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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

The grant will be awarded to a current student member of WBDI enrolled in a college music program and will cover registration and lodging to the 2026 Summer Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Click on the application button for more requirements to apply.

 

Applications due: June 1, 2026 

Roommate Request Form

2026 WBDI Summer Conference

CONFERENCE LOCATION

Omaha Central High School

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 

Omaha Eppley Airfield

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotel Indigo Omaha Downtown

Hotel Indigo GROUP RATE LINK

includes complementary shuttle to and from airport

0.3 miles from Omaha Central High School

DoubleTree Omaha Downtown

DoubleTree GROUP RATE LINK

includes complementary shuttle to and from airport

0.5 miles from Omaha Central High School

Our 2026 Summer Conference Sponsors

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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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