Bridging Gaps in Music Education: the Seattle Symphony Debuts Clinic at WMEA State Conference

By Alison Ward

On a crisp morning under Yakima’s cloudy skies, a gathering of college musicians meticulously fine-tuned their instruments, preparing themselves for a unique experience. As the anticipation grew, six music educators entered the Yakima Convention Center conference room, each poised to take their place at the conductor’s podium for the inaugural conducting clinic presented by the Seattle Symphony, held during the 48th Annual WMEA State Conference on February 19, 2024. 

At the helm of this groundbreaking clinic stood the Seattle Symphony’s Douglas F. King Associate Conductor, Sunny Xia. With a wealth of expertise and passion, Xia led the conducting clinic, which offered a rare opportunity for six music educators from various school districts across Washington to learn directly from a professional conductor.  

The invitees were Lillian Hollyday (Bellevue), Corinne Smith (University Place), Joshua Parrill (Sunnyside), Ume Lindemeier (Moses Lake), Joseph To (Seattle) and Gabrielle Nickell (Sunnyside). Each educator brought their own unique perspective, experience and enthusiasm. 

The clinic — a collaboration between the Seattle Symphony, Central Washington University’s chamber string ensemble and Anna’s Composer Database — aimed to provide music educators with a personalized learning opportunity while bridging gaps in music education that exist within many school districts. 

“I teach in little Sunnyside; we’re a small district. [The conducting clinic] was open to teachers of all experience [levels]. I’ve been teaching for less than a year, so the fact that I was given this opportunity is just amazing,” said Gabrielle Nickell of Pioneer Elementary, located in Sunnyside. “It’s very important that things like this keep happening and that we are given more opportunities like this as educators, because we don’t really get a lot of time to think about conducting unless we decide to go back and get our master’s or our doctorate in conducting.” 

While representing diverse backgrounds, from gender and race to teaching experience and district resources, the six music educators included choral, band and orchestra directors.  
 
“I really appreciate how the Seattle Symphony is bringing music educators and conductors from all different school levels and backgrounds to work together with renowned conductor Sunny, and to engage in the similar message of joy and community and love through music,” said Lillian Hollyday of Odle Middle School, located in Bellevue. 

Once the clinic began, the six educators delved into a hands-on session, conducting a chamber string ensemble from Central Washington University. Music filled the room as the educators each spent 20 minutes conducting and workshopping compositions selected from Anna’s Composer Database, including pieces by composers such as Burns Reynard, Yukkiko Nishimura and Kenji Bunch. Under the attentive eyes and ears of Xia and the ensemble, they honed their craft, receiving invaluable feedback to refine their techniques. 

“I just loved all the feedback that [Xia] gave and definitely slower pieces are harder pieces — I’m much better at faster pieces,” Nickell said. “Just like my little kiddos at my elementary school, my heart beats a little bit faster, so my internal tempo is faster … so I can actually take back all the feedback about clarity and keep my beat nice and steady.” 

The conducting clinic was designed for long-term use within the various school districts, with every music educator receiving a recording of the session to review at their convenience. This enabled participants, such as Ume Lindemeier from Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake and Joseph To from Washington Middle School in Seattle, to observe their conducting, recall areas for improvement and recognize their strengths effectively. Lindemeier acknowledged a desire to enhance their engagement with students by increasing eye contact, recognizing that they heavily focused on the score during the session. 

For Nickell, the clinic represented a step towards fulfilling lifelong dreams of conducting at higher levels. Despite the distance of her aspirations, Nickell saw the clinic as a crucial first step towards her goals. 

The Seattle Symphony’s collaboration with educators from diverse districts across Washington State exemplifies its unwavering commitment to making music education accessible for all. Through initiatives like the conducting clinic led by Xia, facilitated by the remarkable efforts of the Education & Community Engagement (EDCE) department, the Symphony not only enriches the skills of teachers but also strengthens itself while addressing the pressing need for resources in this field.  

“The conducting clinic was deeply rewarding for me,” Xia said. “It was very inspiring to interact with six talented conductors who embraced the experience with openness, vulnerability and deep passion for their art. The orchestra was an equal partner that brought exceptional artistry and collaborative spirit to the process. I have optimistic hopes that we will continue this partnership that creates opportunities equally accessible for all music educators in Washington State.”