Principal Conductor of the HWE

Dr. Russel C. Mikkelson has served as Principal Conductor of the HWE since 2002. Under his leadership the band has presented many outstanding concerts including performing at the prestigious Ohio Music Education Association State Conference.

For his "day job" Dr. Mikkelson serves as Director of University Bands and Professor of Music (Conducting) at The Ohio State University, where he conducts the Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, guides the graduate wind conducting program, and oversees all aspects of the university's band program. Under his direction, the OSU Wind Symphony has performed at the 2003 College Band Directors National Association Convention, the 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Ohio Music Educators Association Conventions, and has recorded three CD’s: Winds of Nagual (Naxos, 2007), Jubilare! (Mark Records, 2003) and Sounds, Shapes and Symbols (Mark Records, 2000). A strong advocate for the creation of new works, Mikkelson serves on the Big Ten Band Directors Association Commissioning Panel, and has instituted a program of regular commissioning projects at OSU.

Mikkelson has received praise from composers Leslie Bassett, Krzysztof Penderecki, John Corigliano, Michael Colgrass, Gunther Schuller, Lukas Foss, Frank Ticheli, John Mackey, David Gillingham, and others, for his musical interpretation of their compositions. Corigliano wrote, “Russel Mikkelson is a conductor who really understands my music, and that’s rare.” Mikkelson was a conducting fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds the distinction of being that institution's first recipient of the DMA degree in instrumental conducting. Prior to his appointment at OSU, Professor Mikkelson was Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at the State University of New York-College at Fredonia, where he conducted the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Orchestra, Opera, and musical theatre productions.

A native of Wisconsin, Professor Mikkelson began his career as a high school band director, serving from 1984-1990 as Director of Bands at Stevens Point Area Senior High School. His bands developed a reputation for superior musicianship coupled with a deep understanding of the music being performed. Under his leadership, The Stevens Point Wind Ensemble performed at numerous state, regional and national conventions.

Dr. Mikkelson is Past President of the Big Ten Band Directors Association, a member of the College Band Directors National Association, MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, and is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. He was the recipient of the 2005 Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Scholar Award and has published articles in The Instrumentalist and The Journal of the Conductor’s Guild. As a composer/arranger, he is published through C. Alan and Daehn Publications. Active as a guest conductor and clinician, Mikkelson’s recent invitations include the High School All-State Bands of New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Recent collegiate invitations include the West Virginia University, Grand Valley State University, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Eastern Illinois University, and the Michigan Intercollegiate Band.

Along with being a renowned conductor, Dr. Mikkelson is also an outstanding musician having often been featured as a trumpet soloist.

Conductor Laureate of the HWE

Richard Blatti serves as the Conductor Laureate of the HWE. He served as Principal Conductor of the group from 1996-2002. It was under his direction that the ensemble made their first appearance at the Ohio Music Education Association State Conference.

Professor Blatti currently serves The Ohio State University as Head of the Ensembles and Conducting Area, Associate Professor of Conducting, and Associate Director of Bands. In addition to his duties as music director and conductor of the OSU Symphonic Band, he supervises all aspects of the conducting curricula and the administration of all university ensembles for the School of Music. Ensembles under his direction have recorded for the Naxos, Delos International, Boosey & Hawkes, and Mark Recording labels and have performed at national and regional levels for the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association and the Ohio Music Educators Association. For his interpretation of their works, Blatti has earned the praise of many composers, including Gunther Schuller, John Mackey, Steven Bryant, David Gillingham, Frank Ticheli, Daniel Bukvich, Roger Cichy, and Warren Benson. Professor Blatti has twice received The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award, and in 2007, was one of only ten OSU Faculty honored with the Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.

As guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Blatti has been invited to 36 states, five Canadian provinces, and six other countries, including the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France, Belgium, Australia, and China. Prior to his appointment at OSU, Professor Blatti was Director of Instrumental Music at Albion College in Michigan. During his tenure there he was twice selected the outstanding Faculty Member of the Year, and was awarded two grants in support of his research on rehearsal techniques and conducting pedagogy. Blatti also served as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois.

A student of legendary conductor John Paynter, Blatti earned both the Bachelor of Music Education and the Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University and has done post-graduate work in conducting at Michigan State University. He is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, CBDNA, MENC, OMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia; he also serves as a Director of the John P. Paynter Foundation. He is in constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer and is completing his work on a new conducting pedagogy handbook, Teaching Instrumental Conducting.