University of Iowa Bands

05/01/2026

The Iowa Symphony Band, under the direction of Dr. Mark Heidel, will present its final on-campus concert of the academic year at 7:30PM on Monday, May 4 in the Voxman Music Building Concert Hall.

The program will feature works by Navarro, Grainger, Ives, Creston, Respighi, Lunde, Biedenbender, and Sousa. Guest performers include Dr. Myron D. Welch, Dr. Eric W. Bush, Dr. Nick Miller, Courtney Ridge, and Camden Neff, Winner of the 2026 Iowa Bands Young Artist Competition.

The concert is free and open to the public.

04/15/2026

Congratulations to the Iowa Symphony Band on a successful concert tour with performances at Pleasant Valley High School and the University of Michigan. The Symphony Band was invited to perform at the 2026 College Band Directors National Association North Central Division Conference hosted by the University of Michigan. The Symphony Band, under the direction of Dr. Mark Heidel with guest performers Dr. Eric Bush and Dr. Kenneth Tse, performed in historic Hill Auditorium on Thursday, April 8 to an enthusiastic audience. The program consisted of works by Tower, David, Perrine, and Katoh.

04/04/2026

The Iowa Symphony Band is honored to have been invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association North Central Division Conference at 4:30PM on Thursday, April 9, in Hill Auditorium on the campus of the University of Michigan. Their program includes Fascinating Ribbons by Joan Tower, Cathedral of Fountains by Aaron Perrine, Symphony No. 2 by James David, and Madrid Inspiration by Masanori Katoh. The concert will feature Dr. Mark Heidel, conductor, Dr. Eric Bush, guest conductor, and Dr. Kenneth Tse, alto saxophone.

The members of the Iowa Symphony Band enjoyed working with Aaron Perrine on his composition, Cathedral of Fountains, on Wednesday, April 1. It is always nice to have Dr. Perrine on campus!

03/24/2026

Camden Neff has been named the winner of the 2nd annual Iowa Bands Young Artist Competition. Camden is a senior at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has been playing saxophone for 7 years. He has taken private lessons from Dr. Ryan Smith in Cedar Rapids for 4 years, and plays all 4 main saxophones in the family.

Aside from playing saxophone, Camden has served as a drum major for 3 years, and has begun marching drum corps with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps as a conductor. Camden was the winner of the 2024 IOWinds Alliance Young Artist Competition, the 2025 Cedar Rapids Municipal Band Young Artist Competition, and was the runner-up in the 2025 MTNA Senior Woodwind Division in Iowa. He has participated in numerous honor bands, including All-State, and enjoys playing both jazz and classical music.

Camden will be featured with the Symphony Band at 7:30PM on Monday, May 4. He will perform the first movement of Paul Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band.

Congratulations, Camden!

03/24/2026

David Kissinger has been named the Runner-Up Winner of the 2nd annual Iowa Bands Young Artist Competition. David is a talented young musician who has had a strong interest in music for most of his life. His first formal training began on piano, and he soon expanded his training to include the horn, electric guitar, and drums. Now primarily a hornist, David has seen a lot of success in his music career to date. Perhaps his biggest accolade, David was recently accepted to the World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Arts Camp, the nation’s premier summer arts program for high school students.

David, a junior at Algona High School, was the principal hornist in the 2024 Iowa All-State Orchestra. He played third horn in the 2025 All-State Orchestra and first horn in the 2023 All-State Band. He has also participated in a number of regional honor bands, filling the role of principal horn. As a soloist, David was the winner of the 2025 IOWinds Alliance Brass Extravaganza Young Artist Competition in the 11-12th grade category, and he also earned an Outstanding Performance Award at the 2025 IHSMA State Solo & Small Ensemble Festival.

David is involved in every instrumental music activity available at Algona High School. The Algona High School Band was selected as the 2026 High School Class 3A Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference Honor Band. He played drums in the jazz band and was also this year’s featured jazz soloist on piano. David is a member of the Fort Dodge Area Symphony, playing fourth horn. David studies horn with Kathy Yoakam and Josh Johnson. Outside of school, David often serves as an electric guitarist and singer on the worship team at Grace Church.

David will be featured with the Concert Band at 7:30PM on Monday, April 27. He will perform Adagio and Allegro, op. 70 by Robert Schumann.

03/20/2026

Dr. Myron D. Welch, Director of Bands and Professor Emeritus, was recently elected to the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors. To be considered for membership, a conductor must have made a national impact on the American band movement and should be known as a person of integrity and high personal and professional ethical standards, as evidenced by their body of work throughout their career. Dr. Welch joins the ranks of prominent conductors, including John Philip Sousa, Albert Austin Harding, Frederick Fennell, and William D. Revelli.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Dr. Welch!

03/20/2026

University of Iowa School of Music graduate Dr. Myron Peterson (DMA, 2023) is set to lead a performance of the Boise State University Symphonic Winds at the College Band Directors National Association Western/Northwestern Division Conference on March 20, 2026. Peterson is director of bands at Boise State University. Their performance will feature a world premiere transcription by Peterson of Blaz Pucihar’s “Piccolo Moods,” and western U.S. premiere of Dr. Aaron Perrine's (U of I, PhD in composition, 2014) “Cathedral of Fountains."

12/11/2025

If you're planning to be in Chicago for Midwest, consider joining us for the annual Iowa Dinner on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The event will take place at the Berghoff Restaurant from 6:30-8:30 PM. Please RSVP at the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScA3ZDcLwWzyhk8Sb0EcRuwmn8taS0RyCALOF6HdqjuJWpHPA/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawOnhK1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEegSCGnzyUnSXCK5SuJKqLU133WxdpjJQZkhkm2osfenrcYgUy9iAnoxMBLMo_aem_WY1vagREMS4E7S2noIeX2w

Iowa Dinner 2025 Thursday, December 18, 2025 The Berghoff Restaurant, Annex West Room: 17 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM $40 per person (cash only) RSVP deadline: 12:00 (noon), Thursday, December 18, 2025 Bar platter Menu Large Bavarian pretzel served with beer cheddar cheese and sw...

11/21/2025

It was a joy to collaborate with Iowa Brass during the Symphony Band concert on Wednesday. It was an evening of wonderful music. Thank you for joining us, Iowa Brass!

11/13/2025

The annual Iowa Dinner will be held in conjunction with The Midwest Clinic on Thursday, December 18 at The Berghoff located at 17 W. Adams St. in Chicago. UI faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends are cordially invited to attend this fun evening of delicious food and warm fellowship. Information including the menu, price, and RSVP form can be found the link below. Please consider joining us in Chicago and Go Hawks!

Iowa Dinner 2025 Thursday, December 18, 2025 The Berghoff Restaurant, Annex West Room: 17 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM $40 per person (cash only) RSVP deadline: 12:00 (noon), Thursday, December 18, 2025 Bar platter Menu Large Bavarian pretzel served with beer cheddar cheese and sw...