Dr. Rebecca Phillips, Guest Conductor
Dr. 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. Dr. Phillips has served as a 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 American Spring Festival in 2017 (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.
Mr. Martin Dickey, Guest Conductor
Mr. Dickey is a native of Bristol, Virginia and a graduate of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. He earned a master’s degree in arts and letters from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon and a master’s degree in School Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ensembles under his direction have performed at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Day Parade in London, England, the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers. His marching bands have won 17 South Carolina State Championships, 9 Regional Bands of America Class Championships, and are a 6-time Bands of America Grand National Semi-Finalist. Over Mr. Dickey’s career, his concert ensembles have received more than 50 superior ratings, performed at the SCMEA In-Service Conference on multiple occasions, been featured at the USC Band Clinic, and performed at the BOA Concert Festival. Mr. Dickey is active as a musician, clinician, coordinator, adjudicator, and consultant, for organizations and ensembles throughout the southeast and is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He is a Past President of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, and has served on the staff of the US Army All-American Marching Band, and the Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band of America in Pasadena, California.
Dates/Times
Thursday, November 19:
4 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. (Check-in & ensemble placements)
8 p.m. - Opening Ceremony (Concert by the Winthrop University Wind Symphony)
Friday, November 20:
8 a.m. – Ensemble assignments
8:30 a.m. – Morning rehearsal begins
11:30 a.m. – Lunch (on your own)
1 p.m. – Return to rehearsal spaces
1:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. – Masterclasses (Winthrop University Faculty)
3 p.m. – Evening rehearsal begins
7 p.m. – Students dismissed
Saturday, November 21:
8 a.m. – Morning rehearsal begins
9 a.m. – Scholarship Auditions for registered students
11:30 a.m. – Lunch (on your own – change into concert attire)
1:30 p.m. – Afternoon rehearsal begins
3 p.m. – Invitational Band Clinic Concerts
Student participants will be selected from a list of director nominations. Once selected, students will complete a playing assessment for Winthrop University faculty. Participants will then be divided into two bands. Each band will rehearse and perform with one of our expert clinicians.
Nominations must be submitted online no later than Friday, September 25, 2026. Directors will be notified of decisions regarding student selection during the week of October 5.
To access the Nomination Form CLICK HERE.
The following parking lots will be available to all participants and directors throughout the duration of the clinic: Founders Lot and Cherry Road. Please access campus parking maps at the link below for more information.
•Map of parking areas around campus
Each student will be assessed for part placement by the Winthrop University faculty. Students are to prepare a short etude or an excerpt from a solo. Sight-reading and scales MAY be part of the audition. Percussionists will sight-read only and should be prepared to play timpani, mallets, and snare drum.
Scholarships and entrance auditions will be held on Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m.
Interested Seniors are to fill out an application and read the audition requirements no later than November 1 to arrange an audition time.
The 45th Annual Invitational Band Clinic will be held on Thursday, November 19 at 8 p.m. in Byrnes Auditorium. All students and directors are invited to attend a concert performed by our very own Winthrop University Ensembles located in Byrnes Auditorium.
Selected students can find housing at Rock Hill-area hotels either by calling or browsing travel sites online (hotels.com, Trivago, hotwire.com, Kayak, etc.). All housing arrangements are the responsibility of the student, parent, and/or band director. We have provided a list of hotels that participants have used in previous years, but you are free to make reservations wherever you wish. There are numerous restaurants available on campus and within walking distance of campus for lunch and dinner breaks.
CLARION POINTE (803) 329–1330, about 2.8 miles from Winthrop
106 Anderson Rd N, Rock Hill, SC 29730-2712
HILTON GARDEN INN ROCK HILL (803) 325–2800, about 3.1 miles from Winthrop
650 Tinsley Way, Rock Hill, SC 29730
BEST WESTERN ROCK HILL (803) 980–0400, about 3.2 miles from Winthrop
888 Riverview Rd I-77, exit 82B, Rock Hill, SC 29730
HAMPTON INN ROCK HILL (803) 325–1100, about 3.2 miles from Winthrop
2111 Tabor Drive, Rock Hill, SC 29730
CAMBRIA HOTEL ROCK HILL UNIVERSITY CENTER (803) 324–0004, about .4 miles from Winthrop
354 Technology Center Way, Rock Hill, SC 29730-0142
COUNTRY INN & SUITES BY RADISSON, ROCK HILL (803) 329–5151, about 3.0 miles from Winthrop
865 Patriot Parkway, Rock Hill, SC 29730
The final concert for the Invitational Band Clinic will be held on Saturday, November 21 at 3 p.m. in Byrnes Auditorium on the Winthrop University Campus. Students should dress in their school concert band uniform. All guests are welcome to attend at no additional charge. Parking is available on the Winthrop University campus.
For more information please contact:
Kristin Jerí
Instructor of Music, Assistant Director of Bands
Office: 121 Conservatory of Music
Phone: 803/323-4216
E-mail: jerik@winthrop.edu