MSU to host distinguished band conductor and educator

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

With the theme "Honoring Those Who Have Influenced Us," Mississippi State's 2014 Legends and Mentors Week will feature an internationally recognized Virginia-based conductor and educator.

The Tuesday-Thursday [April 1-3] event is being sponsored for the second consecutive year by MSU Bands.

Anthony J. Maiello of George Mason University will be working with university concert bands and speaking to music department classes, as well as helping lead a clinic for the Starkville High School band.

"We are excited about the opportunity to have someone of Professor Maiello's status in the profession on our campus," said Elva Kaye Lance, director of bands. "His musicianship will be immediately evident and we know our student musicians will find his passion for music and for instrumental music education to be inspiring."

Maiello is associate director for development and professor in the School of Music at the Fairfax, Va., public university. He also conducts the GMU Repertory Orchestra and teaches graduate- and undergraduate-level conducting and jazz theory, among other subjects.

Beyond campus, he regularly is invited to lead music festivals, adjudicate ensembles and present clinics, lectures and workshops throughout North America, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Europe.

Legend Week sessions, rehearsals and concerts will take place at the MSU Band and Choral Hall on Hardy Road, unless otherwise noted. Free and open to all, they include:

Tuesday

--3:30 p.m., open rehearsal with MSU Wind Ensemble; and

--6:30 p.m., open rehearsal with the MSU/Starkville Community Band.

Wednesday

--10 a.m., instrumental advanced conducting class;

--Noon, seminar with instrumental music education majors;

--3 p.m., open rehearsal with MSU Campus Band; and

--4 p.m., open rehearsal with MSU Symphonic Band.

Thursday

--8:30 a.m., open rehearsal with Starkville High School Band, and

--3:30 p.m., open rehearsal with MSU Wind Ensemble, McComas Hall.

A concluding 7:30 p.m. concert in the McComas Hall main theater will feature Maiello and the MSU Wind Ensemble. A reception will follow at the location.

For more information about the events, contact the band office at 662-325-2713 or visit www.msuband.msstate.edu. Lance also may be reached at eklance@colled.msstate.edu.

Also, follow MSU Bands on https://www.facebook.com/famousmaroonband and Twitter @maroonband.

More on Mississippi State University is available at www.msstate.edu.