Ruth E. Dwyer is internationally recognized as a youth and children’s choir specialist and Kodály educator. She is a frequent guest conductor and clinician for national and international colleges, universities, honors choirs, and festivals. Dwyer has recently retired from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir after thirty-six years as a conductor and director of education and as artistic director of the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir. Her ensembles have performed across North America, Spain, and central Europe. Her teaching experiences also include nineteen years as a public school music educator and as an adjunct professor with Butler University. Dwyer has authored several music education textbooks for Illinois Central College and is a frequent guest author for the Hal Leonard choral music text book series. She is an accomplished composer, arranger, and is the editor of the Ruth Dwyer Choral Series with Colla Voce Music, LLC.
William L. Lake, Jr. is the director of concert bands for the school of music at George Mason University where he conducts the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and wind literature classes. Previously, he served as associate director of bands and assistant professor of music education at the Crane School of Music for the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he was co-conductor of the Northern Symphonic Winds, principal conductor of the Crane Concert Band, and guest conductor of the Crane Wind Ensemble. Lake earned his doctorate in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the mentorship of John R. Locke and Kevin Geraldi.
Lake maintains an active performance and clinic schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer nationwide. In March 2024, he was named the music and artistic director of the Capital Wind Symphony. Recently, Lake served as a collaborating author for two books, Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press) and Music Education on the Verge: Stories of Pandemic Teaching and Transformative Change (Lexington Books). As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Lake has presented numerous seminars across the United States on inclusive practices in music education and performance.
William L. Lake, Jr. is the director of concert bands for the school of music at George Mason University where he conducts the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and wind literature classes. Previously, he served as associate director of bands and assistant professor of music education at the Crane School of Music for the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he was co-conductor of the Northern Symphonic Winds, principal conductor of the Crane Concert Band, and guest conductor of the Crane Wind Ensemble. Lake earned his doctorate in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the mentorship of John R. Locke and Kevin Geraldi.
Lake maintains an active performance and clinic schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer nationwide. In March 2024, he was named the music and artistic director of the Capital Wind Symphony. Recently, Lake served as a collaborating author for two books, Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press) and Music Education on the Verge: Stories of Pandemic Teaching and Transformative Change (Lexington Books). As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Lake has presented numerous seminars across the United States on inclusive practices in music education and performance.
Felicia Barber is an adjunct associate professor of choral conducting, and conductor of the Yale Camerata at Yale University. In addition to teaching graduate-level and undergraduate choral conductors, Barber is developing a new initiative designed to prepare Yale students to work with young musicians on choral music in both school and church settings. Her research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity, incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals. Barber is regularly engaged as a guest conductor at All-State festivals and will conduct at the American Choral Directors Association eastern division conference in 2024 and the Carnegie Hall Festival in 2025. She holds a degree in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, a master’s degree from Mansfield University, and a doctorate from Florida State University.
Felicia Barber is an adjunct associate professor of choral conducting, and conductor of the Yale Camerata at Yale University. In addition to teaching graduate-level and undergraduate choral conductors, Barber is developing a new initiative designed to prepare Yale students to work with young musicians on choral music in both school and church settings. Her research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity, incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals. Barber is regularly engaged as a guest conductor at All-State festivals and will conduct at the American Choral Directors Association eastern division conference in 2024 and the Carnegie Hall Festival in 2025. She holds a degree in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, a master’s degree from Mansfield University, and a doctorate from Florida State University.
Ruth E. Dwyer is internationally recognized as a youth and children’s choir specialist and Kodály educator. She is a frequent guest conductor and clinician for national and international colleges, universities, honors choirs, and festivals. Dwyer has recently retired from the Indianapolis Children’s Choir after thirty-six years as a conductor and director of education and as artistic director of the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir. Her ensembles have performed across North America, Spain, and central Europe. Her teaching experiences also include nineteen years as a public school music educator and as an adjunct professor with Butler University. Dwyer has authored several music education textbooks for Illinois Central College and is a frequent guest author for the Hal Leonard choral music text book series. She is an accomplished composer, arranger, and is the editor of the Ruth Dwyer Choral Series with Colla Voce Music, LLC.
William L. Lake, Jr. is the director of concert bands for the school of music at George Mason University where he conducts the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and wind literature classes. Previously, he served as associate director of bands and assistant professor of music education at the Crane School of Music for the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he was co-conductor of the Northern Symphonic Winds, principal conductor of the Crane Concert Band, and guest conductor of the Crane Wind Ensemble. Lake earned his doctorate in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the mentorship of John R. Locke and Kevin Geraldi.
Lake maintains an active performance and clinic schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer nationwide. In March 2024, he was named the music and artistic director of the Capital Wind Symphony. Recently, Lake served as a collaborating author for two books, Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press) and Music Education on the Verge: Stories of Pandemic Teaching and Transformative Change (Lexington Books). As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Lake has presented numerous seminars across the United States on inclusive practices in music education and performance.
William L. Lake, Jr. is the director of concert bands for the school of music at George Mason University where he conducts the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He also teaches conducting and wind literature classes. Previously, he served as associate director of bands and assistant professor of music education at the Crane School of Music for the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he was co-conductor of the Northern Symphonic Winds, principal conductor of the Crane Concert Band, and guest conductor of the Crane Wind Ensemble. Lake earned his doctorate in instrumental conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under the mentorship of John R. Locke and Kevin Geraldi.
Lake maintains an active performance and clinic schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer nationwide. In March 2024, he was named the music and artistic director of the Capital Wind Symphony. Recently, Lake served as a collaborating author for two books, Teaching Instrumental Music: Perspectives and Pedagogies for the 21st Century (Oxford University Press) and Music Education on the Verge: Stories of Pandemic Teaching and Transformative Change (Lexington Books). As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Lake has presented numerous seminars across the United States on inclusive practices in music education and performance.
Felicia Barber is an adjunct associate professor of choral conducting, and conductor of the Yale Camerata at Yale University. In addition to teaching graduate-level and undergraduate choral conductors, Barber is developing a new initiative designed to prepare Yale students to work with young musicians on choral music in both school and church settings. Her research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity, incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals. Barber is regularly engaged as a guest conductor at All-State festivals and will conduct at the American Choral Directors Association eastern division conference in 2024 and the Carnegie Hall Festival in 2025. She holds a degree in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, a master’s degree from Mansfield University, and a doctorate from Florida State University.
Felicia Barber is an adjunct associate professor of choral conducting, and conductor of the Yale Camerata at Yale University. In addition to teaching graduate-level and undergraduate choral conductors, Barber is developing a new initiative designed to prepare Yale students to work with young musicians on choral music in both school and church settings. Her research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity, incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals. Barber is regularly engaged as a guest conductor at All-State festivals and will conduct at the American Choral Directors Association eastern division conference in 2024 and the Carnegie Hall Festival in 2025. She holds a degree in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, a master’s degree from Mansfield University, and a doctorate from Florida State University.
