Cal State Fullerton’s University Symphonic Winds, under the direction of School of Music Associate Professor Gregory Xavier Whitmore, represented CSUF as featured performers at the 2025 Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Winter Conference in February.
The 2025 conference offered over 50 conference sessions and concert performances to more than 500 attendees. The University Symphonic Winds were the only collegiate concert band and wind ensemble invited to perform at this year’s event.
The University Symphonic Winds’ performance included collaborations with fellow CSUF School of Music faculty member Joni Prado and lecturers Ken McGrath and Ray Llewellyn. Prado, a soprano, provided vocals to composer Eric Whitacre’s “Goodnight Moon,” inspired by Whitacre’s reading of the children’s book of the same name to his young son.
McGrath and Llewellyn added their percussive talents to emerging composer Ivan Trevino’s “Run to the Light,” which Trevino — a first-generation college student — wrote in honor of his alma mater, Eastman School of Music.
In addition to the performance, Whitmore was invited by the SCSBOA to present a separate conference session entitled, “‘Lenses and Mirrors’ — Inclusive Literature Programming Concert Presentation Featuring the Cal State Fullerton University Symphonic Winds.”
The session centered on concert programming practices in music and music education that are inclusive and reflective of the students who comprise school-based band programs. Composer and guest conductor Kevin Charoensri and oud soloist Peter Hanna performed with the ensemble as part of Whitmore’s presentation.
In December 2024, Whitmore presented at the prestigious Midwest Clinic Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois. With more than 18,000 attendees, The Midwest Clinic seeks to provide educators and musicians of all skill levels with the opportunity to learn and grow in their field while networking with other artists.
In his co-presented session entitled “The Band Director’s Toolbox: Fusing Innovative Programming and Immersive Ensemble Rehearsal Techniques,” Whitmore was joined by William Tonissen of Lehman College in New York and renowned composers Alex Shapiro and Michael Markowski to discuss how the values and beliefs of music educators affect their curriculum and classroom management — an area of Whitmore’s continued research.
The featured concert performance and conference session by Whitmore at the SCSBOA Winter Conference were both very well received and attended, positively reflecting on Cal State Fullerton and its School of Music. One attendee was so moved by the University Symphonic Winds concert that he said, “I’ve been here for less than one hour and I’m already in tears. Congratulations to Dr. Whitmore, Dr. Joni Prado, and the CSUF University Symphonic Winds for a wonderful performance.”