The Open Academy at the Con and the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) NSW Branch are pleased to present the Australian National Band and Orchestra Conference 2026.

ANBOC 2026 offers an array of opportunities to work with outstanding conductors and music educators in a collaborative and friendly environment at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The conference will feature conducting masterclasses, keynote lectures and gala concerts. More detailed information on the conference appears below.  

Dates and venue

Friday 2 October to Monday 5 October 2026

Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Street Sydney.  

Registration commences from 4:00pm on Friday Oct 2 followed by a keynote address from Cynthia Johnston Turner and the first conference concerts. The full conference program will be available soon.

GUEST PRESENTERS

Cynthia Johnston Turner

Cynthia Johnston Turner is the Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario July 1, 2021. She also oversees the Laurier Academy of Music and the Arts, a community-based school serving approximately 1000 students ranging from 6 months to 95 years old in the region.

Previously Cynthia was Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble at the Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia. Cynthia was Director of Wind Ensembles at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and in 2023, she was appointed as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Festival Winds of “Summer Music at Saugeen Shores” and the Wellington Wind Symphony, a semi-professional community band in Waterloo, Ontario. Cynthia has guest conducted bands, new music ensembles, and orchestras professionally, at several universities and conservatories, and honor bands in the United States, China, Canada, Australia, Latin America, and Europe.

Cynthia received her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University, a Master of Education at the University of Victoria, and a Doctor of Musical Arts (Conducting) from the Eastman School of Music. She has received numerous teaching, research, and leadership awards in Canada and the United States.

A full biography of Cynthia Johnston Turner is available here:

Dr. Mark A. Laycock

Dr. Mark Laycock is a Professor of Music at Wichita State University, where he serves as Director of Orchestras and Coordinator of Strings. Dr. Laycock is a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. From 2015-2024, he was Conductor of the Wichita Youth Symphony and Director of the Wichita Youth Orchestras Program. His work as guest conductor, clinician, or adjudicator spans 35 states. He is also a frequent visitor to Australia, including serving as a Keynote Presenter for the Australian Strings Association 2018 National Conference in Perth, and was a Keynote Speaker for the 2021 Australian National Band and Orchestra Conference.

Dr. Laycock served as Director of Orchestras and Instrumental Music at Chapman University in Orange, California, and he was also Principal Conductor of the Irvine (CA) Classical Players. Previously, Dr. Laycock was Director of Orchestral Activities at Iowa State University and Music Director of the Central Iowa Symphony. He earned a Doctor of Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Laycock holds a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music history and literature from the University of Southern California.  

A full biography of Mark Laycock is available here:

Patrick Bowen

Patrick Bowen has served as Director of World Jazz Studies at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts since 2001 and Director of Percussion since 1993. Under his leadership, LVA’s jazz bands have performed at prestigious events including the Midwest Clinic, Monterey Jazz Festival, Reno Jazz Festival, Brandon Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. The school has received 12 Grammy Awards and has earned 26 DownBeat Awards from DownBeat Magazine.

Patrick is the Principal Percussionist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He is also a sought-after clinician and adjudicator, he has worked with jazz festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including the Con Brio Music Festival (Whistler, Canada), Sun Peak’s Jazz Festival (Canada), Hank’s Jazz Festival (El Paso, TX), Reno Jazz Festival (Reno, NV), the Utah All-State Music Festival, and the University of Louisville Jazz Festival.

He holds a B.M. in Music Performance (Cum Laude) from the Hartt School of Music, an M.M. in Music Performance from the University of Montana, and a Teaching Certificate from UNLV.

A full biography of Patrick Bowen is available here:

Benjamin Northey

Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Conductor in Residence of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 2025 he was appointed Professor of Conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Director of the Australian Conducting Academy. He has previously held the posts of Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (2010-2019), Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002-2006) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007-2010).

Northey studied conducting at Finland's Sibelius Academy with Professors Leif Segerstam and Atso Almila after being accepted as the highest placed applicant in 2002. He completed his studies at the Stockholm Royal College of Music with Jorma Panula in 2006. He previously studied conducting with John Hopkins OBE at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music from 2000-2002. 

Northey appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras and Opera companies.  His international appearances include concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, the Malaysian Philharmonic and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

An Aria Awards, Air Music Awards, and Art Music Awards winner, he was voted Limelight Magazine's Australian Artist of the Year in 2018. In 2026, he conducts the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, West Australian, Tasmanian, Christchurch and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras.

A full biography of Benjamin Northey is available here:

Other presenters include:

Conference Program

The conference program encompasses a wide variety of topics to engage directors of bands and orchestras, educators, classroom teachers and students through presentations, masterclasses, workshops and concerts.

The conference will offer classes in:
Conducting: Masterclasses and lessons for beginning, intermediate and advanced band and orchestra directors led by international clinicians - An opportunity not to be missed for conductors wishing to develop their conducting skills.

Repertoire: Get the inside scoop on pieces that will work for your ensemble as they prepare for concerts, festivals and eisteddfods, especially the best new Australian repertoire out there.  

Interpreting the Score: Get inside the music: an opportunity to understand how to move beyond the notes.

Rehearsal Technique: Essential ‘how to’ guides for directors of all ensemble types. Find out how to run a better rehearsal room. 

Jazz Improvisation: How to develop improvisation in your Big Band.

Conducting Clinics

Conducting Clinics are planned for Monday October 5.  Spend 20 minutes on the podium directing either a symphony orchestra or wind band with feedback provided by Dr. Mark Laycock and Benjamin Northey for orchestra and Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner and Stephen Williams for wind band.  The cost of participating in a Conducting Clinic is $100.  To apply for a Conducting Clinic spot please use the link below to access an application form please click here https://forms.gle/M5V3v2XbXq1GBobf9

Suitable Applicants will be asked to submit a video by July 1st, 2026. Videos will then be reviewed by a committee and applicants will be formally invited to participate in the clinics. A separate ticket link will be created for the successful applicants which you will need to pay prior to the conference. 

Conducting Lessons

Private conducting lesson sessions are planned during the conference.  The following conductors will be available for a private 45 or 60 minute technique session and will cost $100 per lesson.  Details on the conducting teachers and how to apply will be posted shortly.

PERFORMANCES

Performing ensembles include:

Adelaide Wind Orchestra, the Royal Australian Navy Band and many more.

Prices

The costs to attend the conference are:

The early bird rate is available until COB on 3rd May 2026.

ABODA members and Presenters will be provided with a promo code from the State ABODA offices for their enrolment rates.

Enrolments requested after Sunday September 20 will be charged at the higher rate of $750.

To access the student concession prices please call (02) 9351 1208 to register your details before proceeding with the on-line enrolment process.

Conference Dinner

Socialise with your colleagues and share a drink and some food after the Saturday night concert.

Details for the Conference Dinner are still being finalised but as soon as complete details about how to sign up will be shared.

Conference Supporters