Featured Clinicians
2025 BYU Regional Music for All Concert Band Festival
We are pleased to have nationally-recognized experts in the field of bands and conducting for the BYU Concert Band Festival. Our featured clinicians will provide a wealth of experience and feedback for all bands participating in the festival.
2025 CLINICIANS
Rebecca Phillips
Dr. Rebecca Phillips is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Colorado State University where she conducts the CSU Wind Symphony and guides all aspects of the band and graduate wind conducting programs. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Carolina where she was responsible for directing the Symphonic Winds Concert Band, “The Mighty Sound of the Southeast” Carolina Marching Band, “Concocktion” Pep Bands, teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting, and directing the Carolina Summer Drum Major Clinic.
Dr. Phillips has served as guest-conductor, clinician, and performer throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Highlights include conductor-in-residence with the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., the Department of Defense All-Europe High School Honor Band in Frankfurt, Germany, guest-conducting the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and both professional and collegiate musicians in Prague (Czech Republic) for the “Prague Multicultural Music Project.” In addition, she has conducted members of the Prague National Symphony at the inaugural "2017 American Spring Festival" (Prague, Czech Republic). In 2018, she conducted members of the Des Moines Symphony in a chamber concert for the Iowa Bandmasters Association annual conference.
Dr. Phillips regularly conducts intercollegiate and collegiate honor bands, all-state bands, and festival bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe and she has been a rehearsal clinician at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. Ensembles under her direction have been featured at the 2020 Colorado Music Educators Association Convention, the 2019 American Bandmasters Association National Convention, the 2012 College Band Director’s National Association Southern Division Conference, the 2010 Society of Composers International Conference, and the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance International Convention.
Dr. Phillips believes in treasuring the traditional wind music of the past as well as promoting cutting edge works of today’s finest composers. She commissioned and conducted world and consortium premieres of works by several leading composers, including William Bolcom, James David, John Mackey, John Fitz Rogers, Kevin Poelking, Adam Silverman, Frank Ticheli, and Dana Wilson to name a few. Her conducting performances of David del Tredici’s In Wartime and John Mackey’s Redline Tango are both featured on the nationally distributed Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble compact disc project and the world premiere of John Fitz Rogers Narragansett is featured on the Compact Disc And I Await, featuring Dr. Phillips as guest-conductor of the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble.
As a trombonist, Dr. Phillips’ performances can be found on several internationally distributed recordings. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Tampa Bay Opera Orchestra. She has also performed internationally in England, Mexico, the Caribbean, Russia, and Sweden, and has toured as a trombonist with Johnny Mathis and Barry Manilow.
A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Dr. Phillips earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University, Master of Music degrees in conducting and trombone performance from the University of South Florida, and Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting at Louisiana State University. She served as a secondary school band director for seven years in Florida, including Director of Bands at Howard W. Blake Performing Arts High School in Tampa, Florida where she developed an award-winning concert band program. She is a Past President of the National Band Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the American Bandmasters Association, served in various capacities with the College band Directors National Association, and is on the college/university board for the Western International Band Clinic.
Dr. Phillips has served as guest-conductor, clinician, and performer throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Highlights include conductor-in-residence with the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., the Department of Defense All-Europe High School Honor Band in Frankfurt, Germany, guest-conducting the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and both professional and collegiate musicians in Prague (Czech Republic) for the “Prague Multicultural Music Project.” In addition, she has conducted members of the Prague National Symphony at the inaugural "2017 American Spring Festival" (Prague, Czech Republic). In 2018, she conducted members of the Des Moines Symphony in a chamber concert for the Iowa Bandmasters Association annual conference.
Dr. Phillips regularly conducts intercollegiate and collegiate honor bands, all-state bands, and festival bands across the United States, Canada, and Europe and she has been a rehearsal clinician at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. Ensembles under her direction have been featured at the 2020 Colorado Music Educators Association Convention, the 2019 American Bandmasters Association National Convention, the 2012 College Band Director’s National Association Southern Division Conference, the 2010 Society of Composers International Conference, and the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance International Convention.
