Dr. Joshua Kearney, newly appointed UNO Director of Athletic Bands, had a particularly active summer. The month of June began with a presentation at the Michigan State University Conducting Symposium where he spoke on the topic of commissioning composers as a young director. In mid-June, Dr. Kearney traveled to Washington D.C. as part of the Young Conductor Mentor Project, where he worked alongside composer Anthony O’Toole in the preparation of his work “Now Is The Time: A Song of Hope.” The project resulted in a performance of the work at which Dr. Kearney conducted the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band. In addition to beginning his position at UNO, Dr. Kearney completed his DMA in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University. Upcoming engagements include presentations at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan and at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illi nois.