
2026 WBDI
Summer Conference
July 8-11, 2026
Omaha, Nebraska
Central High School
Early Bird Registration is open until May 31 at 11:59 p.m.
More details below including hotel group rates.
2026
WBDI
Summer Conference
2026 WBDI Summer Conference
CONFERENCE LOCATION
124 N 20th St, Omaha, NE 68102
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday 7/8:
3:00pm - Registration, board meeting(s) during this time
5:00pm - Dinner (provided)
6:30-9:00pm - Conducting Workshop with Nebraska Wind Symphony
Conductors: Dr. Paula Crider (TX), Dr. Courtney Snyder (MI), & Dr. Josh Kearney (NE)
Thursday 7/9:
8:30am - Registration and coffee
9:00am - Keynote - Dr. Paula Crider (TX)
10:00am - Middle School Band Rehearsal Lab with Dr. Paula Crider (TX)
9:15am - Students arrive and check in
10:00am - Lab band rehearsal with Paula
11:00am - Break
11:15am - Lab Band Culminating Informance
11:30am - End Lab Band
11:45pm - Catered Lunch
1:30pm - Sessions
Room 1: "Teach Them to Fish: Self-Directed Learning in the Band Classroom" - Dr. Jessie Peterson (NC) and Melanie
Watson (NC)
Room 2: "Women on the Podium: When Females Lead" - Dr. Dawn Farmer (IL)
2:30pm - Sessions
Room 1: "Let Them Do the Work: A Learner-Centered Approach to Teaching Independent Musicianship in the Full
Ensemble Rehearsal" - Dr. Kim Mieder (CA)
Room 2: "A Band Director's Survival Guide for Women" - Allyson Rawlings (KY) and Stephanie Wallace (KY)
3:30pm - Sessions
Room 1: "Vibing and Surviving: How Your Program Can Thrive While Facing the
Challenges of Being the Sole Band Director" - Lissette Guardiola (TX)
Room 2: "Unlocking Potential: Ensemble Teaching Tools for Student Musicians with
Disabilities" - Amber Bock (NE)
5:00pm - Jazz on the Green (Bring your dinner - picnic style. Will need blankets/chairs.)
Friday 7/10:
8:30am - Registration and coffee
9:00am - Sessions
Room 1: "No Teacher Is an Island: Tools for Survival in today's Climate" - Dr. Jenny L. Neff (PA)
Room 2: "Double Reed Boot Camp" - Rachel Villareale (KS) and (TBA)
10:00am - Sessions
Room 1: "Unequal Measures: Navigating Gendered Expectations and Identity
Development in Music Education" - Dr. Emily Talley (OH), Alexis Carlson (OH), Jessie Gilbert (OH), and Mallory Skvor
(OH)
Room 2: "What Every Band Director Needs to Know about Breathing" - Dr. Madison Booth (NE)
11:00am - Sessions
Room 1: "There's a Stategy for That" - Audrey Yosai (NC)
Room 2: "Recruiting and Retention Starts Outside of the Classroom: Strategies for
Building a Thriving Music Program" - Christin McClain (OH)
12:00pm - Lunch on own
1:00pm - Joslyn Tour
3:30pm - General Membership Meeting
4:30pm - Dinner on own
6:30-8:30pm Reading session with Omaha Symphonic Winds
Saturday 7/11:
Potential social gathering at Henry Doorly Zoo for those who are staying through.
TRANSPORTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel Indigo GROUP RATE LINK
includes complementary shuttle to and from airport
0.3 miles from Omaha Central High School
DoubleTree GROUP RATE LINK
includes complementary shuttle to and from airport
0.5 miles from Omaha Central High School


Summer Conference Planning Committee
CO-CHAIR & SITE HOSTESS - Chiyo Trauernicht (NE)
CO-CHAIR - Dr. Courtney Snyder (MI) - Past President
Pam Klena (MI) - President
Leah McGray (Ontario, Canada) - Immediate Past Host
Ruth Petersen (NC) - Past Host & Executive Secretary
M. J. Robinson (IN) - President-Elect
Shannon Shaker (MI) - Past Hostess
Amy Wemhoff (NE)

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