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Music Education Professor Rich Cangro gives his keynote address to conference attendees in Hong Kong.
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WIU Music Professor and Director of Bands Mike Fansler conducted the Music Office of the Hong Kong Government’s Symphony Wind Ensemble.
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WIU Music Professors visit Hong Kong

January 24, 2020

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MACOMB, IL -- Representing the Western Illinois University School of Music, Music Education Professor Rich Cangro and Music Professor and Director of Bands Mike Fansler both had professional engagements that brought them to Hong Kong at different times in late Fall 2019.

Cangro travelled to Hong Kong in mid-November to present a keynote address and four professional development sessions for music educators at the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) conference. He spoke about collaborative music learning in his keynote titled "Shared musicianship" and presented four other sessions focused on aspects of effective teaching and learning in music, much of what students at WIU learn in their everyday classes in the music education program.

"It was incredibly exciting to meet teachers from all over the world who teach in international schools," said Cangro. "They provided a unique perspective as expats living in all sorts of communities, including very remote parts of the world."

Cangro added that he hopes to continue to work with the teachers from AMIS, either at another conference, or through the School of Music Master of Music Education online degree.

Fansler was invited by the Music Office of the Hong Kong Government to participate in three events promoting music knowledge and appreciation among students, educators and community members. He presented a conducting workshop for local wind band conductors who rehearsed standard band literature with an honor youth ensemble. He also served on an adjudication panel for the Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows Band Contest, a four-day concert band competition hosting more than 70 of Hong Kong's most celebrated band programs.

"Imagine being in a place where the native language is incomprehensible to you, and within the same day being able to communicate at a deep and meaningful level," said Fansler. "Such is the international language of music. The people of Hong Kong are wonderfully expressive musicians, and I can't wait to go back and share more incredible experiences with them."

As a feature event, Fansler conducted the Music Office of the Hong Kong Government's Symphony Wind Ensemble on a world premiere performance of composer's Shuichiro Fukuhiro's "Concerto for 2 Saxophones." The composition featured internationally renowned Japanese saxophone virtuoso Satoshi Kato and Hong Kong's own Kevin Ling.

Fansler has a verbal invitation to return in July 2021 to lead the Music Office's Summer Band Camp. 

For more information about the WIU School of Music, visit wiu.edu/music.



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