MVNU to host OMEA District 10 Honors Bands

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Mount Vernon Nazarene University is proud to host the 2024 Ohio Music Education Association District 10 Honors Bands on Saturday, Dec 7. The day will include a morning of instruction for both bands and will culminate with a concert at 3:30 p.m. in the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

This exciting event will bring together more than 200 talented middle school and high school musicians from Ashland, Coshocton, Delaware, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morrow, and Richland counties, representing over 60 schools. Students selected for the OMEA Honors Bands are nominated by their directors and, for high school musicians, must also submit an audition featuring scales and an etude excerpt. Those chosen for the event will participate in a rehearsal prior to the performance, honing their skills and preparing for the final concert.

This event offers an incredible opportunity for young musicians to collaborate and perform with peers from across the region under the guidance of experienced clinicians.

This year’s Honors Band event will feature two distinguished clinicians:

• Mr. Jon Waters, Assistant Teaching Professor of Music Education at Bowling Green State University and Director of the Falcon Marching Band, will work with the high school band. Waters is an internationally recognized music educator and band director. As the former Director of Marching and Athletic Bands at The Ohio State University, he gained worldwide acclaim for his innovative use of iPads to create animated marching formations. His work has led to millions of YouTube views. In 2014, he delivered a TEDx talk on “Tradition thru Innovation,” and in 2022, he directed the Band Directors Marching Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Waters is a native of Northwest Ohio and holds advanced degrees in Music Education and Conducting from The Ohio State University. Prior to teaching at BGSU, Waters taught at Heidelberg University.
• Ms. Susann Blair-Ewing, who will serve as clinician for the middle school band, is celebrating her 25th year as the director of bands at Ann Simpson Davis Middle School in Dublin, Ohio. She also serves as a Woodwind Specialist for the Dublin Scioto High School attendance area. Ms. Blair-Ewing directs both concert and jazz bands for grades 6 through 8 and teaches music for special learners’ classes in all three grades. In addition, she directs six Taiko drumming ensembles, with over 120 students participating. They have performed nationally and internationally, including a performance at the 2017 UK Taiko Festival in Exeter, England. Ms. Blair-Ewing holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Morehead State University.

For more information on the OMEA, visit OMEA District 10. For more on the MVNU Music Department, visit http://mvnu.edu/music.