DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA — January 14-15, 2011 — J. W. Pepper is delighted to bring Brian Balmages and Brad White to the California Association for Music Educators' (CMEA) 2011 Bay Section Winter Conference. The 2-day conference will be hosted on the campus of San Jose State University and will bring together music educators from all over the Bay Area.  Registration begins Friday at 7:30 am.  A variety of clinics, music reading sessions, student honor group rehearsals and concerts will take place over the two days.  Balmages will be head clinician for the band and orchestra sessions while White will be leading the choral sessions. These specialties will be joined by a plethora of other reading sessions and performances, from jazz to discussions of technology, multiculturalism and classroom music.

Brian Balmages is an active composer, conductor, producer, and performer. His fresh compositional ideas have resulted in a high demand for his wind, brass, and orchestral music throughout the world. He received his bachelor's degree in music from James Madison University and his master's degree from the University of Miami in Florida. Currently, he is Director of Instrumental Publications for the FJH Music Company. Balmages will be leading several sessions throughout the conference, giving an insight into his own compositions and providing  special insight into the new series, Measures of Success: A Comprehensive Musicianship Band Method, of which he is co-author. Brad White, a professor at the University of Texas, Arlington will be conducting the Elementary and Secondary Choral Reading Sessions. A third session on Saturday, The Proper Care and Feeding of Choral Programs, will focus on his approach to keeping choirs active and happy in modern times of budgetary uncertainty.   He is the co-author of Essential Repertoire for Choir series for Hal Leonard Publishing.

J.W. Pepper is excited to be involved in the conference and contributing to the fantastic network of music educators. The President of CMEA Bay Section, Steven Hendee, stresses the importance of the conference as tool for uniting those in the music education world, "It is reassuring to know there is a support system of people who share the same joys and frustrations that teaching music can bring, and our conference is designed to be both informative and rewarding for our Bay Section educators.""In addition to sponsoring sessions and offering choral reading session packets, J.W. Pepper will be present with a selection of music and teaching aides for sale including the works of the featured clinicians. More information on the event can be found at CMEA Bay Section

J.W. Pepper, the leading retailer of sheet music, has been in business for over 134 years, with 14 locations across the country.  The Northern California branch is located at 6735 Sierra Court, Suite E, Dublin, CA 94568. Opening hours are 10-6, Monday — Friday.
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