The Symphonic Band is a large ensemble that plays a wide range of serious concert music that encompasses traditional band literature, transcriptions and more recent works for winds. Symphonic Band has open enrollment with optional auditions for seating purposes only. Conducted by professor Casey M. Speed, the Symphonic Band rehearses Tuesday and Thursday from 3:40 to 5:00 p.m. Those auditioning need prepare only a solo or etude of their choosing and may opt to prepare the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra excerpts if desired.
For more information about Symphonic Band, contact Casey Speed.
Casey M. Speed is a Principal Lecturer and currently serves as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of New Hampshire, where she teaches undergraduate courses in the areas of conducting and music education and is responsible for directing the Wildcat Marching Band, UNH Symphonic Band, and Beast of the East Pep Band. Additionally, she is a faculty member and assistant coordinator of the University of New Hampshire Summer Youth Music School (SYMS) and a former conductor of the New Hampshire Youth Band. Speed earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and her Master of Arts in Music with an emphasis in music education and wind conducting from the University of New Hampshire in 2001 and 2006, respectively. While enrolled in graduate school, Speed was a graduate assistant with the University of New Hampshire Bands and Department of Music.
She is a member of the College Band Directors' National Association (CBDNA), New Hampshire Music Educators' Association (NHMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), New Hampshire Band Directors Association, Women Band Directors International, and the National Band Association. Speed serves on the CBDNA Athletic Bands Committee, as New Hampshire State Chair for the National Band Association, as a Director on the NHMEA board, as the higher education representative on the NHMEA Council for Band Education, and is a former Northeast District Governor of Kappa Kappa Psi, national honorary fraternity for college band members. She previously served on the NHMEA Association Review/Restructuring committee as well as the national nominations and curriculum committees for Kappa Kappa Psi. Speed also advises the UNH chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and NAfME and serves on the Department of Music Recruiting, Retention, and Scholarship Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee.
Prior to her appointment at UNH, Speed was the Director of Instrumental Music at Marshwood High School in South Berwick, Maine, where she directed the MHS Concert Band, Marshwood Marching Hawks, Jazz Band, and pit orchestras for the district and high school musicals; started a string ensemble; and taught general music courses. The Marshwood Marching Hawks competed in the Maine Band Directors’ Association circuit, and Speed served as the webmaster for that organization. In 2010, Speed had the opportunity to perform on marching baritone with the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps alumni in exhibition at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to her work at UNH, she is also an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the northeast United States and has written drill and arranged music for several New England marching bands.
Information about the UNH bands may be found at: bands.unh.edu.
