Pictures from the 2024 ABA Convention, March 6-10, Washington, DC
Photos courtesy of David Kish Photography.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
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 80 Associate Members (music businesses and corporations that provide significant services to bands and to the publication of band music.)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
2024 SOUSA-ABA-OSTWALD WINNER SELECTED – RIVER OF TIME (Concerto for Trumpet) by DAVID BIEDENBENDER
We are pleased to announce that David Biedenbender is the winner of the 2024 Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award for his composition River of Time (Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble). Dr. Biedenbender serves as Associate Professor of Composition and Chair of the Composition Area at Michigan State University. River of Time was selected from an exceptional list of works that included 152 entries from composers representing 14 countries. The three additional finalists included David Biedenbender (Enigma), Gala Flagello (The Bird-While) and Will Healy (Passages). To listen to a recording and view the score to David Biedenbender’s award-winning composition, please select the following link: River of Time
The official Sousa-ABA-Ostwald performance of River of Time will take place at the 90th ABA Convention in Chattanooga, TN, on February 28, 2025. The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will perform the work.
A Message from the President . . .
When I first became a member of the American Bandmasters Association, I volunteered to become the new editor of the ABA Newsletter – yes, we used to have a paper newsletter that was a collection of letters sent in by the members telling each other what they had done that year. (Think holiday card letters.) It was actually a nice thing, and as Editor, I received hand-written letters from some of our most esteemed members, like Karel Husa. (Of course I still have those letters in my personal files!) It never occurred to me, nor was it my ambition, to become the President of this organization. Fast forward to today and I will say that it is with great gratitude that I begin serving this wonderful organization in this capacity as the 86th President of the American Bandmasters Association.
As we move forward as an organization, I see opportunities for continued expansion and modifications to great ABA initiatives such as the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award, IDEA Commission Project, Legacy Recording Project, Research Center Initiative, the Journal of Band Research, and more. Additionally, there are many members who are looking for ways to expand our “image” toward the general-music world and specifically the band-world. Expanding upon and improving our public image has room to grow in my opinion. I intend to work carefully and aggressively to make improvements in this area. Music educators/conductors across North America need to know (1) who we are and how we can benefit them, (2) about our objectives, and most importantly, (3) how we can benefit their students. There are many ways we can explore to make improvements in these areas.
Teresa and I are excited about next year’s convention in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee! Randall Coleman, along with convention committee members Roy and June Holder, David and Cheryl Gregory, and Teresa Francis are doing a fantastic job preparing for the convention. We say this every year, but this is one not to be missed! Teresa and I fell in love with Chattanooga when we visited last January. Those of you who I have talked to that have been there all agree . . . it is a great location for the 2025 convention!
Finally, a HUGE congratulations to Immediate Past President and First Lady Michael and Nancy Colburn, Jason and Lydia Fettig, Ken and Amy Collins, Don and Laura Schofield, and Andy and Heather Esch, the United States Air Force Band, United States Army Band, United States Navy Band, United States Marine Band, and a grand finale concert presented by the Joint Armed Forces Band. We were also so excited to have our friends from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band join in Friday’s grand finale concert. Finally, a sincere thank you to Loras Schissel for the excursions to the Library of Congress/Smithsonian Museum complex and the concert on Saturday of the Virginia Grand Military Band. The D.C. convention was amazing and truly historic. The vision, planning, logistics and execution of this convention were performed in a professional and personal manner. This is a huge job when you are host, and frankly, I can’t imagine doing this while performing your duties as the President of the organization. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!
In closing, feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and don’t forget to put the 2025 convention dates in your calendar, February 26-March 2. Teresa and I look forward to a wonderful event next year in Chattanooga. We hope to see you there!
Bobby R. Francis, President
The American Bandmasters Association
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