The American Bandmasters Association, founded in 1929, with John Philip Sousa as Honorary Life President, recognizes outstanding achievement on the part of Concert Band conductors and composers. The current membership (invitational) comprises approximately 300 band conductors and composers in the USA and Canada, and 70 Associate Members (music businesses and corporations that provide significant services to bands and to the publication of band music.)
Greetings
and salutations to the members of The American Bandmasters Association, ABA
family members, and ABA website visitors; I welcome you to the Internet site
of The American Bandmasters Association, North America’s premier association
of band conductors, composers, and music business professionals. Founded in
1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman, and with John Philip Sousa as its Honorary Life
President, The American Bandmasters Association is committed to serving North
America’s concert bands.I would like to take this opportunity to thank immediate Past-President, Scott Taylor, for his dedication to our association. In addition, I extend my heartiest appreciation to the hosts of the 78th Annual American Bandmasters Association convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, for their tireless efforts, presenting one of the greatest ABA conferences ever! Dan Bolin, Tom Caneva, Jay Gephart, Robert Grechesky, Eric L. Martin, L. Scott McCormick, and Steve Pratt were magnificent sponsors and hosts of this spectacular event.
I would also like to recognize and thank Dennis Zeisler, Terry Austin, and Roy Holder for their service to the ABA Board of Directors this past year. In addition, I would like to congratulate the following ABA members for election to office for the upcoming year:
• David A. Waybright, President-Elect
• Dennis Zeisler, Vice-President
• William J. Moody, Secretary-Treasurer
• Terry Austin, Board of Directors
• Col. Michael J. Colburn, Board of Directors
• David Gregory, Board of Directors
Continuing members of the ABA Board of Directors are:
• Scott L. Taylor, Board of Directors Chair
• Paula A. Crider, Board of Directors
• Col. Lowell E. Graham, Board of Directors
• Gerald Guilbeaux, Board of Directors
• Timothy Rhea, Board of Directors
• Johnnie B. Vinson, Board of Directors
The membership of The American Bandmasters Association stands firm in its commitment to lead and serve the concert bands of the global community. It is my belief that the ABA has been indefatigably dedicated to artistic leadership in this role.
I ask that you join in our efforts to support concert bands and related services and industries. Together we can provide high quality experiences for music students, music professionals, and all those who appreciate and love the cultural heritage that bands offer.
The 79th Annual Conference of The American Bandmasters Association will take place at the University of South Florida in Tampa from March 6 – 9, 2013. We will feature five world-class American Wind Bands in concert during this week of musical celebrations at the beautiful new U.S.F. Concert Hall:
• Wednesday, March 6 at 8:00pm - The University of South Florida Wind
Ensemble, John C. Carmichael, conductor
• Wednesday, March 6 at 9:00 pm - The University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble,
Gary D. Sousa, conductor
• Thursday, March 7 at 8:00 pm - The University of Georgia Wind Ensemble,
John P. Lynch, conductor
• Thursday, March 7 at 9:00 pm - The Florida State University Wind Orchestra,
Richard Clary, conductor
• Friday, March 8 at 8:00 pm - The United States Coast Guard Band, Commander
Kenneth Megan, conductor
This conference entitled, “Everything Under the Sun,” will
highlight the works of legendary ABA member, Morton Gould, in honor of
the centennial celebration of his birth. For advanced information regarding
hotel accommodations, daily excursions, and other timely information please
contact convention host, Dr. John Carmichael at jcarmich@usf.edu.
Pertinent information may be obtained from this website in the fall of
2012. I hope that you will visit the ABA website often to stay updated
on the mission of The American Bandmasters Association, the work of its
historically important committees, the Sousa/Ostwald Composition Award,
and the significant activities of its members. You can also stay updated
with ABA activities on Face Book by selecting the “like” button
on The American Bandmasters Association FB page.
It is my hope that you can all join us in Tampa in March, 2013, to celebrate
the wonderful world of bands, past, present, and future.
Sincerely,
Thomas G. Leslie, President
American Bandmasters Association
Director of Bands/Professor of Music
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas
thomas.leslie@unlv.edu