BUSMEA (Brandon University Student Music Educators Association) is an organization made up of music education students serving music education students. Our goal is to offer professional development opportunities to our members through workshops and other related events.

The Brandon University Student Music Educators Association is pleased to announce the 17th
Annual Da Capo Conference. The Da Capo Conference is an all-day workshop of professional
development opportunities for pre-service and current music educators. This year our conference
will be held on January 21, 2023 at the Brandon University School of Music.

BUSMEA is excited to welcome Kevin Doell as the keynote speaker for this years conference,
who will present a session titled Tackling the Challenges. This will be Doell’s 17th year at Da
Capo as a presenter, and we are looking forward to having him back!
Mr. Doell received his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Brandon University,
and has been very active as a guest conductor and adjudicator. He has conducted the WESMAN
Honour Band, Louis Riel Honour Band, Central Honour Band, Parkland Honour Band, St. James
Band Camp, Springfield Band Camp and the Pembina Trails Honour Band. He has also
conducted the Manitoba Junior and Intermediate Honour Bands.

Kevin has adjudicated the Saskatoon Music Festival, Morden and Altona Festivals, the Manitoba
Beginning Band festival for the last 10 years, the Moose Jaw Festival and the Swan River
Festival. He has conducted at the International Music Camp and served as divisional Music
Consultant for 10 years. Mr. Doell has presented numerous times at Tempo, at Da Capo, for the Manitoba Education
Research Network, the Manitoba Association of School Trustees, as well as the School of Music
at both the University of Brandon and University of Manitoba and is a recipient of the Brandon
University Distinguished Teacher Award. Kevin currently works in Sunrise School Division as the principal of Springfield Collegiate.

Other confirmed presenters include Brandon University professors Dr. Ken Gold, and Dr. Wendy
Zander McCallum. Local Brandon music educators Janelle Wilts, Melissa Spraggs, and Erin
Dodds, will also be presenting, as well as the President of the Manitoba Orff Association, Dawn
Muir. Joining Da Capo as roundtable presenters are Shelby Nohr, Carl Manuel, and Amber
Dyrda who will offer their insights into beginning a career as a music educator.
Session topics for this year’s conference include Planning for Learning: Negotiating the Musical,
Administrative, and Logistical Elements of Festival Performance, Hands on Hand Drums, Orff
Explorations on the Beach, Conducting FUN-damentals, Introduction to Groove and Swing for
Young Musicians, Sol-Fun, and Scoop of the Day: Insights for A Successful Start roundtable. In
addition to these fantastic sessions, we are thrilled to welcome the Brandon Grade 8-9 Wind
Ensemble under the direction of Erin Dodds to present a session entitled Demonstrated Learning:
A Festival Performance, Adjudication, and Workshop.

All are welcome to attend Da Capo including music educators, music education students, high
school students, music administrators, education students and performance students.
BUSMEA is pleased to offer free admission to any high school students wishing to attend,
simply fill out the registration form at the link noted below, and select ‘High School Student.’

Registration forms are available at:   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAOWTEK5JapI-da8_29jXITi0RREtvN5B9un4J77ygNVIIWw/viewform

Feel free to contact any BUSMEA member or email busmea@brandonu.ca with any questions.

Don’t forget to check out our Instagram @bu_busmea to stay up to date on the Da Capo Conference and other upcoming events!