San José Wind Conducting Symposium

Dr. David Vickerman

Director of Bands

San Jose State University

Dr. David Vickerman, 2015 winner of The American Prize in Conducting and 2023 winner of the Outstanding Music Educator Award for CMEA Bay Section, is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at San José State University.  In addition to conducting the Wind Ensemble and the new music ensemble (Disrupt), he teaches undergraduate and graduate instrumental conducting. He is also the Music and Artistic Director for the San José Wind Symphony, the West Coast's premier wind symphony.

Under his artistic leadership, the SJSU Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in 2020 and the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Western/Northwestern Division Conference in 2022. Prior to his appointment at San José State University, he was the Director of Bands at The College of New Jersey where the Wind Ensemble received invitations to the CBDNA Eastern Division (2014) and National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division Conferences (2017). Before joining The College of New Jersey, he held the position of Director of Bands on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus where he conducted the Wind Ensemble and directed the Pep Band. In addition to his duties at SJSU, he has previously served as the Associate Conductor of Great Noise Ensemble, in Washington D.C. and he is a highly sought-after guest conductor, having conducted numerous honor bands across the country.

A fervent advocate for contemporary music, Dr. Vickerman has commissioned works by eminent composers and conducted many world premieres with The San José State University Wind Ensemble, The College of New Jersey Wind Ensemble and Great Noise Ensemble. He has also arranged several pieces for winds including Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble by Philip Glass (published through WiseMusic Classical), Ára Batur by the Icelandic rock band, Sigur Rós, Observer in the Magellanic Cloud by Mason Bates and Craigslistlieder by Gabriel Kahane. His primary conducting instructors include Dr. Edward C. Harris, Dr. Stuart Sims, Robert Ponto and Dr. Harlan Parker.

Dr. Vickerman also regularly presents at regional, national and international conferences on topics ranging from teaching social justice issues in band and embracing vulnerability in rehearsal and performance, to the development of a computer-based conducting analysis system to assist beginning conducting students.  His co-authored paper with Dr. Andrea Salgian, “Computer-Based Tutoring for Conducting Students,” was presented at the International Computer Music Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands in September 2016. He also presented “Improve Band Performance with Socially-Conscious Repertoire” along with Dr. Colleen Sears, at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference in 2017 and at the Midwest Clinic in 2018. 

Dr. Vickerman graduated from the Peabody Institute with a DMA in Wind Conducting in 2014, studying with Dr. Harlan Parker and a Master’s Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Oregon in 2010, where he studied with Bob Ponto. Prior to his work at the University of Oregon, he taught high school in California for 6 years after receiving a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and teaching credential from California State University Stanislaus in 2002, where he studied conducting with Dr. Edward C. Harris and Dr. Stuart Sims.

Alexandra Beller

Alexandra Beller choreographed “Sense and Sensibility” (Sheen Center, Judson Gym, Folger Shakespeare Library, American Repertory Theater, Portland Center Stage), (Helen Hayes Award, Lortel Nomination, IRNE Best Choreography), the Off Broadway musical, “The Mad Ones” (59E59), Bedlam’s “Peter Pan” (Duke Theater), “Two Gentlemen of Verona” (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), “As You Like It” (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Folger Shakespeare Library), “How to transcend a happy marriage” by Sarah Ruhl (Lincoln Center Theater), “Pride and Prejudice (Dorset Theater Festival, Actor’s Shakespeare Project), “Antonio’s Song” (CATF, Milwaukee Rep, Goodman), “Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes)” (La MaMa/La Jolla/touring), Directing/Choreographing “Make Thick My Blood,” a two-person adaptation of Macbeth (Theater Row), and A Midsummer NIght’s Dream (Folger Shakespeare Library at The National Building Museum, DC). 

Her international performance career includes 7 years with the Bill. T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, projects with Martha Clarke, John Turturro, and others. Alexandra Beller/Dances formed in 2001 and she has created over 40 original Dance Theater works, for her own and other companies. Her choreography has been presented at theaters throughout the US and in Korea, Hong Kong, Oslo, Cyprus, St. Petersburg, and Poland.

Alexandra holds a BFA/Dance (University of MI), MFA/Dance (University of WI at Milwaukee), and CMA (Certified Movement Analyst) in Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff Fundamentals (LIMS).  She is on faculty at Princeton University, Rutgers University, and The Laban/Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies, and guest teaches nationally and internationally. 

Upcoming projects include “Let The Right One In” at Boston University with Actor’s Shakespeare Project, “Antonio’s Song” at The Goodman (Chicago), a workshop of “Perfect World” (Director: Karen Carpenter), and a devised adaptation of “Waiting for Godot” (Alexandra Beller/Dances).

She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two kids, is writing a book, studying guitar and is currently training in Intimacy Direction with TIE.