Tristan Roush, Inaugural Fellow
Liberty Middle School, Bethel
Pre-pandemic, I was selected as the very first conducting fellow and was fortunate to be able to complete my fellowship with the Tacoma Concert Band in the 2012-22 Season. It was an incredible opportunity to improve my skills, discuss my teaching challenges with experienced directors, improve my score study, stretch my podium ears, and refine my conducting technique. By the way – conducting the band at the Pantages Theater was awesome!
Matt Wasson, 2022-23
Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma SD
I was honored to be selected as the conducting fellow for the 2022-23 concert season. This was a fantastic hands-on learning experience for me as a conductor and educator. Getting to work with the excellent TCB community of musicians pushed me to step up my game and gave me the opportunity to pursue goals I had for my personal and professional growth. From the outside it might seem like conducting the TCB would have been in another league from the work I do every day as a teacher – but after each week’s rehearsal and lesson with Dr. Morris, I was always able to bring something I learned back to my classroom to help my students. As educators, I believe we should always strive to expand our pedagogical toolboxes, and this fellowship was a way to do just that.
Stephen Pickard, 2023-24
Rogers High School, Puyallup SD
I am grateful to the Tacoma Concert Band and the opportunity to have been selected as one of the Robert Musser Conducting Fellowship recipients. It was a wonderful experience to receive lessons with Dr. Morris, apply new concepts and get immediate feedback while in rehearsal and via recorded rehearsal, and with a kind and musical group like TCB. I have already felt the benefits of the time and attention and look forward to how this fellowship will continue to help aid my teaching and my students’ experience.
Jay Gillespie, 2024-25
Ballard High School, Seattle SD
When I heard about the Robert Musser Conducting Fellowship, it seemed like a great opportunity, but I had no idea just how amazing it would be. Dr. Morris met me where I was at in my conducting journey and tailored his instruction to the deficiencies I had right from the start. His teaching style is demanding yet approachable, and I felt challenged without feeling overwhelmed. The band was so supportive and kind, and I really felt like I was being invited into a family. Beyond that, the opportunity to conduct in the Pantages theatre in front of over 1000 people was really a highlight of my conducting career. During this experience I made so many friends and professional connections, became a better conductor and musician, and have become a better educator for my students. I highly recommend it to any educator looking to develop their skills.
