Dr. Paula Holcomb, Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia, is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. In 2011, she initiated the International Conducting Symposium with co-clinician Peter Ettrup Larsen at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. She has also held conducting symposiums with Gene Corporon, Mallory Thompson, Frederick Fennell, Alfred Reed, Craig Kirchhoff, Glenn Price, Tim Reynish, Gary Hill, Alan McMurray, and Mark Scatterday.
Highly sought after as an adjudicator and guest conductor, Holcomb has conducted bands and orchestras in 42 states, South America, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Europe, and Canada. She has presented Conducting Symposiums in Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and the United States.
Dr. Holcomb came to the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1999 after serving as Director of Bands for 20 years at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Under her direction at Central College, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band toured to Canada, Europe, and Mexico and performed at Lincoln Centre’s Alice Tully Hall.
The Fredonia Wind Ensemble has featured international guest artists Larry Combs, Dan Perantoni, Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, Jim Self, Randall Hawes, Gail Williams, Yu Hai and Donald Hunsberger and commissioned works. The Fredonia Wind Ensemble CD, Commissions and Concertos, features new commissions, soloists Alex Jokipii, Principal Trumpet of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Randall Hawes, Bass Trombonist of the Detroit Symphony. Another CD featuring Dan Perantoni and a work written by Jim Self for the Fredonia Wind Ensemble will be released shortly.
Dr. Holcomb is former Assistant Horn of the Des Moines Symphony and past president of the Iowa Music Educators Association. As a hornist, Holcomb has performed with Chuck Mangione, Simon Estates, Billy Taylor, Doc Severinson, and The Moody Blues.