PEDAGOGY

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• This year’s winner of ACB’s Young Composers Composition Contest is Dakota Pederson. His winning composition “Granite” will be premiered at the ACB convention in Orlando in May, 2023. The next submission period will open in August 2023 and close in June 2024, with the winner announced in November 2024 and the work premiered in 2025.

• The Association is busily planning their 2023 convention in Orlando, Florida, May 17-20.

The American Prize is a national competition designed to recognize the very best in the performing arts in the United States. Congratulations to the community bands honored by The American Prize:

Winner - The Plainville Wind Ensemble from Avon, CT; Ken Bagley, conductor

Second Place – Woodlands Concert Band from Spring, TX; Paul Warosello, conductor

Third Place – Montgomery County Concert Band from Lansdale, PA; Charles N. Neidhardt, conductor

Congratulations as well to the community bands that were accepted to perform at the 2022 Midwest Clinic:

• The Brooklyn Wind Symphony from Brooklyn, NY; Jeff W. Ball, conductor

• The Spring ISD Alumni Band from Conroe, TX; Trent Cooper, conductor

THE NEW HORIZONS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC ASSOCIATION – CELEBRATING ITS 31ST YEAR

The New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) provides music-making opportunities for adults, including those with no musical experience, and those who were active in school music programs but have been inactive for a long period.

Founded in 1991 by Roy Ernst, a professor at the Eastman School of Music, NHIMA represents more than 230 New Horizons bands, orchestras, choral groups throughout the USA, Canada, Ireland and Australia. In 2022, New Horizons bands enjoyed the same revitalization as ACB bands:

• The Association offered a 50% off “Back to Band” sale for one-year and three-year memberships, which was highly successful. Membership in NHIMA increased to 1500 members thanks to the sale, the easing of pandemic restrictions, and an online presence on Facebook, YouTube, and Dropbox.

• The association’s live band camps in Lake Chautauqua, OH and Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, which were cancelled in 2021, returned in 2022 and were very successful. Two camps are planned for 2023.

• Last year’s very popular virtual professional development programs were continued as well, including “Making Music with Disabilities,” “Klezmer Music,” “Sounds of the Jazz Age,” “How Does This Instrument Work,” and many more.

National Public Radio produced a very positive report on community bands, saying “Community bands are back after being battered by the pandemic.” Interviews with members and conductors of several community bands placed emphasis on the dedication of community band members and the reasons they have continued to perform on their instruments decades after their school days were over. Camaraderie, a feeling of belonging, keeping cognitive skills sharp, and the desire to entertain their audiences were cited among the many reasons for continuing to play. The production is at npr.org/2022/09/08/1121400371/ community-bands-are-back-afterbeing-battered-by-the-pandemic.

I’m delighted that my 2022 report has so many positive things to showcase. I’ve always felt that community bands are the direct result of music education, and a strong community band presence is an encouraging sign for all music educators. My hope is that next year’s report will have even better news.