Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance

We would like to invite musicians in grades 9-12 to apply for the 2026 Grand Valley State University Wind Band Workshop. This will be an outstanding day of music making, including the opportunity to play alongside collegiate musicians, master classes with our faculty, working with a guest composer, and a concluding side by side concert with GVSU musicians.

Download student information flyer here: /cms5/asset/6b829f15-a6d0-4ad8-b564-ad3fcc6b9833/41aa7ad1-caf9-4d79-bcdd-25239a74aa91/26_wbwinformationsheet.pdf

$30, which helps to offset the costs of meals, music, recordings, group photo and T-shirt. The remaining costs are provided by the GVSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

Housing: As a result of participant input and University insurance and liability guidelines, we will not be offering supervised housing.

All applications, evaluations, and registrations will be online. The honors band is open to high school musicians from grades 9 – 12.

Kevin Tutt is the Chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. He is also the conductor of the GVSU Wind Symphony and has taught courses in conducting, music education, and general education. 

Prior to his appointment at GVSU, Dr. Tutt held teaching positions at Brandon University, in Brandon, MB, The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, PA, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA and the Central Dauphin School District in Harrisburg, PA. He has been a guest conductor, clinician and consultant for all levels of ensembles and public school programs in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Tutt holds degrees in conducting and music education from The Pennsylvania State University. His recent professional interests include: teacher evaluation policies in the arts, the impact of arts advocacy, and the evaluation of Teacher Preparation Institutions. His publications have appeared in the Music Educators Journal, Journal of Band Research, Arts Education Policy Review, Research Perspectives in Music Education, Visions of Research in Music Education and Michigan Music Educator and he has been an invited presenter at regional and national music conferences. 

Benjamin Horne (b.1995) is a conductor, composer/arranger, and low brass performer. Horne's works and arrangements span various styles. Horne has worked with and had music performed by musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Dallas Symphony, San Antonio Symphony (now reorganized as Philharmonic), Atlanta Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Opera, the President's Own US Marine Band, as well as other renowned instrumental soloists. He has worked with the SOLI Chamber Ensemble, Musiqa (Houston), Atlanta Chamber Players, Decoda (New York), and Picosa (Chicago) professional new music ensembles as well as several university large ensembles. His music has been featured as required repertoire for several international solo competitions and as lab music for conducting symposia. Horne’s music has been performed across the world in Europe, Asia, and South America. Also, his music has been performed at several events including state music educator conferences, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the International Trombone Festival, the Lätzsch Trombone Festival in Germany, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, the International Euphonium Tuba Festival, the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, International Trumpet Guild Conference, the International Horn Society Symposium, as well as the College Band Directors National Association Conference.

Horne's primary instrument is the euphonium. He is a past winner of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Solo Artist Competition. He has also been a finalist in the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Solo Artist Competition and the International Euphonium Tuba Festival Solo Artist Division. Horne was a member of the Columbus State University Trombone Choir under the direction of Dr. Bradley Palmer. He was among the ensemble members on the Choir’s 2017 CD, Full Tilt. Horne was a member of the Teal Sound and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps including the latter’s 2016 Drum Corps International World Championship corps. He currently performs as a member of the Sequence Euphonium Quartet where he is also composer-in-residence.

Horne has worked with various ensembles as a guest conductor and educator including the Georgia Brass Band as well as several school ensembles and honor bands. Mr. Horne served as a middle and high school assistant band director at Holcomb Bridge Middle School and Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia where he also led the jazz program. He has also worked as an instructor and clinician across the United States teaching sectionals, private lessons, masterclasses, and marching band at all levels from beginners to university students. He was also a brass instructor for the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. 

He is currently a Doctoral Wind Conducting and Master’s Music Composition student at Michigan State University. He previously attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University (GA).

• Directors complete online evaluation by October 8.
• We will notify directors and students of acceptance by October 15. 

Wind Band Workshop - Director Evaluation Form

1. Students selected will be sent an email on or before October 15 with a link to complete their registration.
2. Cost: $30. Includes lunch, dinner, and T-shirt and is paid online as part of the registration form. GVSU is a cashless campus. We cannot accept cash payments.
3. All participants are required to upload a completed Minors on Campus Release Form and COVID-19 Waiver as part of their registration.

9:00 a.m.     Check-in: Louis Armstrong Theatre Lobby, Haas Center for Performing Arts
9:30 a.m.     Rehearsal (breaks during rehearsal), Louis Armstrong Theatre (LAT)
12:00 p.m.   Lunch (included in registration fee) - Sandwiches, LAT Lobby
12:45 p.m.   Instrumental Masterclasses 
with GVSU Applied Instructors (see schedule below)
2:00 p.m.     GVSU Performances
3:00 p.m.     Rehearsal (breaks during rehearsal), LAT
4:00 p.m.     GVSU Student Performances
5:00 p.m.     Dinner (included in registration fee) - Pizza
5:45 p.m.     Dress for performance - Students should wear their regular concert attire.
6:30 p.m.     Concert in Louis Armstrong Theatre. Free and open to the public.