Saturday, February 21, 2026 @ 7:00 pm, Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall
(Snow date: Sunday, Feb. 22)
40th Annual High School Honor Band Concert
Matthew Westgate, Lindsay Bronnenkant, and Daniel Albert, conductors
Michele Fernández, guest composer
High school musicians from around the northeast, recommended by their teachers and band directors, gather for a day-long festival of rehearsing, teaching, and mixing with UMass students and faculty, culminating in the evening concert.
Michele Fernández is a published composer, active guest clinician, adjudicator and performer. Her Jazz and Symphonic compositions have been premiered at Midwest, CBDNA, IAJE, MEA's and All-State /Regional venues as well as professional venues. Her works are currently (and/or scheduled to be) published through Hal Leonard, Excelcia/Kendor, Doug Beach, JW Pepper, Murphy Music Press, EJazz Lines/Walrus, Jazz Zone (as well here: *Michele Fernández Music*). She is a member of Phi Beta Mu (Omega Chapter) and an active member of FBA, JEN, ISJAC, MBDNA. She frequently serves as a guest clinician/conductor for All-State groups and Regional Honors Jazz/Symphonic groups. She has appeared as a Midwest Clinic lecturer (’07 / ’16), JEN '22, various State MEA's. She is a Conn-Selmer and Hal-Leonard sponsored clinician, as well as a freelance guest clinician/conductor for universities and districts across the country.
