July 3, 2012 — Morehead State University’s Dr. Richard Miles, professor of music and director of bands, will serve as a keynote speaker for the 2012 ABODA Conference in Brisbane in July. In addition, he will conduct the Queensland Wind Orchestra in a feature concert.
Three of the featured compositions are “Jessie’s Well” (composed by one of Australia’s leading composers, Ralph Hultgren), “The Second Symphony” by Frank Ticheli (composed by one of America’s leading composers and co-commissioned by the Morehead State Symphony Band) and John Philip Sousa’s “Hands Across the Sea.” Dr. Miles will present a conducting master class that will include the Queensland Wind Orchestra while working with a select group of Australian conductors.
During the conference, Dr. Miles will present five specific topics based on his chapters from the text series, Teaching Music through Performance Band. Those sessions include “The Music Score is the Curriculum; The Art of Concert Programming; Featuring Soloists with Wind Band and Orchestra Performances; Improving Performance with “Sound” Seating; and Practical Score Study, Preparation and Music Selection.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Florida State University and graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois and Appalachian State University. Since coming to MSU in 1985, the Symphony Band under his direction has received national and international recognition having performed for numerous conventions and international concert tours to The People’s Republic of China (2000 and 2012), Brazil (2003) and Spain (2008).
He has co-authored, compiled and edited 14 volumes of the internationally recognized wind band series and three additional texts. He is a past president of the College Band Directors National Association - Southern Division, and past president of the Kentucky Music Educators Association.
Internationally, he has conducted concerts and clinics in 23 countries. Dr. Miles’ awards include Distinguished Alumnus Award from Appalachian State University, the Presidential Recognition Award and Distinguished Leadership Award from the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Kentucky Outstanding Contributor to Bands Award and is the 2006-07 recipient of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, International Outstanding Contributor to Bands Award presented at the 60th Annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
In addition, he has been awarded the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha and the National Arts Associate recognition from Sigma Alpha Iota.
He is an active member of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, Kentucky Music Educators Association, and is an elected member to the professional honorary associations of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, and the American Bandmasters Association.
