Saturday, September 13 | 9:30am - 3:15pm Timothy Salzman, Marci Seminario, Mark Ghiassi, Jay Mason, guest clinician Dr. Jeff Held and Brad Van Patton - hosts
Concordia Wind Orchestra Woodbridge HS Band Vista Verde 8th Grade Band
Schedule: 9:30am: Registration 9:45am: Welcome 10:10am: Success for Every Child (w/ Vista Verde 6th Grade Band) Marci Seminario & Mark Ghaissi OR, Achieving a Symphonic Outdoor Sound* (w/ Woodbridge HS Marching Band) Tim Salzman 11:00am: Break 11:10am: Mouthpiece Mechanics - Helping Your Students Optimize their Setup (Jay Mason) 12:00pm: lunch (included in registration fee) 1:00pm: Symphonic Sounds for all Levels: Principles for Grade 1-3 Music that Grade 5+ Band Should Use (Concordia Wind Orchestra) Tim Salzman 2:10pm: A Wide Ranging, Deeply Interesting Open Conversation with Tim Salzman 3:00pm: Closing and certificates
*Achieving a Symphonic Outdoor Sound: Developing ensemble awareness through the utilization of fundamental exercises designed to empower ensemble uniformity regarding tone quality/intonation/blend/balance/pulse/role.
Repertoire:
Ele(mental) - Randall Strandridge Grade .5 Mission Songs - Haley Woodrow Grade 1 Revenge of the Dust Bunnies - Dan Adams Grade 2 The Waltzing Cat - Leroy Anderson Grade 3
All scores above are accessible at Harmonizing Success. They are NOT to be used for any purpose outside of the workshop and should not be retained in digital or printed format after the workshop ends.
University of Washington Professor Emeritus Timothy Salzman served as Professor of Music/Director of Concert Bands from 1987 to 2025, leading the UW Wind Ensemble. Starting with 11 students in one band, he grew the program to 335 students across five bands. His graduate wind conducting students hold positions at 73 U.S. institutions, including Jiannan Cheng, cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Salzman commissioned and premiered 38 new wind ensemble works.. Previously, he directed the Herscher, Illinois, school band (1978–1983), earning national awards, including the 1982 Bands of America Grand Champion title. At Montana State University (1983–1987), he founded the MSU Wind Ensemble and marching band. A Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University graduate, Salzman studied with Chicago Symphony tubist Arnold Jacobs. He has publications with C.L. Barnhouse and Hal Leonard and contributed to A Composer’s Insight (five volumes) and a 2022 book on Jacobs. He conducted globally, visiting Japan 21 times and China 12, teaching at the China Conservatory and leading ensembles like the Shanghai Wind Orchestra. An American Bandmasters Association member and Drum Corps International Hall of Fame inductee, he also conducted the U.S. Marine Band for a 2019 world premiere.
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Marci Seminario holds Bachelor's Degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. She performed globally with the Bob Cole Conservatory Wind Symphony under John Carnahan and has shared the stage with artists like Andrea Bocelli at the Dolby Theater. Marci’s experience at Disneyland Resort included stage managing student performances and teaching music workshops through the Guest Talent Program and Youth Education Series. As an elementary winds educator in the Irvine Unified School District, she teaches band at five schools: Northwood, Deerfield, Santiago Hills, Loma Ridge, and Alderwood. Marci has led curriculum development, facilitated professional learning communities, and presented professional development for music educators. She recently earned her Master’s in Educational Administration from Concordia University and is dedicated to supporting educators in building strong foundations for beginning band instruction.
Mark Ghiassi is a graduate of the California State University at Long Beach, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree, with an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education. In 2004 he graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master of Music Degree in French Horn Performance.  Mr. Ghiassi’s French Horn teachers include Joseph Meyer, James Atkinson, and Vincent DeRosa.  He has studied conducting under John Carnahan, Hans Beer, and Stephen Tucker.  Mr. Ghiassi is an honorary member of Pi Kappa Lambda. Mark Ghiassi has been the Director of Bands at Plaza Vista and Vista Verde K-8 Schools in the Irvine Unified School District since 2004.  He was Plaza Vista School’s Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015, as voted on by the staff.  Mr. Ghiassi most recently conducted the 2023 IUSD Middle School Honor Orchestra.  In his free time Mr. Ghiassi enjoys cycling, playing the horn with many groups in Southern California, and spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their cat, Comet.
Jay Mason has become one of the Los Angeles’ areas busiest saxophonists and woodwind artists since launching his career in 1983, after graduating from CSU, Long Beach. His performance credits include work with Michael McDonald, Seth McFarlane, Chaka Kahn, Bernadette Peters, Patti Austin, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and many others. He has appeared on recordings for the motion pictures The Naked Gun, Soul, Frozen & Frozen 2, Moana & Moana 2, LaLa Land, Secret Life of Pets, Crazy Rich Asians, Ralph Wrecks the Internet, television productions like America’s Funniest Home Videos, Family Guy, American Dad, and video games like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and hundreds more productions. Additionally, he is a member of Gordon Goodwin’s Grammy-winning Big Phat Band, and rounds out his activities by serving on the faculty where he started out, CSU Long Beach, at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, and at Concordia University Irvine. Jay is a Vandoren Reed Artist.
Bertrand's Music
Date & Time
Sat, Sep 13, 2025 9:30 AM - 3:15 PM
Venue Details
Borland-Manske Center Charlie and Ling Zhang Orchestra Hall
1530 Concordia West Irvine, California 92612
Concordia University Irvine
Mission Statement
Concordia University Irvine, a comprehensive Lutheran Christian university guided by Christ's Great Commission, develops wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens to serve society and the church.
About Concordia
Concordia University Irvine, part of the Concordia University System, is a private, nonprofit Christian university that is proud to be one of the founding institutions of higher education in Irvine, California. For nearly 50 years, we have prepared students to be wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens through a distinctive Lutheran education.
Today, we educate nearly 5,000 students on campus and online, and our alumni network has grown to over 25,000 worldwide. Ranked nationally among the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” universities by U.S. News & World Report. Once you become a Golden Eagle, you’ll be part of a close, caring community that’s committed to helping you grow personally, professionally, and spiritually.
