Ensemble Director PLD in Dunedin

With the support of MENZA, who have supported the initiative from its earliest development and helped bring it to the education community, we invite South Island music educators to MEFA School Ensemble Director PLD on Tuesday 1 December 2026 at Otago Girls’ High School, Dunedin.

Building on our North Island sessions, this practical professional learning opportunity supports teachers establishing, developing or refining school ensemble programmes. Whether you are starting your first group, rebuilding a programme, or leading an established ensemble, the focus is on strengthening your teaching and developing confident, independent student musicians.

The programme is developed for teachers of all levels of ensemble direction, whether you are a full-time classroom teacher or itinerant taking a group. Check out the timetable Otago PLD TimeTable.

The programme offers Jazz, Wind and Orchestral streams, alongside General Ensemble Practice and a Foundations Hub. Sessions are identified by level—Establishing, Developing and Refining—to help you choose learning relevant to your school.

The programme includes:

• Jazz: Building a Functional Jazz Programme (Establishing); Jazz Live Lab – Building Improvisation Through Rehearsal(Developing); and Improvisation Sequencing: Fear → Fluency and Rhythm Section Interaction & Comping Strategies(Developing/Refining).
• Wind: Starting / Stabilising a Wind Band (Establishing); Wind Live Lab – Tone, Balance & Rhythm (Developing); andTightening Ensemble Precision & Musical Intent and Repertoire that Develops Technique & Musicianship (Refining).
• Orchestral: Starting / Rebuilding an Orchestral Programme (Establishing); Orchestral Live Lab – Intonation, Bowing & Balance (Developing); and Score Study → Rehearsal Mapping and Repertoire Preparation Without Over-Rehearsing(Developing/Refining).
• General Ensemble Practice and Foundations: Teaching Beyond the Music and Sustaining an Ensemble Programme Over Time (all levels); Building Independent Student Musicians (Developing/Refining); plus first-rehearsal planning and flex-band strategies for teachers establishing new groups.

At the heart of the day is student musicianship: helping young people listen, feel pulse, understand rhythm, make musical decisions and take ownership of their contribution. For teachers beginning new programmes, that also means practical support to establish productive rehearsals and build an ensemble culture that lasts.

Meet Our Presenters

Professor Robert McWilliams – Orchestral and Ensemble Development

We are particularly pleased to welcome Professor Rob McWilliams, an internationally respected conductor, educator and clinician.

Rob is Education Outreach Clinician for Yamaha Music Australia, following a distinguished 23-year career in the United States. His previous appointments include Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education, and Head of the Music Department at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.

Rob has conducted and presented internationally, working with orchestras, wind bands, jazz ensembles and music educators. His particular strength is translating the principles of effective ensemble direction into practical strategies that teachers can immediately apply in their own rehearsals.

Emeritus Professor Peter Adams MNZM – Foundations Hub

Peter Adams is one of New Zealand’s most respected conductors, composers and music educators, with a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years at the University of Otago.

His extensive conducting experience includes professional orchestras, youth orchestras, choirs and brass bands throughout New Zealand. He has been closely involved with the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, the National Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band.

Peter brings exceptional breadth of instrumental knowledge and teaching experience to our Foundations Hub, where he will explore score preparation, rehearsal planning and the essential principles of instrumental pedagogy across strings, woodwind and brass.

Joe Thomas – Jazz Education

Joe Thomas is an experienced music educator, brass musician and jazz ensemble director with extensive involvement in secondary school music programmes and youth jazz development.

His work includes directing the Tauranga Big Band and supporting successful school jazz ensembles at Papanui High School in Christchurch.

Joe brings a practical, classroom-focused approach to jazz education, exploring how teachers can build successful jazz programmes, develop confident rhythm sections and introduce improvisation in a structured and accessible way.

His sessions will be particularly valuable for teachers looking to develop jazz ensembles and build greater musical independence in their students.

Chad Davenport – Wind and Concert Band

Chad Davenport is an experienced conductor and music educator who has been Musical Director of the West City Concert Band since 2014.

Originally from the United States, Chad holds a degree in Music Education from Anderson University, Indiana, and has worked extensively with school band programmes in both the United States and New Zealand.

A former Head of Music at Liston College, Chad has been instrumental in establishing and developing concert band programmes across West Auckland, working with students from intermediate through to secondary school level.

His workshops focus on practical rehearsal techniques, ensemble sound, conducting and repertoire selection, helping teachers build confident, sustainable concert band programmes.

Feedback from previous attendees highlighted both the quality and accessibility of the learning:

“This is the best music-specific PD I’ve experienced in my 15-year career.”

“As someone new to jazz, wind, and orchestral ensembles, I found the content highly accessible and directly applicable to starting programmes at my school.”

The day also offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues, share challenges and gather ideas you can take straight back to your students.

Register here: https://www.musicworks.co.nz/mefa-professional-development-outreach

Or write to Darren to express your interest, by emailing dsmith@musicworks.co.nz

We look forward to welcoming you in Dunedin.

Kind regards,