Spring Conference History
É«É«À² Michigan University's Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music was first held April 12, 1969, when Miller Auditorium was one year old. It was the brainchild of Carl Bjerregarrd, who conducted the University Wind Ensemble from 1968 to 1976 and was director of bands from 1972 to 1976. Subsequent conferences have been hosted by Eddie Green (1977 to 1979), Richard Suddendorf (1980 to 1991), Jeffrey Renshaw (1992 to 1993), Robert Spradling (1994 to 2013), and Scott Boerma (2014 to present). School of Music Associate Director Carl Doubleday coordinated logistics for the first 42 conferences (1969 to 2010), and Director of Concerts Kevin West has done so since 2011.
Previous guest composers and conductors
+ new work premiered
1969 John Barnes Chance +
1970 Clifton Williams +, Phillip Rhodes, Robert W. Jones +, Paul Harder
1971 H. Owen Reed +, Robert Jager +, Robert Washburn +, Ramon Zupko +, William Penn
1972 Vincent Persichetti
1973 W. Francis McBeth, Irving Kane, William Penn
1974 Karel Husa
1975 Frederick Fennell, Jere Hutcheson, Kenneth Snoeck, Ramon Zupko
1976 William D. Revelli, Fisher A. Tull
1977 Norman Dello Joio
1978 Ron Nelson
1979 Vincent Persichetti
1980 Robert Jager
1981 Fischer Tull
1982 Martin Mailman
1983 Karel Husa
1984 James Curnow
1985 Claude T. Smith
1986 Elliot Del Borgo
1987 Anthony Iannaccone
1988 Fischer Tull
1989 James Barnes
1990 Timothy Broege
1991 Timothy Mahr
1992 Frank Ticheli
1993 Anthony Iannaccone +
1994 Mark Camphouse
1995 David Maslanka +
1996 Jack Stamp
1997 Stephen Melillo
1998 David Gillingham
1999 Roger Cichy
2000 Robert W. Smith
2001 Eric Ewazen
2002 Thomas C. Duffy
2003 David R. Holsinger
2004 Eric Whitacre
2005 Andrew Boysen
2006 Michael Daugherty
2007 Eric Ewazen
2008 Samuel R. Hazo
2009 Brian Balmages
2010 Robert Sheldon
2011 Philip Sparke
2012 Jack Stamp
2013 Steven Bryant
2014 John Mackey
2015 Dana Wilson
2016 Frank Ticheli
2017 Steven Bryant
2018 Michael Markowski +
2019 Carter Pann +
2020 Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Conference not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Julie Giroux
2023 David Biedenbender
2024 Kevin Day
Previous guest ensembles
1969 Sturgis High School Symphony Band , Ann Arbor High School Symphony Band, MSBOA District 6 All-Star Band
1970 Otsego High School Wind Ensemble, Muskegon High School Symphonic Band, Cass Tech Symphony Band, MSBOA District 11 All-Star Band
1971 Grosse Pointe South High School Symphony Band, Plymouth High School Symphony Band, MSBOA District 10 All-Star Band
1972 Vicksburg High School Band, Ferris State College Youth Symphony Band, East Lansing High School Wind Ensemble, MSBOA District 6 All-Star Band
1973 Holland Christian High School Symphony Band, Spring Lake High School Symphonic Band, Midland High School Senior Band, MSBOA District 11 All-Star Band
1974 East Detroit High School Symphonic Band
1975 Ann Arbor Huron High School Symphony Band
1976 St. Clair Shores Lakeview High School Concert Band
1977 Traverse City High School Symphony Band, Michigan State University Wind Ensemble
1978 Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Symphony Band, Eastern Michigan University Symphonic Band
1979 Plymouth-Canton High Shool Symphony Band, Bowling Green State University Symphonic Band
1980 Muskegon High School Symphonic Band, Galesburg-Augusta High School Symphonic Band
1981 Sturgis High School Symphony Band, Grand Ledge High School Symphonic Band
1982 Okemos High School Symphonic Band, Howell High School Symphony Band
1983 Otsego High School Band, Rockford High School Wind Ensemble
1984 Lake Shore High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Pennfield High School Symphonic Band
1985 Grand Ledge High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Grandville High School Symphony Band
1986 Battle Creek Central High School Symphonic Band, Ann Arbor Huron High School Symphony Band
1987 Charlotte High School Symphonic Band, Traverse City High School Symphony Band
1988 Shelby High School Symphony Band, Jenison High School Symphonic Band
1989 Clare High School Symphonic Band, Manistee High School Symphonic Band
1990 Clarkston High School Symphonic Band, Lapeer West High School Symphony Band
1991 Portage Central High School Symphonic Band, Novi High School Symphony Band
1992 Brandywine High School Symphonic Band, East Lansing High School Symphonic Band
1993 Chippewa Hills High School Symphonic Band, Mona Shores High School Wind Ensemble
1994 Mattawan High School Band, Muskegon High School Wind Symphony
1995 Jackson Baptist Royal Concert Band, Grand Ledge High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble
1996 Hastings High School Symphonic Band, Plymouth Canton Educational Park Symphony Band
1997 Grayling High School Band, Andover High School Symphony Band
1998 East Kentwood High School Symphonic Band, Detroit High School for Fine and Performing Arts Symphony Band
1999 Stevensville Lakeshore High School Symphonic Band, Portage Northern High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble
2000 Belleville High School Symphony Band, Rockford High School Wind Ensemble
2001 Berkner High School Symphonic Band II from Richardson, Texas
2002 Ypsilanti High School Wind Symphony, West Ottawa High School Symphony Band
2003 Olivet High School Band, Troy High School Symphonic Band
2004 Lapeer East High School Symphony Band, Dexter High School Symphonic Band
2005 Otsego High School Symphonic Band, Forest Hills Central High School Wind Ensemble
2006 Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Symphony Band, Grand Ledge High School Windy Symphony
2007 East Lansing High School Symphonic Band, Big Rapids High School Wind Symphony
2008 Rockford High School Wind Ensemble, DeSoto (Texas) High School Wind Symphony
2009 Walled Lake Central High School Wind Ensemble, Clarkston High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble
2010 Parchment High School Symphonic Band, Galesburg-Augusta High School Symphonic Band
2011 L'Anse Creuse High School Wind Symphony
2012 Ann Arbor Huron High School Symphony Band, Novi High School Wind Ensemble
2013 Midland High School Symphonic Band, Okemos High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble
2014 Port Huron Northern High School Northern Winds and Percussion, Troy High School Symphonic Band
2015 Saline High School Wind Ensemble, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer High School Wind Ensemble
2016 Jenison High School Wind Symphony, Midland H.H. Dow High School Symphonic Band
2017 East Lansing High School Symphonic Band, Grandville High School Symphonic Winds
2018 Three Rivers High School Symphony Band, Portage Central High School Symphonic Band
2019 Ann Arbor Skyline High School Symphony Band, L'Anse Creuse High School Wind Symphony
2020 Conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Conference not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Stevensville Lakeshore High School Symphonic Band, Grand Ledge High School Wind Symphony
2023 West Ottawa High School Symphony Band, Traverse City West Senior High Wind Ensemble
2024 Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Wind Ensemble, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Symphony Band