The American Bandmasters Association, founded in 1929 with John Philip Sousa serving as Honorary Life President, recognizes outstanding achievement among concert band conductors and composers. Its invitational membership includes approximately 300 wind band conductors and composers from the United States and Canada, as well as Honorary Members from Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. The organization also includes approximately 50 Associate Members—music individuals, businesses, and corporations that provide significant services to bands, band programs, and the publication of band music.
Charter members of ABA
Pictured below are the charter members of the American Bandmasters Association. New York was approved as the first meeting place and the charter members assembled there on July 5, 1929. These members included ABA founder Edwin Franko Goldman, Director of the Goldman Band, New York, NY; Charles Benter, Director of the United States Navy Band, Washington, DC; J. J. Gagnier, Director of His Majesty’s Grenadier Guards Band, Montreal, Canada; Victor J. Grabel, Conductor of the Chicago Concert Band; Albert Austin Harding, Director of Bands at the University of Illinois; Richard B. Hayward, Director of the Toronto Concert Band, Toronto, Canada; Charles O’Neill, Director of the Royal 22nd Regiment Band, Quebec, Canada; Arthur Pryor, Director of Arthur Pryor’s Band, New York, NY; and Frank Simon, Director of the ARMCO Band, Middletown, Ohio.
Back row standing (left to right): J. J. Gagnier, Frank Simon, Charles Benter, Victor Grabel, Richard Hayward
Front row sitting (left to right): Albert Austin Harding, Arthur Pryor, Edwin Franko Goldman, Charles O’Neill
March 30 Message from ABA President Dennis Fisher
It’s impossible to fully express all the feelings I have moving into this new role as President of the American Bandmasters Association. As I said at the convention, it is both humbling and an enormous honor. The legacy that has been left to us by our predecessors is awe inspiring to say the least. The impact that ABA has made is due to their groundwork, and it is incumbent on current and future members to uphold that standard of innovation and excellence.
The American Bandmasters Association has long been the standard bearer for the support and betterment of concert bands. The Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award sits as the premier award for composition for concert band. Dating from 1956 with Clifton Williams’ “Fanfare and Allegro,” the annual award has been on the leading edge for recognizing the finest in new pieces for concert band, contributing to the repertoire for bands worldwide. More recent initiatives, which can be found under News and Projects tab, highlight the thoughtful and creative work of our many member committees. Future projects are exciting and when brought to fruition will further the many initiatives of the organization.
Elected membership into the American Bandmasters Association is a coveted capstone to highly successful and influential careers of our members. This recognition of musical excellence, creativity and leadership provides a foundation for the concert band’s role in the growth and lives of our students. The mentoring we have received from our predecessors in the “Lest We Forget” section, inspires us to pay it forward to future generations of leaders in the band world. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity to serve this organization and our profession. Without the support of past mentors and students, none of this would be possible. I am thrilled about the work of ABA over the coming year culminating with “Goin’ to Kansas City, Kansas City here we come” in February 2027!
Sincerely,
Dennis Fisher, 88th President
The American Bandmasters Association
Email: Dennis.Fisher@unt.edu
ABA Associate Members
