The John Philip Sousa Foundation

An International Award
Recognizing High School Concert Bands
of
Outstanding Musical Excellence

Sponsored by
Louis and Virginia Sudler

Administered by
The John Philip Sousa Foundation

Purpose

To identify, recognize and honor high school band programs internationally that have demonstrated particularly significant high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years.

Procedure

Nominations will be received from any source and at any time by the Sousa Foundation. The nominations will be evaluated by the Selection Committee established by the Sousa Foundation.
The Selection Committee is composed of a number of active and successful high school band directors together with college and university band directors who themselves have had a number of years of successful high school band experience.
There are no specific number of schools honored each year. The awards will be announced in January after the approval of nominations each year in December. Recipients will be notified by the Executive Committee of The John Philip Sousa Foundation.
Bands nominated for the award will be asked to submit materials for evaluation purposes. These should include:

1. Concert programs covering the previous three or more years.

2. Recordings from the previous three or more years, including a standard march, a contemporary band work, and an orchestra transcription from the Classical or Romantic period prior to the 20th century.

3. Photographs of the concert and marching band organizations and the director of bands.

4. Press clippings or copies of press clippings and other supporting documents.

5. Written recommendations from three or more band conductors of recognized national reputation who have heard the band perform recently.

6. An information form to be filled out by the conductor for use by the selection committee.

7. Nomination forms may be obtained from:

Gladys Wright, Chair
The Sudler Flag
345 Overlook Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-463-1738
Al.Gladys.Wright@frontier.com

http://www.SousaFoundation.net/mediafiles/PDF/71.PDF
The Award

Bands receiving The Sudler Flag of Honor will receive a unique and colorful nylon flag executed in red, white, and blue, trimmed with gold fringe. The flag is four by six feet in size.
The director will be given an engraved plaque and each of the members of the band will receive a handsome individualized diploma.
All Sudler Flag of Honor Bands are automatically included in the Sousa Foundation's Historic Roll of Honor of outstanding high school concert bands.

Criteria

The band must have achieved and maintained a high standard of excellence in the concert area over a period of several years.
The concert band will have placed itself in situations where there has been opportunity for evaluation by qualified persons or has been rated "superior" at state, regional, or national levels in concert activities.
The band program must offer its participants a complete and balanced program of musical activities including concert, solo, ensemble, and marching areas.
The band should have performed at regional, state, national, and professional meetings of significance. These can include but are not limited to state music conventions, regional or national MENC meetings, and state or national band association conventions.
The director must have been incumbent in his/her position for at least seven years, including the current year.
A number of the students in the band should have participated in district and all-state honor bands or similar all-area groups.

Administration

The award is administered by The John Philip Sousa Foundation and implemented by its Executive Committee.

Louis and Virginia Sudler

The Sudler Flag of Honor awards are made possible through the generosity of Louis and Virginia Sudler.

Louis Sudler (1903-1992) was a rare combination of successful business man, a performing artist, and a nationally known patron of the arts. He was the founder of the Chicago real estate firm, Sudler and Company; his urge for achievement in the business world was equaled only by his intense desire to assist and inspire talented young musicians.

Mr. Sudler appeared nationally as a soloist in concerts, oratorio, with symphony orchestras, with concert bands, at functions honoring five United States presidents, and as a recording artist. A baritone, he was a member of the Chicago Civic Opera.

Louis Sudler had long expressed his interest in the arts, not only as a successful performing musician but as a patron of the arts, vitally interested in recognizing outstanding accomplishments, particularly by students at the high school and college levels. He was founder and host of the Peabody award-winning television program, "Artist's Showcase," which ran for 14 years. He was internationally known for his leadership of The Orchestral Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and served on the boards of many art institutions in this country. Over the years he established scholarships and awards for young talented musicians through the Louis Sudler Foundation and the Sousa Foundation.

His wife, Virginia Brown Sudler (1911-2003), herself a patron of the arts, remained active in The John Philip Sousa Foundation, serving as Vice-President on the Executive Board until her death.

Members of the Selection Committee

Gladys Stone Wright, Project Chair
345 Overlook Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Al.gladys.wright@frontier.com

Mr. Gerald Babbitt

Hayes High School

Buda, TX

Mr. Lafe Cook

Dobyns-Bennett High School

Kingsport, TN

Mr. James Kirchenbauer (Ret.)

McLean High School

McLean, VA

Mr. Richard Bergman (Ret.)

Herndon High School

Herndon, VA

Mr. Brian Covey

Lockport High School

Lockport, IL

Mr. Andy Sealy

Hebron High School

Carrollton, TX

Mr. Carl J. Bianchi (Ret.)

James Madison High School

Vienna, VA

Dr. John Culvahouse

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA

Mr. Scott Rush

Wando High School

Wando, SC

Mr. Greg Bimm

Marion Catholic High School

Chicago Heights, IL

Mr. David Gorham

Owasso High School

Owasso, OK

Mr. Denton Stokes (Ret.)

James Robinson High School

Fairfax, VA

Dr. John Carmichael

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL

Mr. Roy Holder (Ret.)

Lake Braddock High School

Burke, VA

Ms. Paula Thornton (Ret.)

Buchholz High School

Tallahassee, FL

Mr. Scott Casagrande

John Hersey High School

Arlington Heights, IL

Mr. Michael Kaufman

Grand Ledge High School

Grand Ledge, MI

Mr. David Vandewalker

Harrison High School

Marietta, GA

Sudler Flag Recipients

	1983
Alice High School Band Bryce Taylor, Director Alice, TX	Bell High School Band Robert Winslow, Director Hurst, TX	Georgetown High School Band Robert Klett, Director Georgetown, TX
North Hills High School Band Warren Mercer, Director Pittsburgh, PA	Papillion-LaVista HS Band Glen Koca, Director Papillion, NE	Richardson High School Band Scott Taylor, Director Richardson, TX
	Wheatridge High School Band Larry Wallace, Director Wheatridge, CO
	1984
Barker High School Band Robert Floyd, Director Richardson, TX	Glenbard East High School Band Ross Kellan, Director Lombard, IL	Hardaway High School Band William Pharris, Director Columbus, GA
Reynoldsburg High School Band Dan Nawrocki, Director Reynoldsburg, Ohio		Oconomowoc High School Band A.F. Hoefer, Director Oconomowoc, WI
	1985
Clear Lake High School Band Richard Bass, Director Houston, TX	Grand Ledge High School Band Michael Kaufman, Director Grand Ledge, MI	South Lakes High School Band Brad Draeger, Director Reston, VA
Stevens High School Band Milo Winter, Director Rapid City, SD		Valparaiso High School Band Robert Miller, Director Valparaiso, IN
	1986
J. J. Pierce High School Band Tom Bennett, Director Richardson, TX		Lakeland High School Band John Carmichael, Director Lakeland, FL
	1987
Lake Highland High School Band Malcolm Helm, Director Dallas, TX		Auburn High School Band Tommy Goff, Director Auburn, AL
	1988
Duncanville High School Band Tom Shine, Director Duncanville, TX	Lassiter High School Band Alfred Watkins, Director Marietta, GA	Mason City High School Band Gilbert Lettow, Director Mason City, IA
	1989
Coronado High School Band Richard Lambert, Director El Paso, TX	James Madison HS Band Carl J. Bianchi, Director Vienna, VA	Sumter High School Band John Culvahouse, Director Sumter, SC
	1990
	Herndon High School Band Richard Bergman, Director Herndon, VA

	1991
Marion Catholic High School Greg Bimm, Director Chicago Heights, IL	Pearl City High School Band Michael Nakasone, Director Pearl City, HI	Robert E. Lee High School Band Randy Stone, Director Midland, TX
	1992
	James Robinson HS Band Gary Markham, Director Fairfax, VA
	1993
Lakeland High School Band Andrew Crew, Director Lakeland, FL		George C. Marshall HS Band Denton Stokes, Director Fairfax, VA
	1994
Clements High School Band Larry Matysial, Director Sugar Land, TX	Lake Braddock HS Band Roy Holder, Director Burke, VA	The Colony High School Band Dick Clardy, Director The Colony, TX
	Westfield High School Band Philip Geiger, Director Houston, TX
	1995
W.T. Woodson High School Band John Casagrande, Director Fairfax, VA		Spring High School Band Bill Watson, Director Spring, TX
	1996
	Norcross High School Band William Pharris, Director Norcross, GA
	1997
Klein Forest High School Band Paul J. Worosello, Director Houston, TX	Langham Creek HS Band Scott McAdow, Director Houston, TX	Owasso High School Band David Gorham, Director Owasso, OK
	Westmoore HS Band Allen Correll, Director Oklahoma City, OK
	1998
Jack C. Hays HS Band Gerald Babbitt, Director Buda, TX		Westlake High School Band Kerry Taylor, Director Austin, TX
	1999
	Irmo High School Band Bruce Dinkins, Director Columbia, SC
	2000
Leon High School Band Timothy Paul, Director Tallahassee, FL	McLean High School Band James Kirchenbauer, Director McLean, VA	JJ Pearce High School Band Paul Warshaw, Director Richardson, TX

	2001
	None Selected
	2002
Lake Highlands HS Band Marion West, Director Dallas, TX		Buchholz High School Band Paula Thornton, Director Gainesville, FL
	2003
North Hardin High School Band Charles Campbell, Director Radcliff, KY		The Woodlands HS Band Brett Johnson, Director The Woodlands, TX
	2004
L.V. Berkner High School Band Michael Brashear, Director Richardson, TX	James Robinson HS Band Denton Stokes, Director Fairfax, VA	Dobyns-Bennett HS Band Lafe Cook, Director Kingsport, TN
	2005
Cypress Falls High School Band Frank Troyka, Director Houston, TX		Parkview High School Band Allen Beach, Director Lilburn, GA
	2006
Friendswood HS Band Gregory Dick, Director Friendswood, TX		Harrison High School Band David Vandewalker, Director Kennesaw, GA
	2007
John Hersey High School Band Scott Casagrande, Director Arlington Heights, IL		Wando High School Band Scott Rush, Director Wando, SC
	2008
Lockport High School Band Brian Covey, Director Lockport, IL	Poteet High School Band Scott Coulson, Director Mesquite, TX	Mason High School Band Robert Bass, Director Mason, OH
	Permian High School Band Michael Watts, Director Odessa, TX
	2009
	Neuqua Valley High School Charles Staley, Director Naperville, IL
	2010
	None Selected
	2011
Hebron High School Band Andy Sealy, Director Carrollton, TX	James Madison HS Band Michael Hackbarth, Director Vienna, VA	W.T. Woodson High School Band Melinda McKenzie-Hall, Director Fairfax, VA

The Historic Roll of Honor
of
High School Concert Bands
1920-2007

For a complete listing of committee members and bands since 1920 please follow the link here:
Historic Roll of Honor