WYWOP - Conductors

Every year, the International Wind Music Festival Mid EUROPE has a first-class selection of local conductors who not only conduct the master class "Conducting", but above all the orchestra projects WYWOP and WAWOP.

Present at Mid EUROPE 2025:

Kevin Sedatole

Kevin L. Sedatole
Kevin Sedatole is the Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Chair of the conducting area at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Music. He oversees the band program of over 700 students, including the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, Concert Band, Chamber Winds, Spartan Marching Band, and Spartan Brass. He also directs the graduate wind-conducting program and conducts the MSU Wind Symphony.

Before MSU, Sedatole held positions at Baylor University, the University of Texas, the University of Michigan, and Stephen F. Austin State University. He has conducted performances for prestigious organizations such as the College Band Directors National Association, American Bandmasters Association, and at Carnegie Hall. Sedatole has led performances across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, receiving recognition from notable composers like John Corigliano and Michael Colgrass.

Sedatole has taught in Germany and Japan and served on the faculties of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Interlochen Music Camp. He is also a consultant for Perform America-Texas and a master educator for Yamaha.

Sami Ruusuvuori

Sami Ruusuvuori
Doctor of Music Sami Ruusuvuori serves as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Police Symphonic Band. Ruusuvuori has previously worked as the conductor of the Representative Orchestra of the President of the Republic, the Guards Band and the Chief Conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces. He has a deep understanding of classical, jazz and commercial music which has allowed him to work with many of Finland’s best musicians. Ruusuvuori has conducted ensembles on tours of United States, Japan, Russia, Europe, the Baltic States and all the Nordic countries. He has also been a guest conductor in Europe, the Nordic, the Baltic, Russia, and the USA. He has been a jury member for several international competitions. As a teacher, he has worked at the Sibelius Academy and has lectured and taught at numerous other universities and master classes. 

Sami Ruusuvuori is a strong proponent of new music and has commissioned and premiered many new pieces. He has conducted 13 recordings and numerous You- Tube videos. Ruusuvuori completed his doctorate in music in the spring of 2022 with a thesis on the Symphonic wind band and the European repertoire composed for it. His research has attracted widespread international interest. Since 2023, Ruusuvuori has been President of the Finnish Wind Band Association and from 2024 on the Board of the World Association of Symphony Orchestras and Ensembles.

Johann Mösenbichler 005 © Mösenbichler 2014

Johann Mösenbichler
Prof. Johann Mösenbichler joined the Executive Board of the MID EUROPE in 1997, and was appointed as the President of the “Mid Europe Festival” in Schladming in 2000.He is the artistic director of the festival and principal conductor of the Bavarian Police Orchestra as well as a professor at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music in Linz. Johann Mösenbichler performs and conducts widely, teaches, and has served as a clinician and adjudicator at seminars, workshops and competitions in Asia, the USA, and throughout Europe. He has also been honored to conduct prestigious orchestras such as the Sinfonietta Da Camera in Salzburg.

Verena Mösenbichler Bryant 004 © Mösenbichler Bryant 2017

Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant
Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant serves as Executive Director of the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project and the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project of the annual Mid-Europe festival in Schladming. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant serves as Associate Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke University, Director of the Duke University Wind Symphony, Director of Undergraduate Studies for the music department and Artistic Director & conductor of the Durham Medical Orchestra. Verena serves frequently as cover conductor for the North Carolina Symphony, and as guest conductor and clinician across the United States, Japan, as well as in her native Austria.

Previous Conductors and Guests

2024: Michael Haithcock (University of Michigan, retired), Jean-Claude Braun (Chief Conductor of the Grand Ducal Military Band of Luxembourg), Prof. Johann Mösenbichler, Dr. Verena Mösenbichler Bryant

Soloist - Principal Trombonist of the Tonkünstler Orchester (Vienna) Andreas Eitzinger 

Head of Register - Nicholas Carlson, Matt Dockendorf, Jenifer Kechulius, Ryan Kelly, Dennis Llinás, Sarah Llinás, David Saad, Marc Sosnowchick, Dan Tembras, Serena Weren

2023: Damon Talley ( Louisiana State University School of Music), Isabelle Ruf-Weber (Conductor from Switzerland), Jerry Junkin (University of Texas), Prof. Johann Mösenbichler, Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant,

Soloist: flutist of Vienna Volksoper Birgit Ramsl

Section Coaches: Oliver Hummel, Jenifer Kechulius, Ryan Kelly, Dennis Llinas, Marc Sosnowchik, Heribert Prinz, Dan Tembras, Serena Weren, Kristin Ward
 

2022: Kevin L. Sedatole (Michigan State University), Paulo Martins (Dirigent aus Portugal), Prof. Johann Mösenbichler, Dana Pradervand, Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant,

Soloist: Euphonium Soloist Steven Mead

Section Coaches: Katharina Eckerstorfer, Oliver Hummel, Jenifer Kechulius, Ryan Kelly, Dennis Llinas, Marc Sosnowchik, Heribert Prinz, Dan Tembras, Serena Weren

2019: Gary Hill (Arizona State University), Jacob de Haan (composer/conductor from the Netherlands), Prof. Johann Mösenbichler, Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant

Section Coaches: Katharina Eckerstorfer, Richard Frey, Lisa McKim-Hill, Dennis Llinas, Oliver Hummel, Marc Sosnowchik, Ryan Kelly, Heribert Prinz, Serena Weren

2018: Miguel Etchegoncelay, Frank Ticheli, Johann Mösenbichler, Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, Michael Markowski and Steven Bryant

Soloist: Maria Planer

Section Coaches: Matthew Dockendorf, Katharina Eckerstorfer, Richard Frey, Josh Gall, Donna Hryniewicki, Oliver Hummel, Marc Sosnowchik, Ryan Kelly, Heribert Prinz, Serena Weren,

2017: Jerry Junkin, Kevin Sedatole, Phillip Riggs, Johann Mösenbichler, Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, Eric Whitacre, Jonathan Newman, Steven Bryant, Sebastian Schraml, Michael Markowski, and John Mackey

Soloists: Hila Plitmann, soprano (Grammy Award winner), Dirk Hirthe, tuba

Section Coaches: Ryan Kelly, Benjamin Lorenzo, Heribert Prinz, Carlos Rodriguez Rodriguez, Matthew Sedatole, Marc Sosnowchik, William Staub

2016: Henrie Adams, Douglas Henderson, Benjamin Lorenzo, Daniel Tembras, Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant

Section Coaches: Douglas Henderson, Benjamin Lorenzo, Michael Markowski, Heribert Prinz, Katharina Eckerstorfer, Carlos Rodriguez, Daniel Tembras