An Ambrosian will direct one of the premier bands in the country this summer.
Megan Cooney, Director of Athletic Bands, was chosen to work with the U.S. Army Band in their annual Army Band Conductors Workshop this July.
Workshop organizers only choose six conductors to participate, and at the conclusion of the 4-day workshop, each conductor has the privilege of conducting the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own." Prior to the performance, conductors have four days of study and rehearsal. The concert will be live-streamed July 21 at 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST.
Cooney is founding director of the SAU Marching Band. She arrived at SAU in 2015 tasked with creating a marching band program from the ground up and has since added Color Guard and Indoor Marching Arts to its lineup. Just last year, Cooney was named as one of Yamaha's "40 Under 40" music educators in the country.
Megan Cooney
Cooney is one of only six conductors chosen to conduct the U.S. Army Band this July. She also earned a fellowship to attend the elite Northwestern University Conducting Symposium.
Along with her talent and dedication to SAU music and marching arts, Cooney continuously aims to improve. This summer she also earned a Mike Moss Conducting Fellowship from the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA). Fellowships go to women and people of diverse ethnicity and the grants help fund professional development for band directors. Part of the application included an essay on which Cooney wrote about being a female band conductor in a male-dominated field, coming from a low socio-economic background, and being a first-generation college student. More than 50 people applied for the grant.
As a result of earning the fellowship, Cooney will attend the prestigious Northwestern University Conducting Symposium in July, an elite, week-long opportunity to learn from master directors. Only 34 conductors and directors are chosen to attend.
According to Northwestern University, "in addition to conducting a live ensemble and receiving feedback from the faculty, participants will attend lectures and discussions on choosing repertoire, score study, rehearsal techniques, movement, and interpretation."
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