Damon Talley, USA - Primary Clinician and Coordinator

Damon Talley also made a guest appearance at the Mid EUROPE masterclass in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he will coordinate the course and be actively involved as the “Primary Clinician”. Damon Talley is Band Director and Professor of Conducting at the Louisiana State University School of Music (USA) where, in addition to teaching, he also conducts the wind orchestra and is head of the Orchestra Division. Prior to Louisiana State University, Dr. Talley held the position of Band Director at the Shenandoah Conservatory, where he led the wind-orchestra program, the EDGE New Music Ensemble, and was in charge of training conductors. He has also taught at the University of Texas in Austin and the University of Michigan. As an enthusiastic promoter of new music for wind orchestra, Dr. Talley has conducted numerous first performances. His most important conducting instructors include Jerry Junkin, Michael Haithcock and H. Robert Reynolds.

Jean-Claude Braun, LUX - guest clinician

Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Braun comes from a family of musicians, his father was a clarinettist in the Grand Ducal Military Band of Luxembourg and his mother was the assistant director of the Conservatory of Esch-sur-Alzette (L). At the age of 17 he was already solo horn player in the Grand Ducal Military Band and at 22 he completed his studies at the "Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles" with a "Diplôme supérieur". In addition to his career as a horn player in national and international orchestras, he took over the direction of the horn class at the conservatory of Esch-sur-Alzette (L) as a lecturer in 1997.

In 2004 he was accepted into the renowned conducting class for symphony orchestras of the well-known conductor and professor Jan Stulen at the University of Music in Maastricht (NL). After successfully completing his Bachelor's degree in 2007, he moved to the "Lemmensinstitut" in Leuven (B) in the class of Professor Edmond Saveniers, where he was awarded a Master's degree in 2009.

Since 1 August 2012, Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Braun has been Chief Conductor of the Grand Ducal Military Orchestra of Luxembourg. Together with the 60-strong professional orchestra, he performs around 50 concerts a year. In addition to a whole series of CD recordings for Hal Leonard, Amstel Music, Baton Music and Bronsheim, he has also worked with world-famous musicians such as: Peng Peng Gong (piano), Prof Jo Alessi, Prof Armin Rosin and Prof Jacques Mauger, Tommy Verschoore (trombone), Glenn van Looy and Philippe Schwartz (euphonium), Prof Eric Aubier and Prof Marc Geujon (trumpet). Marc Geujon (trumpet), Johan de Meij, Ferrer Ferran, Marco Pütz, Peter Kleine Schaars, Otto M. Schwarz, Vladimir Cosma, Mario Bürki, Bert Appermont (composer and conductor), the conductors Norbert Nozy and Toni Scholl and many others.

Michael Haithcock, USA - guest clinician

Michael Haithcock retired in May 2023 after 22 years as Director of Bands and Professor of Music (Conducting) at the University of Michigan, following a 23-year tenure at Baylor University. As the successor to William D. Revelli and H. Robert Reynolds, Haithcock led the renowned University of Michigan Symphony Band, directed the graduate program for band and wind ensemble conducting, and managed the university's historic band program. In 2012, he was named an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, the university's highest teaching award. He is the author of the widely adopted textbook "Elements of Expressive Conducting."

Ensembles under Haithcock’s guidance consistently received acclaim for their artistic excellence, performing at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall. The University of Michigan Symphony Band's YouTube channel is a valuable resource for bands worldwide and showcases Haithcock's achievements.

Throughout his career, Professor Haithcock has commissioned and premiered numerous new works for bands and has been praised for his innovative approaches to repertoire development and his interpretations. He is in constant demand as a guest conductor with professional ensembles, major universities, all-state, and festival ensembles. Professor Haithcock, a graduate of East Carolina University and Baylor University, has studied at various conducting workshops, including the Herbert Blomstedt Orchestral Conducting Institute. His articles on conducting and wind literature have been published in several renowned journals.

Haithcock is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and the American Bandmasters Association. He remains active in the College Band Directors National Association, where he served as president (2001–2003) and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. In 2011, he was awarded the Distinguished Service to Music Medal by Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Dr. Steven Ward, USA - guest clinician

Dr. Steven Ward is Music Director/Conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Abilene, Music Director/Conductor of the Abilene Youth Orchestra, and Professor of Music and Director of Orchestra and Bands at Abilene Christian University. He is also conductor of the San Angelo Ballet's annual Nutcracker production and conductor of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts faculty orchestra and ensembles. Dr. Ward has conducted in many different areas including orchestra, dance/ballet, band, musical theater, opera, and contemporary music. He holds a DMA in Conducting from Michigan State University, an MA in Conducting from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a BMEd from Abilene Christian University.