Dr. Quincy Hilliard

NIAGARA, Wis. — When the 20th annual Menominee River Conference Honors Band weekend kicks off Friday, a major composer of band and jazz music will be welcomed to the area.

The local branch of the Wisconsin School Music Association, the Menominee River Conference, is an association of 12 Wisconsin and Upper Michigan school districts whose finest musicians will converge at Niagara High School on Friday and Saturday for two days of rehearsal under the baton of composer/conductor Dr. Quincy Hilliard.

Hilliard’s compositions for wind band are published by a variety of well-known publishers. Most recently, he received the 2023 Eminent Faculty distinguished professor award from his university, the University of Louisiana. In 2021, he was commissioned by Trinity College Press in London to compose eight pieces for their new Woodwind Examination Syllabus. Currently, he has completed a book with two other distinguished music educators titled “Teaching Instrumental Music Across Settings: Contemporary Perspectives and Pedagogies,” which was released by Oxford University Press. In addition, he has just complete a rhythm book for training middle and high school students titled “Counts of Silence,” published by Wingert-Jones.

In 2014, Hilliard received the prestigious Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award in the Classical Music Division. He has been recognized twice with a Global Music Award for his work as a composer. In 2012, one of his pieces, “Coty” (clarinet and piano) was recorded on a CD that was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Library of Congress to compose a work in celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

He is frequently commissioned to compose works, including one for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and a score for a documentary film, “The Texas Rangers.” For many years, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers has recognized him with annual awards for the unusually frequent performance of his compositions. Hilliard is regularly invited to conduct, demonstrate effective techniques, and adjudicate festivals throughout the world.

Because Hilliard, the composer, conductor, and educator, is also a scholar of Aaron Copland’s music and life, Copland estate administrators authorized Hilliard to publish the educational performance edition, “Copland for Solo Instruments” (Boosey and Hawkes, 1999). He is also the co-author of “Teaching Instrumental Music: Contemporary Perspectives and Pedagogies” to aid in the teaching of music education students at the college level. To train school band students, he wrote “Superior Bands in Sixteen Weeks” (FJH Music Company, 2003), “Chorales and Rhythmic Etudes for Superior Bands” (FJH Music Company, 2004), “Scales and Tuning Exercises for Superior Bands” (FJH Music Company, 2009), “Theory Concepts, Books One and Two” and is the co-author of the “Skill Builders, Books One and Two” (Sounds Spectacular Series, Carl Fischer, 1996).

He is also the co-author of “Percussion Time” (C.L. Barnhouse Company), which is a collection of music written specifically for the beginning percussion ensemble. Hilliard currently holds the position of composer in residence and is the Heymann Endowed Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

An all-conference-caliber band of about 90 musicians from Adams Township/Jeffers, Carney-Nadeau, Gwinn, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Menominee, Niagara, North Dickinson County, Norway, Pembine, Phelps, Republic-Michigamme, West Iron County and Westwood will present a final concert at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. An admission donation of $5 per person will be received at the door, and the public, as well as parents, family and friends, are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Underwriting support from Jim’s Music of Iron Mountain, Escanaba, Marquette and Green Bay plays a major role in bringing Hilliard to this event. For additional information regarding the 2025 All-Conference, contact the music instructor at any of the participating schools.