2019 John Philip Sousa National Honor Bands - New England Region
April 18-20, 2019: The Bromfield School - Harvard, MA

STUDENTS: Student Application Form
IMPORTANT DATES:
December 17, 2018 - Application Process Opens
January 31, 2019 - Application Deadline
February, 2019 - Students are Selected & Notified
March 18, 2019 - Music is Mailed
March 25, 2019 - Registration Fees Due
April 18, 2019: Festival Day #1
April 19, 2019: Festival Day #2
April 20, 2019: Festival Concert - 1pm at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
IMPORTANT DATES:
December 17, 2018 - Application Process Opens
January 31, 2019 - Application Deadline
February, 2019 - Students are Selected & Notified
March 18, 2019 - Music is Mailed
March 25, 2019 - Registration Fees Due
April 18, 2019: Festival Day #1
April 19, 2019: Festival Day #2
April 20, 2019: Festival Concert - 1pm at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Conductors:
Mr. Jared Bloch - Junior Honors Concert Band
Mr. Jay S. Gephart - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
Mr. Jared Bloch - Junior Honors Concert Band
Mr. Jay S. Gephart - Senior Honors Symphonic Band
Festival Host:
Craig Robbins, Host The Bromfield School 14 Massachusetts Avenue Harvard, MA 01451 |
Festival Hotel:
The Colonial Hotel
625 Betty Spring Road
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 630-2500
Festival Coordinators:
Craig A. Robbins, Administrator
Robert L. Rucinski, Administrator
Thomas E. Reynolds, Administrator
The Colonial Hotel
625 Betty Spring Road
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 630-2500
Festival Coordinators:
Craig A. Robbins, Administrator
Robert L. Rucinski, Administrator
Thomas E. Reynolds, Administrator

CONDUCTOR BIOS:
Mr. Jared Bloch
Jared Bloch is currently a graduate teaching assistant studying wind conducting at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has recently conducted several of the university’s ensembles in performance including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Concert Band, Brass Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and the Minuteman Marching Band.
During his time at UMass he has been invited to guest conduct the Anna Maria College Wind Ensemble and the Amherst Community Band. Additionally, he serves as the music education intern and assistant conductor of The Valley Winds, an audition-based community band in western Massachusetts.
Prior to attending UMass, Mr. Bloch spent three years as the band and choral director at Ayer Shirley Regional High School, in Ayer, MA. During his time at ASRHS he revitalized the music program, doubling the size of both ensembles as well as reintroducing the marching and jazz band programs, which the district had been missing for over a decade.
Mr. Bloch is a native of Westborough, MA and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with Performance Honors from the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. He has studied conducting with Dr. Matthew Westgate and Dr. James Tapia and has studied percussion with Thom Hannum, Ayano Kataoka, Tom Giampietro, Michael Bull, and Josh Dekaney.
Mr. Jared Bloch
Jared Bloch is currently a graduate teaching assistant studying wind conducting at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has recently conducted several of the university’s ensembles in performance including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Concert Band, Brass Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and the Minuteman Marching Band.
During his time at UMass he has been invited to guest conduct the Anna Maria College Wind Ensemble and the Amherst Community Band. Additionally, he serves as the music education intern and assistant conductor of The Valley Winds, an audition-based community band in western Massachusetts.
Prior to attending UMass, Mr. Bloch spent three years as the band and choral director at Ayer Shirley Regional High School, in Ayer, MA. During his time at ASRHS he revitalized the music program, doubling the size of both ensembles as well as reintroducing the marching and jazz band programs, which the district had been missing for over a decade.
Mr. Bloch is a native of Westborough, MA and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with Performance Honors from the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. He has studied conducting with Dr. Matthew Westgate and Dr. James Tapia and has studied percussion with Thom Hannum, Ayano Kataoka, Tom Giampietro, Michael Bull, and Josh Dekaney.

Mr. Jay S. Gephart
Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed Director of University Bands. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educator’s Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster's Association, held in Indianapolis. He has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including "Anthem" by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands.
In May, 2008, he traveled with the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band to Beijing, China to perform in the “Meet in Beijing” International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games and in 2006 his Purdue Symphonic Band performed at the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall. Professor Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana and Arkansas and served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award.
Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator’s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educator's Association and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008 and now serves on the ABA Board of Directors He, his wife Jana and their family reside in Lafayette, Indiana.
Jay S. Gephart joined the faculty of Purdue University in the fall of 1995 after having completed 12 years as a public school band director. In July of 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure and in 2009 was promoted to Full Professor. In November, 2006, Professor Gephart was appointed Director of University Bands. He currently serves as Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and the Purdue University Wind Ensemble. He is also coordinator of the concert band program. From 1995-2006, Professor Gephart served as the music director for the Purdue Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Gephart received a Master of Music Degree in Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with Distinction from Indiana University in 1983. Under his direction, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra have shared the stage with some of the nation’s outstanding soloists and have represented Purdue at the Indiana Music Educator’s Association state convention on two occasions. In February of 2012 the Purdue Wind Ensemble performed a concert at the national convention of the American Bandmaster's Association, held in Indianapolis. He has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, lecturer and adjudicator both nationally and internationally. He has commissioned numerous works for wind band, including "Anthem" by Steven Bryant which was premiered in 2011 celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Purdue Bands.
In May, 2008, he traveled with the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band to Beijing, China to perform in the “Meet in Beijing” International Arts and Music Festival prior to the Olympic Games and in 2006 his Purdue Symphonic Band performed at the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall. Professor Gephart has conducted All-State Bands in Indiana and Arkansas and served as a clinician at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In 1997, he was selected to conduct the music camp honor band for the Department of Education in the Northern Region of Queensland, Australia. In his career he has been the recipient of many awards and honors including the Indiana Outstanding Bandmaster Award and the Purdue University New Professional Award.
Mr. Gephart has been very active in various professional organizations including Music Educator’s National Conference, National Band Association, College Band Director’s National Association, Indiana Bandmaster’s Association, Indiana Music Educator's Association and Phi Beta Mu. From 2010-12, he served as President of the Big Ten Band Director’s Association and currently holds the position of Vice President and Treasurer of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He is also a member of the NBA Revelli Composition Contest selection committee. In 2012, he was elected to a position on the board of the National Band Association, serving as the Collegiate Representative. Professor Gephart was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster’s Association in 2008 and now serves on the ABA Board of Directors He, his wife Jana and their family reside in Lafayette, Indiana.