News

NBA and BOA Join Forces in 2004
(August 1, 2003)

The National Band Association and Bands of America will join forces during the summer of 2004 for a "first of a kind" summer symposium/national convention. Scott McCormick, Executive Director of BOA, and David Gregory, President of the NBA, have announced plans for the 2004 NBA National Biennial Convention to be held in conjunction with the BOA Summer Symposium during the week of June 20 - 26 on the campus of Illinois State University.

The NBA/BOA event will offer the "best of the best" for participants. This first-time joint convention will combine nationally known conductors, composers, arrangers, show designers, clinicians, and concert bands in a week-long series of classes, seminars, concerts, and discussion groups. Bands of America holds its summer symposium each year and the National Band Association holds its national convention every other year. The opportunity to combine the talents and skills of nationally and internationally known conductors and clinicians was one that both the NBA and BOA was anxious to see brought to reality.

Colonel Lowell Graham will conduct the NBA National Community Band and will serve as clinician/lecturer for NBA sessions the first part of the week. Mark Camphouse, Dana Wilson, and Don Grantham will serve as guest mentors for the NBA Young Composer Mentor Project while Tom Fraschillo, Jim Keene, and Frank Wickes will serve in similar capacities for the NBA Young Conductor Mentor Project.

The Air Force Band of Mid-America under the direction of Lt. Colonel Steve Grimo will serve as the clinic ensemble for both young mentor projects and will be the featured ensemble for the Tuesday evening concert hour for the symposium. The Saitama Sakae Wind Orchestra, twelve-time Gold Medal winner in Japan's national concert band finals, will present the Wednesday evening concert as part of their 2004 America tour. Dozens of clinics and seminars will be offered during the week, and a tour of the John Philip Sousa Museum at the University of Illinois will be one of the highlights of the NBA convention offerings.

Those interested in taking advantage of this tremendous offering may find additional information on this web site as well as on the Bands of America site. All who have an interest in becoming a better trained professional, or who might simply need a "battery charging" around the end of June, are encouraged to register for the event and begin making plans to attend the 2004 National Band Association/Bands of America Summer Symposium and National Convention. The summer of 2004 will be a great one for bands in America.