Young Composer/Conductor Mentor Project (YCCMP)
Next YCCMP Project in June 2022
June 12-16, 2022
Washington, DC
with the
The United States Air Force Band
Col. Don Schofield, Commander and Conductor
Application Information will be available September 2021
Applicants must be 29 years old or younger by June 17, 2022
History of the Young Composer and Young Conductor Mentor Projects
In 2000, the National Band Association launched the first of its two Mentor Projects, the Young Composer Mentor Project. The brainchild of composer and music educator Mark Camphouse, the idea was to pair young aspiring composers with working veteran composers for an intense three-day collaboration. This soon led to the implementation of the Young Conductor Mentor Project in 2004 under the leadership of project director Paula Crider, Professor Emerita, University of Texas at Austin. The young conductor component was added at the suggestion of mentor Frank Ticheli, following the first two young composer events. Over the past 20 years, 70 young composers and conductors have distinguished themselves through participation in the both projects (YCCMP). The Project places a strong emphasis on the importance of composer-conductor interaction. The young composers and conductors work in collaboration to present public performances of the young composers’ compositions conducted by the young conductors.
Since the Projects’ inception, most all composition and conducting mentors have donated their professional services, thereby directly helping to keep the event tuition-free for student participants. Student participants pay for their own travel expenses, only. Special gratitude, admiration, and respect is accorded to the mentors who, over the years, have provided insights that may take these talented young students to that elusive “next” level of musical excellence far sooner than a solitary musical journey might provide. Of the mentors, Mark Camphouse notes: “They donate their professional services. They serve as mentors because they are genuinely committed to encouraging and nurturing future generations of especially promising and gifted young composers and conductors. They, too are making a difference.” The list of NBA Composer and Conductor Mentors is a veritable “Who’s Who” in the world of wind bands:
- Composer Mentors have included Jack Stamp, Timothy Mahr, David Gillingham, Frank Ticheli, Donald Grantham, David Maslanka, David Holsinger, Julie Giroux, James Curnow, Robert Sheldon, Andrew Boysen, Thomas Duffy, Joseph Turrin, Carter Pann, Dana Wilson, Brian Balmages, and “The President’s Own” 1st LT. Ryan Nowlin.
- Conductor Mentors have included Frederick Fennell, Frank Wickes, James Keene, Thomas Fraschillo, Steve Steele, David Gregory, Gary Sousa, Robert Ponto, Anthony Maiello, David Waybright, Steve Peterson, Terry Austin, Tom Dvorak, David Whitwell, John Culvahouse, Gary Hill, Frank Battisti, Richard Good, H. Robert Reynolds, Linda R. Moorhouse, Col. Jason Fettig, Col. Larry Lang, and Col. Don Schofield.
During the three-day event, young composer participants have their works rehearsed, performed, and recorded with the young conductor participants conducting. All rehearsals, a final performance, and a recording session are attended and supervised by all composer and conductor mentors. Many alums of this joint Project have gone on to have highly successful careers as conductors, composers, and educators at the high school and college-university level, and with professional military bands. Previous Mentor Projects have been hosted by The Texas Bandmasters Association in San Antonio, Illinois State University, Arizona State University, and the U.S. Marine Band.
Mark Camphouse points out that a great number of previous YCCMP winners have “gone on to become published, widely performed composers . . . and are serving our profession with distinction.” [they are] “proving to be a true lifeline to the future of our wind band repertoire. They are making a difference,” as are the many young conductors who are proving to be the leaders in the “next” generation of wind band conductors.
