Session Proposals

Dr. Caroline Hand is the Director of Concert Bands at the University of Oklahoma where she leads the Wind Symphony and teaches conducting. She is a nationally-active guest conductor. Hand’s commitment to community engagement and innovative teaching practices can be seen in initiatives such as the OU School of Music Sensory Friendly Concert Series. Her work emphasizes well-rounded programming and meaningful connections through ensemble music-making.

Brandon Castro serves as assistant series coordinator for the Sensory Friendly Concert Series at the University of Oklahoma. Castro is an undergraduate clarinet performance major, member of the Honors College, and has involvement in multiple community outreach and inclusion organizations at OU.

Sensory Friendly Concerts create a space where people with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities can experience a concert in a way that best meets their needs with accommodations to mitigate the sensory overload of traditional concert experiences. We will explain how simple organizational innovations can make a world of difference for creating an accessible concert environment for the special education classes at your school. Our firsthand experience and practical techniques can help all levels and music class types use the tools within their reach to successfully craft a Sensory Friendly Concert experience and build a gateway to music for our friends in special education!

• Upper Elementary/General Music (Grades 3-5)
• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Choral - Middle School
• Choral - Secondary
• Orchestra - Middle School
• Orchestra - Secondary
• Collegiate
• Mentorship/Beginning Teachers