDF file named as follows: first name initial and full last name. Ex.: TBlanco_CV.
• Shareable link to a 10-minute video of applicant conducting. For the video, ensemble ability is not of a concern, rather the focus will be on the abilities of the conductor to engage with the players and enhance their performance/rehearsal. NOTE: Please verify that the sharing permissions on your video are updated so that anyone with link can view.
• Conducting Participant registration/application submissions will be reviewed immediately. We will notify applicants by December 12, 2026 of acceptance. We will accept a total of 20 Conducting Participants, but will have unlimited Auditors/Observers.

Auditors/Observers

Auditors must complete the event registration form and submit payment via credit card. No separate application requirements for this level of participation.

In-Person Conducting with Lecture Sessions and Video Reviews directly after your conducting round.

2027 Repertoire TBD

FRIDAY, Ben Davis High School Wind Symphony. Patrick Van Arsdale, conductor

SATURDAY MORNING, Butler University Wind Ensemble Chamber Players, Trae Blanco, conductor

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Butler University Wind Ensemble, Trae Blanco, conductor 

Score Purchase
Workshop participants can purchase scores from Gateway Sheet Music. Select the Butler University Conducting Workshop and select the scores you wish to purchase.

We encourage all workshop participants to research hotel and lodging options in the Indianapolis area, preferably near the university. You will want to book your reservation as soon as notified of your acceptance. Please view hotel information on either the Butler Hotel Partners webpage or the Visit Indy Hotels section. 

If you need to park on campus, we recommend parking in the Sunset Avenue garage north of Schrott Center for the Arts.

Please contact:

• Dr. Trae Blanco, Director of University Bands, tblanco@butler.edu 
• Collin Cerney, graduate teaching assistant, ccerny@butler.edu 
• Ryan Mack, graduate teaching assistant, rlmack@butler.edu