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69th Annual Birch Bay Band Workshop

Come make new memories and rejuvenate your love of music at the 69th annual Birch Bay Band Workshop.

This year's BBB Workshop will be jam-packed full of the same great music, fellowship, fun, and sunsets we all love, and we can’t wait to see you all again.

This Year's Event Includes

  • Round Table Discussions for educators
  • Family-friendly social events throughout the workshop
  • New music from composers of all identities & backgrounds
  • Up to 21.0 clock hours available (WMEA/NAfME members)
Birch Bay Band Workshop all women jazz band

More Than a Reading Workshop

When you register for this clinic one of the questions asks “How Many Years Have You Attended This Workshop?” Two options available are "46 to 49 years" and "50 years or more" and more than a few select one of these each year. For many young teachers BBB starts as a place to read through new music and plan their selections for the year, but they quickly find much more in this group of seasoned professionals; mentors, advisors, new friends, and an extended family for life.

Birch Bay Band Workshop after clinic events include fun activities like mini golf.
It is a nightly tradition to watch the sunset over the bay.

This Year's Clinicians

We are excited to welcome back Paul Bain and Jeff Chang as the lead conductors for the concert and jazz sessions.

Headshot of concert band clinician Paul Bain

Concert Band

Paul Bain

Paul Bain is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at WWU. He conducts the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Winds and teaches conducting courses.

Headshot of jazz band clinician Jeff Chang

Jazz Band

Jeff Chang

Jeff Chang is an active music educator, clinician, and jazz saxophonist in the greater Puget Sound area. He has performed with Yakima Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Symphony Orchestra and many other ensembles in North America, Europe and Taiwan. Chang has been an instrumental/band director and faculty member at schools throughout Washington State.

Paul Bain, Director of Bands - Western Washington University

Paul Bain is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at Western Washington University, where he conducts the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Winds and teaches conducting courses.

Prior to joining WWU, Paul was Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Central Washington University where he led the instrumental music education program and conducted the CWU Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band. Under his leadership, Symphonic Winds performed at the National Association for Music Education Northwest Division Conference as well at the Washington Music Education Association Conference.

Paul taught in the public schools for 18 years preceding his appointment at CWU. Most recently, he was band director at Graham-Kapowsin High School for 13 years where his ensembles performed at numerous music educator conferences and collaborated with many university and international ensembles, including the Tamana High School Band from Tamana, Japan. Graham-Kapowsin and Tamana became sister bands in 2009 and performed together nine times, three in Japan and six in America.

In addition to his work in the public schools, Bain served as the musical director of the South Sound Symphonic Band, principal conductor for the Washington Ambassadors of Music and worked with the Tacoma Youth Symphony. He is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator and has conducted numerous honor bands and performances across the country and internationally, including engagements in Japan, England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

A Pacific Northwest native, Paul grew up in Puyallup, WA and was inspired to be a music educator by many of his music teachers and mentors. His primary conducting teachers are Raydell Bradley and Timothy Salzman. He attended Pacific Lutheran University (BME 1999) and the University of Washington (MM 2009). Paul lives with his wife, Gahee, and their two dogs (Low Rider and Chuchis).

New Music From Leading Publishers

  • Randall Standridge Music
  • Alfred
  • MakeMusic Publications
  • Murphy Music Press
  • Hal Leonard
  • Excelcia
  • Brava
  • Kendor
  • Carl Fischer
  • local composers

The Birch Bay Band Workshop will offer a maximum of twenty-one (21) O.S.P.I. approved clock hours, dependent upon personal attendance. Clock hours are provided by the Washington Music Educators Association. Clock hours are free to current WMEA/NAfME members. Nonmembers may claim hours at the rate of $2 per hour claimed. Clock hour registration materials and instructions will be available onsite.

Birch Bay Band Workshop Registration Form

Directions to Blaine High School
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