Chris Charboneau, Northern Michigan University 1993 music education alumnus and president of the NMU Alumni Advisory Board, will guest-conduct the Midland Dow High School Symphonic Band at the Michigan Music Conference Friday, Jan. 24, in Grand Rapids.
Charboneau retired in 2019 after a 26-year career as a high school/middle school band director in Michigan. He was the director of bands in the Harrison Community Schools (1993-98), Birmingham Seaholm High School (1998-2004), Oak Park Public Schools (2004-2012) and the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (2012-2019).
Throughout his career, his bands consistently earned 1st division ratings at district and state band and orchestra festivals and jazz festivals. He has been an adjudicator for the M.S.B.O.A. since 1999, judging band and orchestra, jazz and solo and ensemble festivals. He has served as a guest conductor and clinician more than 100 times throughout Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Kentucky.
Charboneau will be conducting the piece "J.S. Jig" (Grade 4) by Brant Karrick at the invitation of Steven DeRees, Midland Dow High School director of bands. Their performance is at 2 p.m. next Friday at the Devos Center in Grand Rapids.
It was previously announced that Director of Choirs Erin Colwitz has been selected to conduct the SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) High School Honors Choir at the Michigan Music Conference. Read more here.