The Shepherd University School of Music was thrilled to welcome students back for its Seventeenth Annual Honor Music Festival held on January 14 through January 16, 2022. The festival included a wind ensemble comprised of the finest high school musicians in the four-state region nominated by their high school ensemble director. They spent the weekend making music with each other under the guidance of the Shepherd University conducting faculty and guests. Students also enjoyed performances by Shepherd student ensembles and benefited from master classes with faculty.
This year’s guest conductor for the honor wind ensemble was Shepherd alumnus and former faculty member, Dr. D. Mark McCoy. A native West Virginian, Dr. McCoy served as director of instrumental music and chair of Shepherd University’s vibrant music program for 16 years. In 2011, Dr. McCoy accepted a position at DePauw University as dean of the School of Music and later university president. Dr. McCoy has long been an in-demand conductor and clinician for ensembles of all levels.
Stay tuned for the Shepherd University School of Music’s Eighteenth Annual Honor Music Festival to be held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend—Friday, January 13 through Sunday, January 15, 2023. We are looking forward to welcoming young musicians to our campus once again for three days of rehearsals, master classes, and performances. It’s a great opportunity to make excellent music together and learn from guest conductors and Shepherd faculty.
