The Campus Band (Joshua Michael Smith, conductor), Concert Band (Yuman Wu, conductor), and University Band (Corey Jahlas and Christopher Seay, conductors) present "Fateful Encounters," performing music by Julie Giroux, Rossano Galante, Jack Stamp and others.
Director Biographies
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 and Erin Bodnar. At UW, she serves as the conductor for UW Concert Band, assistant conductor for the UW Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, 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 conducted 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.
Joshua Michael Smith, conductor, teacher, and clarinetist, holds a Master’s of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Ohio University, and Bachelors degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Shepherd University. Josh is currently a Graduate Student at the University of Washington pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting where he serves as the Teaching Assistant for Athletic Bands and works with the Husky Marching Band. Josh has studied under Dr. William Talley, Dr. Scott Hippensteel, Dr. José Rocha, Dr. Rebecca Rischin, and Dave Drosinos.
Josh has taught winds, percussion, and strings, as well as music theory and general music to students from Elementary to College. Josh has led his ensembles to notable achievement in concert and jazz bands, as well as marching band, indoor drumline, and indoor color guard. His students have won competitive scholarships and have been selected to perform with elite ensembles such as the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra, PMEA All-State Band, and more. As a performer, Josh founded the Tri-State Concert Band and has been a guest conductor with the Hagerstown Municipal Band, Shepherd Communiversity Band, and others. Josh has been a clarinetist with the Charles Washington Symphony, Mercersburg Choir Orchestra, and served as a soloist and principal clarinetist with the Hagerstown Municipal Band.
Josh belongs to the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). In addition to music, Josh participates in amateur, competitive ESports and TCG, and enjoys sports, video games, and spending time with his partner Alex and husky Maple. GO DAWGS
Originally from Highland, MI, Corey Jahlas is in his first year of the Doctor of Musical Arts and Instrumental Conducting program at the University of Washington, where he serves as a Graduate Student Conductor of the Husky Athletic Bands, co-conductor of the Campus Band, and assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble.
Most recently, Corey earned his Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Central Michigan University, studying with Prof. Jack Williamson. There, he instructed the 280-member Chippewa Marching Band and served as the instructor on record for the Symphony Band and the University Band. Prior to his Master’s work, Corey taught from 2014-2017 in Oxford, MI, leading the middle school band program, the OMS Percussion Ensemble, and assisting with the OHS Wildcat Marching Band.
Corey also holds degrees in Music Education and Music Theory and Composition from Central Michigan, where he studied euphonium with Dr. Mark Cox and composition with Dr. David Gillingham. Sharing his love for the marching arts, Corey served as Assistant Director of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014, having marched with the group in 2011. He also serves as a clinician, arranger, and drill writer for high schools and university marching bands in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, and is the Director of the Drum Major Camp at Central Michigan University. Corey holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi.