2019 NATIONAL WIND BAND HONORS PROJECT

Jerry Junkin

Due to unforseen circumstances, Mr. Junkin was not able to complete the adjudication.

Gary W. Hill

Gary W. Hill is in his 20th year as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Arizona State University, where he conducts the Wind Orchestra and teaches graduate conducting. The 2018/19 academic year marks Hill’s 45th year as conductor, his 50th as a music teacher, and his 60th as a performing musician.

Prior to Hill’s appointment at ASU, he was Director of Bands at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he also served as Music Director for the Kansas City Youth Wind Ensemble, and conducted two professional groups: the Kansas City Symphony Brass Ensemble and newEar, a chamber ensemble devoted to contemporary music. Previously, he held a similar post at East Texas State University (Texas A&M-Commerce) and was Associate Director of Bands at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Hill began his teaching career in Michigan where he served as Director of Bands for the West Bloomfield and Traverse City public schools.

High school, university, and professional ensembles under Hill’s direction have given performances for the National Band Association, the Music Educators National Conference (NAfME), the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association, the International Horn Symposium, the National Flute Association, at many state conventions, and throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Performances conducted by him have consistently drawn praise from composers, performing musicians, and critics alike for their insightful, inspired, and cohesive realizations, and for their imaginative programming.

As a guest conductor and clinician, appearances in more than a dozen countries and throughout most of the United States have included performances with myriad high school honor bands, numerous college and university wind bands and orchestras, many professional ensembles, at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and at World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles’ conferences. Gary W. Hill is one of the most sought after guest conductors and clinicians in the instrumental music education field; during the past four decades, he has presented hundreds of workshops on conducting and rehearsal technique for music teachers of all levels and has served as a clinician for thousands of bands and orchestras.

During Professor Hill’s 39 years as a collegiate conducting teacher, he has taught scores of undergraduate and graduate conducting students and served as the primary mentor for 53 graduate conducting majors, 8 who are serving as conductors of US Armed Forces’ ensembles and other professional groups, and 42 who have won university teaching positions. Hill’s current creative/research agenda includes an exploration of biochemical reactions spawned by the musical process and work concerning the past, present, and future of instrumental music in schools.

Gary W. Hill is a member of numerous professional organizations including the National Association for Music Education, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the American Bandmasters Association, and the College Band Directors National Association, for which he hosted the “Fiftieth Anniversary National Conference” (1991), co-hosted the 2019 biennial national conference, as well as the joint conferences of the North Central and Southwestern Divisions in conjunction with The Society for American Music (1998), served as president of the Southwestern Division (1989-91), and as national president (2003-05).

Anthony Maiello

Anthony J. Maiello received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Ithaca College in l965 and l967, respectively. He also studied at the National Conducting Institute in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Mr. Leonard Slatkin, Musical Director of the National?Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as a Cover Conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Maiello’s many professional credits include clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor of All-State, All-State Sectional, Regional, District, All-County and All-City ensembles, with appearances throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Europe, The Netherlands and The Bahamas. He conducted musical activities for the Gold Medal Ceremonies at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the New York State Music Camp & Institute; has served as New York State Music Association adjudicator; clinician with Yamaha, and clinician for Warner Bros. Publications, President of the International Association of Jazz Educators – New York State Chapter and as Musical Director for Music Festivals International. He is an elected member of The American Bandmasters Association and ASCAP, and holds membership in the National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, New York State School Music Association, Virginia Music Educators Association, Virginia Jazz Service Organization, The College Music Society and The American Symphony Orchestra League.

Mr. Maiello’s academic experience includes extensive teaching in the public schools. He served as Professor of Music and Chairman of Performance at the Crane School of Music, Potsdam College of SUNY, Potsdam, New York, where his duties included advanced instrumental conducting, applied clarinet, woodwind and percussion techniques; and conductor of the Crane Wind Ensemble. Under his direction, the ensembles at Crane and George Mason University have commissioned many new works, made numerous recordings and appearances statewide and at regional and national conferences in the United States and Canada. He is the author of CONDUCTING: A HANDS-ON-APPROACH, CONDUCTING NUANCES: LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT, and co-author of the 21st CENTURY BAND METHOD.
Anthony Maiello travels widely presenting clinics, lectures and workshops, and guest conducting and adjudicating numerous music festivals. He was Phi Beta Mu Band Director of the Year for the year 2015, and served as adjudicator / clinician for the ASTA National Orchestra Competition.

He is presently Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia where he conducts the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony and teaches several conducting courses. Professor Maiello was awarded the title of “University Professor” by the Board of Visitors, the highest rank given to faculty members at George Mason University. Mr. Maiello has also served as Associate Conductor of The McLean Orchestra, McLean, Virginia, and has been appointed an Honorary Conductor of The United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C. and is presently the conductor of the American Festival Philharmonic Orchestra, and the American Wind Symphony, Washington, D.C.

Col. Lowell E. Graham

A native of Greeley, Colorado, Lowell E. Graham is the Director of Orchestral Activities and Professor of Conducting at the University of Texas at El Paso. He is the recipient of the “Abraham Chavez” Professorship in Music. He enjoys a distinguished career conducting ensembles in many musical media, including the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, the Spokane Symphony, the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, the American Promenade Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic, Chamber Music Palm Beach Chamber Orchestra, the Westsachsisches Symphonieorchester, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Banda Sinfonica do Estado de Sao Paulo, Orquestra de Sopros Brasileira, Banda Sinfonica de la Provincia de Cordoba – Argentina, Banda Municipal de Musica de Bilbao – Espana, Banda Municipal de Barcelona – Espana, the National Symphonic Winds, the National Chamber Players, the Avatar Brass Ensemble and the Denver Brass. In 2006 he was named the “Director Honorifico Anual” for the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Paraguay. He has held numerous conducting positions to include that of the Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force’s premier musical organization in Washington, DC. As a USAF Colonel, he became the senior ranking musician in the Department of Defense.   

