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Caption: Dedication - Band Building - Band Master's Association
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BANDMASTERS The American Bandmasters Association was formally organized in 1929. As the result of many years' study of the problems confronting American bands and encouraged by the interest of a group of prominent bandmasters, including John Philip Sousa, Edwin Franko Goldman invited a select number of band directors from the United States and Canada to be his guests at a luncheon and conference at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City on July 5, 1929. It was at this meeting that the American Bandmasters Association was formally organized. The objects of the Association were defined as ". . . mutual helpfulness, and the promotion of better music through the instrumentality of the band . . . to secure the adoption of a universal band instrumentation so that band publications of all countries will be interchangeable; to induce prominent composers of all countries to write for the band; to establish for the concert band a higher standard of artistic excellence than has generally been maintained; and to do all possible to raise the standards of bands and band music." The charter members of the Association were Capt. Charles O'Neill, Albert Austin Harding, Frank Simon, R. B. Hayward, Lt. J. J. Gagnier, Lt. Charles Benter, Victor J. Grabel, Arthur Pryor, and Edwin Franko Goldman. John Philip Sousa was elected first Honorary Life President. Dr. Goldman was elected second Honorary Life President in 1933, after retiring from the active presidency of the Association, an office he had held for four years. Dr. Harding was elected third Honorary Life President in 1956. On March 13, 1930, the American Bandmasters Association was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. The incorporators were Edwin Franko Goldman, Victor J. Grabel, A. Austin Harding, Frank Simon, and William J. Stannard. The first annual convention was held at Middletown, Ohio, with Frank Simon and the American Rolling Mills Company as hosts. The following is an outline of the annual conventions held by the Association, giving the place of the meeting, the date, and the name of the President elected to serve the following year: Middletown, Ohio, March 13-16, 1930 EDWIN FRANKO GOLDMAN ASSOCIATION University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, February 27March 2, 1941 HENRY FILLMORE Elkhart, Indiana, June 13-15, 1947 GLENN CLIFFE BAINUM Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 18-21, 1948 HOWARD C BRONSON Charlotte, North Carolina, March 17-18, 1949 JOHN J. RICHARDS University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 9-12, 1950 HAROLD B. BACHMAN Washington, D.C., March 8-11, 1951 EARL D. IRONS Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, March 7-10, 1952 WILLIAM D. REVELLI University of Miami, Miami, Florida, March 5-8, 1953 WILLIAM F. SANTELMANN United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, February 25-27, 1954 CHARLES BRENDLER Elkhart, Indiana, February 16-19, 1955 JAMES C. HARPER Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 7-10, 1956 GEORGE S. HOWARD Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 6-9, 1957 MARK H. HINDSLEY Boston, Massachusetts, April 9-12, 1931 EDWIN FRANKO GOLDMAN Washington, D.C., April 14-17, 1932 EDWIN FRANKO GOLDMAN Chicago, Illinois, August 31-September 2, 1933 CHARLES O'NEILL Toronto, Canada, April 17-21, 1934 HERBERT L. CLARKE Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7-10, 1935 FRANK SIMON Interlochcn, Michigan, August 6-9, 1936 FRANK SIMON Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 5-7, 1937 ALBERT AUSTIN HARDING University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, March 21-24, 1938 KARL L. KING The American Bandmasters Association has made its importance felt in the world of music, and through its influence has brought bandmasters into closer contact with each other for their mutual benefit. Many problems have been discussed and solved, much progress has been recorded, many original aims realized. A definite instrumentation for American bands has been evolved; publishers have taken cognizance of this achievement of the Association, and have cooperated to the fullest extent in bringing about its universal acceptance. Better editions and arrangements for band have become general, as has the practice of providing full conductor's scores to at least the major numbers. Nearly all of the publishers and instrument manufacturers of the country are associate members of the Association, and have lent it valuable moral support. Through its progressive leadership the American Bandmasters Association has done much to develop the standards of band performance and repertory throughout America. Never in the history of bands or band music has such progress been made in the development of original music for the concert band. Prominent composers have written works for the Association; many of these excellent and enduring compositions have received their premieres at concerts given during the Association's conventions. Each day brings new works by leading composers, and the response to this new literature is noted by the ever-increasing number of music lovers attending high school, college, and professional band concerts throughout the nation. This increase of interest and support is due, to a large extent, to the constant endeavors of all the members of the Association. Much remains to be done, but the American Bandmasters Association feels that it may be proud of what it has already accomplished, and once more dedicates itself to the task of doing all in its power to promote the welfare of bands and band music. Fort Dodge, Iowa, February 26-March 1, 1939 PETER BUYS Hagcrstown, Maryland, March 10-13, 1940 RICHARD B. HAYWARD 1
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