Young Composer/Conductor Mentor Project History
1st Project (2000)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Timothy Mahr • Jack Stamp
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Jay Glossup – Thoughts From Europe
Geoffrey Goodwin – Crusade
Kyle Kindred – Prestidigitato
Christopher Tucker – Urban Divertimento
Matthew Schoendorff – Cloak and Dagger
2nd Project (2001)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • David Gillingham • Frank Ticheli
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Robert Ash – Glory
Mark Fredericks – Soft Self-Portraits
Eric Knechtges – Broken Silents
Daniel Montoya – Danse Moods
Ben Stonaker – While We Were Yet Sinners
Anthony Suter – Dance Fragments
3rd Project (2002)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Frank Ticheli
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Cormac Canon – Divertimento for Band
Rebecca Culp – A New Day
Cory McBride – Perilous Voyage
Justin Nielsen – Jam
Shawn Okpebholo – Ritual Dances
4th Project (2003)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Donald Grantham • Dana Wilson
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Daniel Boothe – Trinitas
Roy Magnuson – Harvest Moon
Carl Schroeder – Agora
Young Conductor Participants
Travis Cross, Brian Dell, and Andre Feagin
5th Project (2004)
Composer Mentors: Jack Stamp • David Maslanka • David Holsinger
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Christopher Renk – Metropolis Dawn
Royce Cole – Light
Craig Fitzpatrick – A Changed Anthem
Young Conductor Participants
Scott Bersaglia, Gina Lenox, and Greg Springer
6th Project (2006)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Julie Giroux • James Curnow
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Vincent Oppido – Skysplitter
Kathryn Salfelder – To Venture Into the Realm of the Unknown
Chris Teichler – Meditation
Young Conductor Participants
Reed Chamberlin, Craig Davis, and Anthony Marinello
7th Project (2008)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Robert Sheldon • Andrew Boysen
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Michael Markowski – Shadow Rituals
Carl Holmquist – Salaam
Subaram Raman – Finale from Cilappatikaram (The Ankler)
Young Conductor Participants
David Jacobs, Stephen Meyer, and Jacob Polancich
8th Project (2010)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Thomas Duffy • Joseph Turrin
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Viet Pham Cuong – Ziggurat
Costas Dafnis – Parliament in Flight
Jess Turner – Rumpelstilzchen…A Fairy Tale for Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Young Conductor Participants
Dustin Barr, Erin Bodnar, and Brian Messier
9th Project (2012)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Carter Pann
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Jack Hughes – Three Movements for Wind Ensemble
Derek M. Jenkins – Eosphorus
Keane Southard – Waltzing Dervish
Young Conductor Participants
Jennifer Climer, Boon Hua Lien, and Joshua Stevenson
10th Project (2015)
Composer Mentors: Lt. Ryan Nowlin • Mark Camphouse • Dr. Dana Wilson
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Joe Krycia – Going
Anthony O’Toole – Now is the Time: A Song of Hope
Ryan Lyan Lindveit – Spinning Yarns
Conductor Mentors: Paula Crider • Richard Good • Frank Battisti
• Lt. Col. Jason Fettig
Young Conductor Participants
Charles Andersen, Joseph Higgins, and Joshua Kearney
11th Project (2017)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Timothy Mahr • Andrew Boysen
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Zachery S. Meier – Reigniere for Wind Ensemble
Joshua Hobbs – “Into The Blue” for Wind Ensemble
Paul Cravens – “Symphony No. 1”
Conductor Mentors: Paula Crider • Col. Larry Lang • Anthony Maiello
Young Conductor Participants
DaJuan Brooks, Daniel Cook, and David Regner
12th Project (2019)
Composer Mentors: Mark Camphouse • Frank Ticheli • Brian Balmages
Young Composer Participants and their compositions
Ben Justis – Carving the Painted Wall for Wind Ensemble (2018)
Tyler Mazone – Symphony No. 3 – A Guide Through Dreams for Wind Band (2018) (mvts. 2&3)
Ben Robichaux – As the Lights Go Out for Wind Ensemble & Electronics (2018)
Conductor Mentors: Paula Crider • Col. Don Schofield • H. Robert Reynolds • Linda R. Moorhouse
Young Conductor Participants
Giovani Estefano Briguente, Seth Davis, and Keith Griffis