January 24, 2003

Troy State University to host 30th annual band festival

An induction into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors and a series of free band concerts are among the highlights for the 30th annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic, Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at Troy State University.

As many as 2,000 band directors and musicians, parents and other guests are expected to attend the three-day event, according to Carol Franks, executive director of the band clinic and assistant professor in the TSU School of Music.

At noon on Feb. 1, Michigan State University Director of Bands Emeritus Kenneth G. Bloomquist will be inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame, located in the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor on the TSU campus. A past president of the American Bandmasters Association and a past president of the National Band Association, Bloomquist became director of bands at Michigan State University in 1970 after a stint in the same position at the University of Kansas. In 1978, he became director of the Michigan State School of Music, a post he held until 1988.

The series of concerts, which will feature performances of the Troy State University Symphony Band and SEUS clinic honors bands, will begin on Thursday at 8 p.m. with a performance by the Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) High School Band, under the direction of Randy Folsom. Concerts are open to the public and admission is free. Each concert will be held at the Claudia Crosby Theatre in Smith Hall on the TSU campus.

Six members of the National Band Association’s Hall of Fame, including Col. John R. Bourgeois, Dr. Al Wright, Gladys Wright, Jay Julian, TSU’s Dr. John M. Long and new inductee Kenneth Bloomquist, will lead the TSU Symphony Band in a concert on Friday, Jan. 31 at 8:30 p.m. Ralph Ford is the band’s conductor.

Bourgeois, former director of 'The President’s Own' United States Marine Band, and composer and former Troy State Band Director Robert W. Smith will be guest conductors for the Crimson and Silver Honor Bands as they perform on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Other public concerts include:

• Friday, Jan. 31, 10 a.m., the Worth County (Ga.) Middle School Band, Craig Bean, conductor; Friday, Jan. 31, 1:15 p.m., the Crisp County (Ga.) High School Band, Mark Alexander, conductor; Friday, Jan. 31, 3:30 p.m., the East Paulding High School Concert Band of Dallas, Ga., Ron Becton, conductor;
• Saturday, Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m., the Smiths Station (Ala.) High School Band, Russell Courson, conductor.

 In addition to the concerts, the three-day event will enable participants to receive instruction during performance clinics, view exhibits and read newly-published music during special sessions for band directors.