Washington County instrumental music students invited to free Masterclass Series

Since 2015, the Maryland Wind Festival has brought wind chamber music to Western Maryland each summer, with performances in Hagerstown and Frederick.

For the first time, A Series of Performances and Masterclasses is being offered free to Washington County instrumental music students. It is a collaboration between Washington County Public Schools and MWF.

The series runs Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m.; and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown.

MWF musicians leading the sessions will select what they want to teach, which might include applying master-class knowledge, performances and composition, among other options.

The program is geared to students from sixth to 12th grade, who are invited to attended any or all of the sessions, free of charge. No reservations are required, and students are welcome to bring their instruments, if they're interested in playing.

Matching grant money from the Washington County Arts Council is helping pay for the master-class series, said Stephen W. Miles, Ph.D., supervisor of visual and performing arts for WCPS.

Miles said he attended several performances of the Maryland Wind Festival last year. He knew he wanted to expose students to the music, so he contacted MWF Founder and Executive Director Tyler Austin.

"It's a unique opportunity. The more kids, the better," Miles said.

Austin, a 2008 Boonsboro High School graduate, is also artistic director and conductor.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Susquehanna University in music education, a Master of Music from the University of North Texas in bassoon performance, and recently earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University in wind conducting.

"I was incredibly excited," Austin said, noting that county students don't have access to music programs like those in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

"When I was a student in Washington County, I would have liked something like this," he said.

This year's MWF runs from Monday to Friday. On Monday, the MWF performs at Frederick Presbyterian Church from 7 to 9 p.m.

A chamber music workshop is being held at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Hagerstown performance is Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church at 7 p.m.

MWF musicians come from nine states and three countries and "bring their love for performance and years of instrumental teaching together for an intensive week of concerts and educational outreach," according to the MWF website.

The festival also aims to raise awareness of new music through its engagement with composers. This year's composer-in-residence is Cassie Wieland.

Another goal is to present a variety of music in nontraditional spaces at events that are artistic, educational and social.

For more information, go to Marylandwindfestival.org.