Events

Come and observe Travis Cross working with two outstanding ensembles in Hornsby. Registration is free for members of ABODA NSW.   Come for either rehearsal or for both rehearsals.   About Travis: Travis J. Cross (he/him) serves as professor of music and director of bands at UCLA, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and leads the graduate wind conducting program. He chaired the music department from 2018–23 and was associate dean for academic mentoring and opportunity during the initial years of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Cross has conducted the UCLA Wind Ensemble at the California All-State Music Education Conference and College Band Directors National Association Western/Northwestern Division conference and prepared the band for centenary performances of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. During five years as wind ensemble conductor at Virginia Tech, Cross led students in performances at the Virginia Music Educators Association conference, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall and developed the Virginia Tech Band Directors Institute into a major conducting workshop. Cross earned doctor and master of music degrees in conducting from Northwestern University and the bachelor of music degree cum laude in vocal and instrumental music education from St. Olaf College. His principal teachers were Mallory Thompson and Timothy Mahr. Prior to graduate study, he taught for four years at Edina (Minn.) High School, where he conducted two concert bands and led the marching band program. In 2004, Cross participated in the inaugural Young Conductor/Mentor Project sponsored by the National Band Association. The same year he received the Distinguished Young Band Director Award from the American School Band Directors Association of Minnesota. From 2001–2003, Cross served a two-year term as the recent graduate on the St. Olaf College Board of Regents. In 2006, he was named a Jacob K. Javits Fellow by the United States Department of Education. From 2011–2015, he served two terms as national vice president for professional relations for Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity. In 2017, Cross taught the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps as brass co-caption head, serving since as a consultant and ensemble specialist. A proud Korean adoptee, Cross has led efforts to foster mentorship and networking opportunities within the Asian American band director community. In 2022, he joined the Council of Korean Americans. Cross wrote a chapter for volume four of Composers on Composing for Band and contributed to The Horizon Leans Forward: Stories of Courage, Strength, and Triumph of Underrepresented Communities in the Wind Band Field andThe Future of the Wind Band: Philosopher and Practitioner in Dialog, all available from GIA Publications. His more than 20 original compositions and arrangements are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Daehn Publications/C.L. Barnhouse, and Theodore Music. Cross has appeared as a guest conductor, composer, and clinician in nearly 40 states; internationally in Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates; as featured band clinician at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention; and on several occasions at the Music for All National Festival and Midwest Clinic. Travis was a keynote speaker at the 2024 Australian National Band and Orchestra Conference in Melbourne, Victoria. He has engagements in California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Utah, China, and Singapore during the 2024–25 season. Cross is a Yamaha Master Educator.

Don't miss our next PD event for Band and Orchestra Directors. David Lockeridge will present an afternoon of insights, tips and strategies for better engaging with your percussion students.  The event will be held at Lindfield Learning Village, in the NSSWE rehearsal room. The event will be held from 3pm on Saturday, 29 November. Tickets are free for ABODA members, or $40 if you are not a member. The event will be followed by optional drinks at the Greengate Hotel. This is an event you don't want to miss!!   About David: David Lockeridge is a highly in-demand Australian percussionist and educator, working in multiple areas of the music industry, including as a soloist, freelance percussionist, chamber musician, session musician, and guest artist with chamber ensembles and orchestras. David keeps a busy schedule with recent commercial engagements including the 25th Anniversary of Jekyll and Hyde with Anthony Warlow, Riceboy Sleeps with Jonsi and Alex (Game of Thrones, Sigur Ros, How to Train Your Dragon, We Bought a Zoo), the Sydney and Queensland seasons of Bring It On: The Musical, Wallace and Gromit’s Musical Marvels at the Sydney Opera House, the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics on channel 9 and the celebrations for the Sydney Harbour Bridges’ 90th Anniversary. In 2023, David was featured in the Netflix show Wellmania with Celeste Barber. David is constantly touring with veteran percussion ensemble Btutta with recent tours to Asia and Australia wide for Musica Viva. David has given multiple premieres of new works for marimba and is currently touring his new solo concert “From Near and Far.” This concert features new virtuosic works written for David by leading Australian and overseas composers. You can hear David on multiple recordings with 2021 seeing the release of his new album From Near and Far – a Percussion Journey. David has worked with Casey Donovan, Anthony Warlow, John Foreman OAM, Peter Cousens, Icehouse, Human Nature, Felix Riebl, Jonsi, Alex Somers, Eddie Perfect, Rachel Beck, Simon Wright (AC/DC), Lucy Durack, The Sydney International Orchestra, The Aussie Pops Orchestra and many other Australian and international acts. Composers David has worked with include Ross Edwards, Gerard Brophy, John Psathas, Dr Diana Blom, Sally Whitwell, Alex Gomez at Otis Studios, Alex Chilvers and Daniel Rojas. With a passion for education, David teaches percussion students in the Bachelor of Music degree at the University of New South Wales. Since 2015, David has worked with the NSW Symphonic Wind Ensemble, NSW Symphony Orchestra and the School Spectacular Orchestra based at the Arts Unit, a specialist’s arm of the Department of Education focusing on the arts. Every year, David tours Australia giving master classes and educational events through music camps and regional conservatoriums. In 2023, David was invited to join the panel of adjudicators for the Australian Marimba Competition, a world renowned competition based in Melbourne. In 2023, David became an artist endorser with Malletech and proudly performs on an Imperial Grand Marimba with Malletech mallets.

Join us, and catch up with your friends on Friday 14 June at the Fire House Hotel in North Sydney. ABODA NSW will be putting a tab on the bar... but "it's first in best dressed!" Professor Anna Reid is our special guest speaker for the evening. RSVP via email (president@abodansw.com.au or the Facebook Event) During the night, we will be holding our Annual General Meeting. We are officially calling for nominations for the 2024-2025 ABODA NSW Committee. All positions will be declared vacant and nominations can be sent to secretary@abodansw.com.au or president@abodansw.com.au