Case Western Reserve University Department of Music students Matthew Smutny (saxophone) and Charlie Apy (percussion), were selected for the prestigious College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) North Central Intercollegiate Band. Smutny and Apy were selected from a competitive cohort of music majors across seven states.
The Intercollegiate Band performed during the CBDNA North Central Conference earlier this month.
Smutny and Apy had the opportunity to rehearse under internationally renowned wind band director Gary Hill as well as work with composers-in-residence Augusta Reed Thomas and John Mackey, a Cleveland Institute of Music alum.
Ryan Scherber, director of bands and assistant professor of music education, also represented CWRU at the conference with a presentation of a clinic session on “Practical Intonation Strategies for Ensemble Rehearsals.” Pitch perception is one of Scherber’s areas of specialization, having both published research and shared papers at numerous conferences.