William Berz

Dr. William Berz is Professor of Music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He teaches classes in music education and conducting, and has conducted a wide variety of performance ensembles, including bands, orchestras, contemporary music groups, and opera. He has premiered many new works for winds, and has won the praise of many distinguished composers, including Charles Wuorinen, Roger Nixon, Eric Whitacre, Martin Ellerby, Adam Gorb, David Holsinger, Jack Stamp, Jonathan Newman, David Gillingham, Jan Van der Roost, Michael Daugherty, Frank Ticheli, Norman Dello Joio, and H. Owen Reed. Dr. Berz served as Music Director and Conductor of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra from 1988 until 1994. From 1984 until 1989, he was Assistant Conductor of The Jupiter Symphony and Naumburg Orchestra, both of New York City. He conducted the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra from 1984 until 1988. In addition to his work as a conductor, he is active as a researcher and writer. He has articles published in a number of leading academic publications. He is currently the editor of the WASBE Journal. In 1993, Dr. Berz was given an Outstanding Teacher Award by the Rutgers College Parents Association, and in 1994-1995 he was a Lilly Endowment Fellow. He served as Chair of the Music Department from 1994 until 2002 and Acting Dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts in 1997.

Clinic: What Are We Really Doing? Reflections On the Current State of Music Education and Bands

Last reviewed: 1/19/2010