The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (Erin Bodnar, director) presents "Scenes and Portraits," featuring music by Gustav Holst, Martin Ellerby, and others.
Director Biography
Erin Bodnar is Visiting Associate Professor and Director of Concert Bands at the University of Washington in the 2025-26 academic year.
Bodnar is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the University of North Florida, where she conducts the Wind Symphony and Concert Band, instructs courses in conducting and coordinates the UNF Conducting Symposium. Under Dr. Bodnar’s baton, the UNF Wind Symphony performed at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Buñol, Spain in July 2019. The UNF NuMIX, co-directed by Dr. Bodnar and Dr. Venet, performed at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference in February, 2022.
Prior to her appointment at UNF, Dr. Bodnar was Director of Bands at Graceland University for four years, during which time the Symphonic Band performed at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. During 2013-2014, Dr. Bodnar was the conductor of the Wind Symphony and Orchestra at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr. Bodnar maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician, traveling to Argentina, Thailand, Indonesia, and throughout the United States and Canada. Dr. Bodnar has contributed to A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band, Volume 5, the GIA Teaching Music Through Performance Series for Volume 7 and the revised Volume 1.
She excelled at teaching both middle and high school band in Alberta, Canada for which she received the Keith Mann Young Band Director’s Award and the Edwin Parr First Year Teacher Award. Dr. Bodnar has presented at conferences in Canada, the United States, Scotland, Thailand and Austria.
Her research interests include conducting pedagogy and motor cognition, and her articles have been published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education and Music Perception. An avid runner and group fitness instructor, Dr. Bodnar has completed 54 marathons, including 6 Boston marathons, ten 50 km races and one 100 km race.
Yuman Wu is a Graduate Assistant at the University of Washington, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Instrumental Conducting under the mentorship of Timothy Salzman. At UW, she serves as co-conductor for the UW Symphonic Band and UW Concert Band, assistant conductor for the UW Wind Ensemble, and contributes to the Husky Marching Band. She also assists in teaching the undergraduate conducting classes, working closely with music education majors. As a conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Yuman enjoys playing music from all cultural backgrounds, innovating new ideas, and leading the music industry forward with inclusivity. She was recently selected as one of five conductors for the prestigious 2025 U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop, where she will conduct The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in a public performance at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.
Yuman holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she studied with Dr. Harlan Parker and served as Teaching Assistant for Secondary Instrumental Conducting. She also earned a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Cornell University. Yuman completed three Bachelor's degrees in Music, Statistics, and Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Yuman has a strong interest in marching bands, the fusion of Asian and Western music, the integration of technology and music, and helping more people learn and appreciate music. Yuman also embraces cultural diversity, leading and establishing an ensemble that fuses Asian and Western music during her academic years. She has frequently performed and showcased this ensemble at consulate events. Additionally, as a Teaching Assistant with the Student Disability Service during her Master program, she assists visually impaired students by translating musical scores and providing necessary support in their study and daily lives.
Solomon Encina is a Graduate Assistant at the University of Washington, where he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Instrumental Conducting. Solomon holds a Bachelors of Music degree in Instrumental Performance in Percussion from California Baptist University. He also holds a Masters in Music Education degree from Azusa Pacific University where he studied under Dr. Alexander Koops and Dr. John Burdett.
Solomon is a native of the Southern California region, where he has taught and arranged music for several high quality institutions. Most recently, he served as the Director of Bands at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, where the band, orchestra and color guard program regularly received high distinction awards at festivals throughout the state under his direction. During this time he also performed as a percussionist with several touring groups throughout the United States and as a guest conductor of the European Tour for Southern California Ambassadors of Music. After several years as a high school educator, Solomon is thrilled to begin pursuing his highest academic aspirations by attending UW to study under Professor Timothy Salzman.
Solomon Encina has affiliations with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). Solomon Encina is proudly endorsed by the Vic Firth Company and is a part of the Vic Firth Education team.