PROFESSOR MARCELLUS BROWN & MR. MICHAEL NAKASONE RECEIVE THE 2022 AL & GLADYS WRIGHT DISTINGUISHED LEGACY AWARD

The National Band Association is pleased to announce that Professor Marcellus Brown and Mr. Michael Nakasone are the 2022 recipients of the Al and Gladys Wright Distinguished Legacy Award. This award is presented for

Marcellus Brown

Professor Brown is the Director of Bands at Boise State University and conducts the University Symphonic Winds and the Treasure Valley Concert Band. He teaches instrumental conducting and serves as the Director of the Boise State University Summer Chamber Music Camp. Under his direction the University Symphonic Winds has been recognized as one of the outstanding large wind ensembles in the Northwest. They have presented concerts at numerous Idaho State Music Educators Conferences, the Western/Northwestern College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Regional Conference and the 2011 CBDNA National Conference held in Seattle, Washington. The Treasure Valley Concert Band has performed at the Western International Band Clinic and the All-Northwest Music Educators Conference. In March of 2015 the University Symphonic Winds was invited to perform at the lifetime achievement rather than for a single contribution, no matter how monumental. Nominees must have a minimum of 30 years of distinguished service to the profession, supporting the mission and goals of the National Band Association, which include the promotion of the concert band

81 st Annual American Bandmasters Association National Convention.

During the past five years this and concert band music, teaching, mentorship, scholarship, and service to the band profession. ensemble has commissioned and premiered four new works for wind band.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Professor Brown and Mr. Nakasone!

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Brown holds a Masters of Music Degree in Trumpet Performance and Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Michigan where he took conducting classes with Elizabeth Green. He has done doctoral work at the University of Illinois where he studied conducting with Harry Begian, Professor Emeritus of Bands.

Mr. Brown has done extensive work as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States and has been a guest conductor and presenter at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. He has been recognized for his work and dedication as an educator at Boise State University as the recipient of the 2002 Excellence In Teaching Award presented by the LDS Student Association, the 2002 Faculty/Staff Larry G. Selland Humanitarian Award presented by the University Women’s Center and one of ten honored faculty to receive the 2003 & 2012 Top Ten Student Scholar Awards.

In 2006 Mr. Brown was elected into the American Bandmasters Association. He has served as President of the College Band Directors National Association Northwestern Division (2007-2009). In 2008 he was elected to a twoyear term to serve on the board of the National Band Association. Currently Mr. Brown is serving on the selection panel for the National Band Association William D. Revelli Composition Contest.

Michael Nakasone

Nakasone retired in 2004 after a distinguished 36-year career in the public schools of Hawaii. During this time, Mr. Nakasone served as band director at Wahiawa Intermediate School, Mililani High School, and Pearl City High School.

At the time of his retirement, Mr. Nakasone was serving as Director of the Pearl City High School Performing Arts Learning Center. Bands under his direction have performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the Ginza Parade in Tokyo. In 1992, the Pearl City High School Band was

Additionally, Mr. Nakasone has been recognized as Hawaii State Teacher (1996) of the Year and a recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor (1995). He is also an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.

In 2005, Mr. Nakasone was appointed bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band. That same year, Mr. Nakasone received the Hawaii Music Award for Lifetime Achievement.

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