FIRST VICE–PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
We are living and working through difficult and challenging times, and it is exciting to see how the profession we love so much is moving forward.
RANDALL COLEMAN
M
idwest 2021 is now a memory for us all. I often wonder if other professions have an event like the Midwest that is so eagerly anticipated by those in the profession. I know that the Midwest is special to so many of us not just because of the professional development that is available to us…but it is the relationships that we have built over the years…in large part due to the Midwest Clinic… that we are able to renew and energize during the week in Chicago. I am also certain that the fact that MUSIC is central to the Midwest “theme” has much to do with the special aura that surrounds the entire city for those of us fortunate enough to be able to be there IN PERSON this year. Those relationships we have built
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are so special to us all and to be able to say hello and to reminisce about those special “Midwest Memories” make it such an amazing time. It was so good to be able to finally celebrate our National Band Association’s 60th Anniversary with you. Even though it was delayed by a year, our time together celebrating the NBA’s storied past and incredible future was so enlightening. Thank you all to those who were able to attend and help us “raise a toast” to the next 60 years! Much of the General Business meeting was dedicated to announcing some well-deserved honors and awards. Congratulations to Frank Ticheli for his work “Lux Perpetua” as it won the NBA Revelli Composition Contest. We were also honored to be able to hear Frank’s incredible new work performed by the US Army Field Band with Dr. Ticheli conducting. On that same concert, was the premiere of James David’s new work “Urban Light” which was commissioned by the National
Band Association to celebrate our 60th anniversary. I hope you will check out both pieces if you weren’t able to hear them at Midwest. Three very special conductors were introduced at our General Meeting as the newest inductees into the National Band Association’s Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors. These gentlemen are so very deserving of this honor and have all played a role as mentor and friend to so many, myself at the top of the list! Congratulations to Col. Lowell Graham, Professor Joe Hermann, and Professor Don Wilcox, who will all be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame this coming February. Each of you has such a legacy in our profession and this honor is so richly deserved. Our great friend, conductor, composer, historian and “music history guru” Loras John Schissel was also recognized as the most recent inductee into the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts. The “AWAPA” is considered our profession’s equivalent of the Oscar and is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to bands. Continued on next page NBA JOURNAL