Dr. Phillips believes in treasuring the traditional wind music of the past as well as promoting cutting edge works of today’s finest composers. She commissioned and conducted world and consortium premieres of works by several leading composers, including William Bolcom, James David, John Mackey, John Fitz Rogers, Kevin Poelking, Adam Silverman, Frank Ticheli, and Dana Wilson to name a few. Her conducting performances of David del Tredici’s In Wartime and John Mackey’s Redline Tango are both featured on the nationally distributed Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble compact disc project and the world premiere of John Fitz Rogers Narragansett is featured on the Compact Disc And I Await, featuring Dr. Phillips as guest-conductor of the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble.
As a trombonist, Dr. Phillips’ performances can be found on several internationally distributed recordings. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Tampa Bay Opera Orchestra. She has also performed internationally in England, Mexico, the Caribbean, Russia, and Sweden, and has toured as a trombonist with Johnny Mathis and Barry Manilow.
A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Dr. Phillips earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University, Master of Music degrees in conducting and trombone performance from the University of South Florida, and Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting at Louisiana State University. She served as a secondary school band director for seven years in Florida, including Director of Bands at Howard W. Blake Performing Arts High School in Tampa, Florida where she developed an award-winning concert band program. She is a Past President of the National Band Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the American Bandmasters Association, served in various capacities with the College band Directors National Association, and is on the college/university board for the Western International Band Clinic.
Phillip Riggs
Phillip Riggs, 2016 Grammy Music Educator of the Year, retired after teaching more than 30 years in North Carolina. He is a music instructor emeritus at the NC School of Science and Math, Durham, NC. Phillip is a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award and the Exceptional Contribution in Outreach Award presented by the UNC Board of Governors. Mr. Riggs was voted into the North Carolina Band Directors Hall of Fame (2023). Prior to joining the NCSSM faculty, he was the first fine arts chair at Ronald Reagan High School, Winston-Salem, NC where he was the first faculty member inducted into the Reagan High School Hall of Fame, (Fall, 2015). Before assuming that position, Mr. Riggs taught in Davidson County for sixteen years.
Phillip currently serves as a conductor/administrator with the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project (WAWOP) held in Austria each summer. He and his wife Carol are co-founders of the American Music Education Network. Mr. Riggs is a Past President of the NC Band Directors Association. He also served as chair of the North Carolina High School All-State Band (8 years), chair of the NCMEA Technology and founding chair of the NCMEA New Teacher/Mentor Program. He was the coordinator of the National Association for Music Educators, (NAfME) National Wind Ensemble at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (2011, 2012). He has also served as the Southern Division Representative on the NAfME Council for Band and the NC chair of the National Band Association. His professional affiliations include NAfME, NCMEA, NBA, and ASBDA. Phillip, a Conn-Selmer Educational Artist, is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Austria, and China.
Phillip currently serves as a conductor/administrator with the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project (WAWOP) held in Austria each summer. He and his wife Carol are co-founders of the American Music Education Network. Mr. Riggs is a Past President of the NC Band Directors Association. He also served as chair of the North Carolina High School All-State Band (8 years), chair of the NCMEA Technology and founding chair of the NCMEA New Teacher/Mentor Program. He was the coordinator of the National Association for Music Educators, (NAfME) National Wind Ensemble at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (2011, 2012). He has also served as the Southern Division Representative on the NAfME Council for Band and the NC chair of the National Band Association. His professional affiliations include NAfME, NCMEA, NBA, and ASBDA. Phillip, a Conn-Selmer Educational Artist, is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Austria, and China.
Christopher Nelson
Christopher M. Nelson is a conductor, educator, composer, and arranger, and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Snow College, in Ephraim, Utah. His wide array of musical interests stem from his experiences as a music educator and community performer. His studies have taken him to degree programs at Brigham Young University, Washington State University, and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where his research has focused upon the creation of transcriptions of percussion and keyboard works for the modern wind band.
As an educator, Chris has held band director positions in the Salem-Keizer (OR) and Alpine (UT) school districts, where his ensembles have been consistently recognized for their high-quality performances. His bands have been invited to state festivals and contests in both Oregon and Utah, earning superior ratings and state placements with his concert, jazz, and percussion ensembles. His marching ensembles have been similarly recognized with state classification championships and numerous caption awards. He has presented at the Utah, Indiana, and Oregon Music Educators Association Conferences, and has been awarded the Citation of Excellence from the Utah Chapter of the National Band Association. Chris is sought after as a concert and marching band adjudicator, clinician, and arranger throughout the United States.
