The winner of the 2016 Sousa/ABA/Ostwald Contest is Paul Dooley (b. 1983) for Masks and Machines. The work was performed on March 10, 2017, by the United States Marine Band, The President’s Own, and conducted by Lt. Col. Jason Fetig, Conductor of the Marine Band, at the 83rd annual convention held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. A portion of the work may be heard on Paul Dooley’s website: https://www.pauldooley.net/works/masksandmachinesband For general information on the...read more ->

Edward J. Downing spent his 46-year career in music education teaching in the Flint, Belleville, and Ann Arbor public schools, followed by a tenure at the University of Michigan. He demonstrated superb musicianship and teaching skills that led him to hold several offices in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association including the office of President. His bands were among the very finest in the country, performing for state, regional, and national conventions including the Midwest Clinic. For...read more ->

Dear ABA Members and visitors to our website: The American Bandmasters Association represents a history of tradition and service to our profession. As we look to our founder, Edwin Franko Goldman, we continue to refine our mission of promoting the concert band and its repertoire. The membership of our association represents the outstanding conductors, composers, and music industry leaders associated with the wind band. In addition to recognizing exceptional musicians through invitational...read more ->