1. Coe
  2. Faculty & Staff
  3. Bands at Coe College
  4. Festival of Bands

Festival of Bands

Coe College Festival of Bands 2025


Patrick Roszell
Guest Conductor/Composer 


Festival of Bands Gala Concert: 

Coe College Concert Band

Free and open to the public. No tickets required.

William S. Carson, D.M.A. 
Director of Bands
 
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 7:00 pm 
Sinclair Auditorium 
Coe College 
Cedar Rapids, IA 

 

Featured Guest Concert:

The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus

Saturday, April 5, 7:00 pm 
Sinclair Auditorium

Free and open to the public.

Tickets available soon at ARMYFIELDBAND.COM/TICKETS

 

Questions about the Festival? Send us an email

The Coe College Festival of Bands 

Traditionally held each year in April, Coe's Festival of Bands brings a major guest conductor to campus to assist in the celebration of the many facets of band music. 


The Festival Concerts
On Saturday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Sinclair Auditorium, Patrick Roszell will join the Coe College Concert Band as a guest conductor for several of his own works. 

Mr. Roszell will also work with the Elementary Honor Bands, which will perform at 3:00 p.m. that day and with the Coe Junior and Senior Honor Bands, who will present their Festival concert on Sunday, April 13, at 4:00 p.m. Also featured during the Festival, on Thursday, April 10, at 7:00, will be a free concert by the Kirkwood Community College Concert Band, directed by Chris Navarette, and the Coe College Jazz Band, directed by Dr. Steve Shanley. The New Horizons Band of Cedar Rapids, directed by Alan Lawrence, will perform on Tuesday, April 8, at 7 pm, along with the Collins Concert Band, directed by Jim Jezek. Tickets for the Honor Band concerts will be available through the Coe College Box Office. No tickets are required for the free concerts by the Coe College, Kirkwood, Collins, and New Horizons bands. Tickets for the United States Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus are required and will be available soon. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE HONOR BAND TICKETS USING A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD


The Coe College Festival of Bands, under the administration of Dr. Carson, was established in 1994 and has featured a number of respected composers and conductors:

  • 2024: Carol Brittin Chambers,  conductor/composer, Rose Bishop, flute, Alan Theisen, guest composer
  • 2023: Quincy Hilliard,  conductor/composer, Andy Harris, horn
  • 2022: James Swearingen,  conductor/composer, Rose Bishop, flute
  • 2020 and 2021:  No Festival due to Covid
  • 2019: Brian Balmages, conductor/composer, Joe Burgstaller, Arizona State University, trumpet soloist 
  • 2018: Ed Huckeby,  Northeastern State University (Oklahoma), conductor/composer, Eugene Rousseau, saxophone soloist
  • 2017: Robert W. Smith,  Barnhouse publications, conductor/composer, Michael J. Smith, guest conductor/percussionist/vocalist
  • 2016: David Shaffer, Miami University, conductor/composer
  • 2015: Robert Sheldon, Alfred Music, conductor/composer
  • 2014: Matt Conaway, Purdue University, conductor/composer, Steve Shanley (cell phone soloist), Dr. Carson (bass clarinet soloist), Wes Anderson (tuba soloist) and Coe's President David McInally (electric guitar)
  • 2013: David Shaffer, Miami University, conductor/composer, Ted Vives, conductor/arranger
  • 2012: Larry Neeck,  Capital University, conductor/composer, Erica Coutsouridis, flute
  • 2011: James Swearingen,  Capital University, conductor/composer, Erica Coutsouridis, flute
  • 2010:  Len Orcino, Barnhouse publications, conductor/composer
  • 2009: Robert W. Smith,  Barnhouse publications, conductor/composer
  • 2008: Rob Grice,  Barnhouse publications, conductor/composer
  • 2007: James Swearingen,  Capital University, conductor/composer
  • 2006: Ed Huckeby,  Northeastern State University (Oklahoma), conductor/composer
  • 2005: David Holsinger,  Lee University, conductor/composer, David Shaffer, Miami University, conductor/composer
  • 2004: Barry Kopetz,  Capital University, conductor/composer
  • 2003: Quincy Hilliard,  University of Louisiana at Lafayette, conductor/composer/narrator
  • Fall 2001: Michael Daugherty,  University of Michigan, conductor/composer
  • Spring 2001: David Gillingham, Central Michigan University, conductor/composer
  • 2000: Frank Ticheli, conductor/composer
  • 1999: Alfred Reed, conductor/composer
  • 1998: David Holsinger, conductor/composer
  • 1997: Quincy Hilliard,  University of Louisiana at Lafayette, conductor/composer
  • 1996: Michael D. Hanes, Southern Illinois University, Jerry Owen, conductor/composer
  • 1995: Richard Mayne, University of Colorado - Boulder
  • 1994: Richard E. Strange, Arizona State University