A native of Oregon, Chris has works for band published by C-Alan Publications. Pieces written by him have been performed by the Musashino Academy of Music Wind Ensemble, the Indiana University Wind Ensemble, and Michigan State University Wind Symphony, among others. His music has been performed throughout the world, including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, the Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, and at Carnegie Hall. In addition to his works for the concert hall, Chris enjoys writing and arranging for bands in virtually any circumstance including marching band, pep band, graduation ensembles, and drumlines. His favorite thing to do in the whole world is to spend time with his wife, Jessica, and their four children.
As an educator, Chris has held band director positions in the Salem-Keizer (OR) and Alpine (UT) school districts, where his ensembles have been consistently recognized for their high-quality performances. His bands have been invited to state festivals and contests in both Oregon and Utah, earning superior ratings and state placements with his concert, jazz, and percussion ensembles. His marching ensembles have been similarly recognized with state classification championships and numerous caption awards. He has presented at the Utah, Indiana, and Oregon Music Educators Association Conferences, and has been awarded the Citation of Excellence from the Utah Chapter of the National Band Association. Chris is sought after as a concert and marching band adjudicator, clinician, and arranger throughout the United States.
A native of Oregon, Chris has works for band published by C-Alan Publications. Pieces written by him have been performed by the Musashino Academy of Music Wind Ensemble, the Indiana University Wind Ensemble, and Michigan State University Wind Symphony, among others. His music has been performed throughout the world, including the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, the Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, and at Carnegie Hall. In addition to his works for the concert hall, Chris enjoys writing and arranging for bands in virtually any circumstance including marching band, pep band, graduation ensembles, and drumlines. His favorite thing to do in the whole world is to spend time with his wife, Jessica, and their four children.
Jon Gomez
Jon Gomez serves as a National Educational Clinician providing services as a music educator, conductor, consultant, public speaker, and adjudicator. He serves as the Conductor of the Arizona Wind Symphony in Tempe, Arizona. Jon is the Former Director of Bands and Department Chair for the Performing Arts at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona (2000-2016). In prior years, he served as Director of Bands at Coronado High School and as the District Team Leader for Bands in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Jon received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Arizona State University.
Bands under Gomez’s leadership earned numerous accolades and have presented distinguished performances, including four invitations to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, Carnegie Hall, five performances at the Arizona Music Educators Conference, and have toured internationally throughout Europe and China.
Gomez is associated with The Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee. He has served as the President of the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and as the Co-Founder of the Summer Marching Academy. As the Co-Founder of Synergy Leadership Endeavors, he helped in the creation of the video entitled, “Leadership Success”, published by GIA Publication (2004). His extended appointments include Northern Arizona University as Interim Associate Director of Bands, Guest Conductor at the NAU Curry Summer Music Camp, Associate Conductor with the East Valley Youth Symphony, and Principal Clarinetist with the Tempe Wind Ensemble.
Gomez is a Charter Member of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Jon is also the Recipient of the Arizona State University School of Music Alumni Award and the AMEA O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award.
Bands under Gomez’s leadership earned numerous accolades and have presented distinguished performances, including four invitations to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, Carnegie Hall, five performances at the Arizona Music Educators Conference, and have toured internationally throughout Europe and China.
Gomez is associated with The Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee. He has served as the President of the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and as the Co-Founder of the Summer Marching Academy. As the Co-Founder of Synergy Leadership Endeavors, he helped in the creation of the video entitled, “Leadership Success”, published by GIA Publication (2004). His extended appointments include Northern Arizona University as Interim Associate Director of Bands, Guest Conductor at the NAU Curry Summer Music Camp, Associate Conductor with the East Valley Youth Symphony, and Principal Clarinetist with the Tempe Wind Ensemble.
Gomez is a Charter Member of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Jon is also the Recipient of the Arizona State University School of Music Alumni Award and the AMEA O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award.