He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education in 1970 and a Master of Arts degree in performance the following year. In 1977 he became the first person to be awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Graham has initiated many important media projects for American Public Radio and other broadcasting organizations, as well as live telecast/web cast concerts and video productions on which his credits include those of conductor, writer and musical producer. He is a frequent guest on radio talk shows and performed on NBC’s “Today Show” for five consecutive years on Independence Day.

In March 1995, he was honored with membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association (ABA), the professional association of master conductors and musicians. Membership is considered the highest honor achievable by American bandsmen; it recognized outstanding achievement in the field of concert bands. He is currently the President for ABA. In 2014 he was named as the President and CEO of the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

In February 1996, he was inducted into the University of Northern Colorado School of Music “Hall of Honor.” This distinction was bestowed on only 18 alumni and faculty who have achieved greatness as musician, educators and humanitarians in the school’s first 100 years. He received The Catholic University of America’s 1998 Alumni Achievement Award in the field of Music. This award, which is presented annually by the Board of Governors Alumni Association, recognized his accomplishments and honored him for his life’s work. In 1999 he received the University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association Honored Alumni Award in the category of “Contributions to Music.” In 2001, he was the recipient of the Award of Distinction for Contributions to Music Education from the Illinois Music Educators Association. The two previous recipients were Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Meryl J. Isaac. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Phi Beta Mu International Outstanding Bandmaster Award. In 2008, he was honored by the American School Band Directors Association with the A. Austin Harding Award for “making significant and lasting contributions to the school band movement.” In 2013 the University of Northern Colorado Graduate School honored him with the “Century of Scholars Award” in performance representing excellence and achievement in the previous 100 years of the Graduate School.

In 2005 Graham was named as the “Supervising Editor” for LudwigMasters Music Publications, Inc., a division of Edwin F. Kalmus & Co., Inc.  Masters Music Publications that includes rare, out-of print, and foreign editions as well as offering one of the finest catalogs of original works and arrangements for concert band and wind ensemble available today. Additionally, Graham actively serves as an Educational Clinician for Conn-Selmer Education Division.

Graham has released recordings on six labels – Naxos, Telarc, Klavier, Mark, Altissimo and Wilson — that have been recognized for both their artistic and sonic excellence. These recordings have been recognized in Stereophile’s “Records to Die-For” list, The Absolute Sound’s “The Super Disc List,” as well as one having won a Grammy.

Alfred L. Watkins

Alfred L. Watkins, Co-Founder, Musical Director and Conductor of the Cobb Wind Symphony, recently concluded his 37-year career as a high school band director. He was Director of Bands at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia for 31 years. For six years prior to joining Lassiter, Watkins served as Director of Bands at Murphy High School in the Atlanta Public Schools. Mr. Watkins is a 1976 graduate of Florida A & M University. Bands under Watkins’ direction have performed five times at the Midwest Band Clinic, six performances at the MFA National Concert Band Festival and four performances at the GMEA In-Service Conference. The symphonic band has performed on seven college campuses and the Lassiter Percussion Ensemble has performed twice at the Midwest Clinic, PASIC, three times at the National Percussion Festival and four times at the GMEA In-Service Conference.

The Lassiter Marching Band was the 1998 and 2002 Bands of America Grand National Champion and the band also won nine BOA Regional Championships. Under Watkins’ leadership, the band also participated in four Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parades (spanning 25 years), three times in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NYC), twice in the King Orange Bowl Parade (FL) and once in the Florida Citrus Bowl Parade. During Mr. Watkins’ Lassiter tenure, all four (or five) Lassiter concert bands received consecutive Superior Ratings from 1993 until his retirement in 2013, with the top two bands earning consistent superior ratings in Grade VI for his last 24 years. The band program is one of few bands in America to have received both the Sudler Flag of Honor for outstanding concert bands and the Sudler Shield for outstanding marching band. The Lassiter Winter Color Guard was named Winter Guard International World Champions in Scholastic “A” and “Open Class” in 1996 and 1997. For well over 35 years, Watkins has been a judge for marching, concert bands and lecturer throughout the country. He has also had the pleasure of conducting All-State High School Bands in 18 states and has worked with bands from 35 states.

Mr. Watkins has been selected as a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the Florida A & M University Gallery of Distinguished Alumni, the Georgia Chapter of the Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame and the Bands of America Hall of Fame. In 2014, Watkins received the Edwin Franko Goldman Award from ASBDA and in December 2017, he was a recipient with the Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor. In 2018, Mr. Watkins was the recipient of the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity’s prestigious Distinguished Service to Music Medal. He has received 20 Certificates of Excellence from the National Band Association, the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the Band World Magazine Legion of Honor. Mr. Watkins is Co-Founder, Conductor and Musical Director of the Cobb Wind Symphony, an all-adult community band based in the Atlanta area, which has earned the Sudler Silver Scroll Award, performed three times at the Southern Division of CBDNA and has performed three times at the Midwest Clinic. At present, Watkins is one of the few conductors to hold three Sudler Awards (Flag, Shield, Silver Scroll) simultaneously. In 2009 and 2010, two doctoral dissertations were written centered around his life and work with the Lassiter Band Program. The $1.5 million Alfred L. Watkins Band Building at Lassiter High School bears his name. Currently, Mr. Watkins is a Co-Founder and President of the Minority Band Director National Association, Inc. and is an Educational Clinician for the Conn Selmer Corporation, Division of Education.

He and his wife for 35 years, Rita, live in Marietta. They have two adult sons: Christopher, a trumpeter in the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. and Jonathan, a businessman in San Diego, CA.