Who We Are
The Significant Others (SOs) of the American Bandmasters Association are the significant others of ABA members.
Mission Statement and Goals
ABA Significant Others Mission Statement
The mission of the Significant Others (SO) Committee is to provide communication, collaboration, and support to the SOs of the ABA members. The committee also assists the SO of the President of the ABA in the successful implementation of the annual convention.
ABA Significant Others Goals
(1) Assist the ABA President’s SO with the implementation of the annual convention.
(2) Increase social interactions during and between conventions which may aid in the development of life-long friendships.
(3) Improve the SO experience at the convention.
(4) Provide support to the ABA member’s SOs.
Three of Our Projects
One City Music Chigaco
Meyer Music Band of Angels
Hungry for Music
Welcome Message
from ABA First Lady, Janet Fisher
Coming Soon!
2026 ABA Convention Highlights
from June Holder
It was sad to say “Goodbye” to “Chicago –– My Kind of Town”!! Both Roy and I loved being with you!
I think/hope that “A Good Time Was Had By All”! Our times together, including Concerts, (wasn’t the Harris Theater, fantastic?), Social Gatherings, Meetings (with Singer Leslie Gray Robbins, plus Tappers Reggio McLaughlin and Sara Galle…SO FINE!!), and the Banquet/Prom (pianist Tony and the fine combo) were SO GOOD!. Add to that our time to chit-chat on fun excursions (Chicago Institute of Art, Navy Pier, Barrel Run, Pizza Tour, Crime Tour, Architecture River Cruise), and then hanging out in the beautiful Swissôtel (the Eleve Room, 42nd floor with THE VIEW)…EVERYTHING made it worth the time it took to plan all of the details!! It was FUN to try to bring the “Old Chicago” era to life! And thanks to Dan Jack and all of the delightful folks at the beautiful Swissôtel for everything!!
So many people helped!! “It Takes A Village!!” Megan & Brian Covey––our Hosts ––you worked day and night for over a year, along with raising an adorable little guy and both working! Other Committee Members who contributed in so many ways to making this Chicago convention work were Alex & Kathy Kaminsky and Scott & Janice Casagrande…it wouldn’t have happened without all these people!! Secretary-Treasurer Linda Moorhouse––you have put in hours, night and day! Thank you to the MANY members and sponsors who contributed, financially, to Coffee Breaks and Social Gatherings!!
Thank you to the many friends who helped decorate!!… to turn the ballroom into “Old Chicago” and who were so artsy with flinging rose petals, pearls, fluffing the red glove fingers, and top hats!! (We affectionately called them our “Finger Fluffers”!!) THANK YOU to Past First Ladies and Past Presidents who chimed in on the many questions and were so helpful and encouraging! Abby Fansler helped with sending letters and checking in! Valerie Taylor ran our Zoom meetings, always with a smile, offering advice and help in countless ways. We truly have an amazing group of folks in the Significant Others and in the ABA!!
Our daughters––Jani Holder (Oregon) and Jessie Holder Tourtellotte (Virginia)––flew in to soak it all up and hang out, plus they ran errands, decorated, and thrilled our hearts with their presence! They really loved meeting so many of you and all of the concerts and events!
Congratulations to the magnificent band members and conductors who performed for us, nightly!! Lockport Township High School Wind Symphony (Brian Covey, director), University of Illinois Wind Symphony (Kevin Geraldi, director), Western Michigan University Wind Symphony (Scott Boerma, director), Wheaton Municipal Band (Bruce Moss, director), and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band (Ryan Nowlin, director). EVERY concert was varied, beautifully prepared, with so many different styles of music, and the perfect length, and it made us “fly” ((“E.T.”))! The number of hours spent on phone calls, planning, practicing, traveling, choosing music…IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!
The drive home was beautiful, truly!! Roy and I had much reminiscing with many smiles and laughter and it helped “while away the miles”!! The car is now unpacked! The Christmas tree––finally––came down! “Chicago –– My Kind Of Town” and all associated with it, are carried in our hearts!! (I’ll be adding pictures from Chicago on the Significant Others Facebook Page, under Folders.) Dennis & Janet Fisher and the Hosts, in Kansas City, Missouri, 2027, will make it another “Time to Remember”!! Stay in touch!!
With Joy, Signing Off –
June Holder – Former First Lady – Significant Others
Email: rjjjholder@msn.com
Cell: 703-470-6848 for June (703-470-8042 for Roy)
Ways to Contact Us
Email: abasignificantothers@gmail.com (ABA Significant Others)
Join our Facebook Page: ABA Significant Others
June Holder: 703-470-6848
Teresa Francis: 817-480-8546
Nancy Colburn: 703-283-7261
Valerie Taylor: 512-569-5057
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KJzSOJ-_MTvLyXDqBTLeWUjuyjPTHMzv/view?usp=sharing
SO Committee Leadership and Subcommittees
SO Biographies & Directory
The ABA SO Committee is in the process of gathering and updating our member’s biographical information. We invite you to answer as many of the questions as you want, even if you completed a biography years ago. At a minimum, please provide basic contact information so we can communicate information relevant to all SOs. Please click on the above link and let’s start getting to know each other better.
AmericanBandmasters.org
Other pages will be active soon:
News
History
Tribute to Founder of the Significant Others, Ann Bloomquist
Convention Highlights and Pics