A special award of
The John Philip Sousa
Foundation
Gregg Abe has been the Director of Music at Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Hawaii for 30 of his 32-year career in music. It also happens to be the high school he attended. AT Roosevelt he directs the marching band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble and the symphony orchestra.
Abe earned his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Hawaii. He has done extensive extra studies at Brigham Young (Hawaii) and Vandercook College of Music.
Abe has been named the ASBDA-UNI SW Regional Teacher of the Year in 1998, The Hawaii Music Awards HS Music Educator of the Year in 1996, Time Warner Outstanding Educator in 2001 and his band was nominated for the Sudler Flag in 2005.
The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established in 1989 to honor, over the course of a year, eight of the finest band directors in our business.
Recipients have taught for at least fifteen years, have maintained a very high-quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
Each is honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
Chairman of the Legion of Honor Committee is Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University.
He has served his profession as Treasurer of both the Oahu Band Director and the ASBDA Hawaii Chapter.
It is not unusual and almost expected that his bands will be at the Superior Rating whether they are competing locally or at the state level.
Abe says, “The most important factor that I consider that has shaped my career are my students. I am still learning my profession and who I learn from are the students themselves. I learn from their mistakes as well as their success. I listen to what they have to say and structure my curriculum at times around them in order to bridge the communication gap sometimes prevalent in a highly structured environment.”
“My philosophy stresses the knowledge and development of three basic principles–Discipline, Effort, and Pride. Stressing discipline is the primary step. In order to accomplish and achieve any goal, your mind must be focused on the task at hand. When one is able to listen and receive, understanding and learning can take place. The second step is effort. Effort requires one to participate in the learning process without fear or rationalization. One must practice or study for the purpose of strengthening their weak areas. Through effort, one is able to achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves. The third basic step is pride. To develop pride one must have an awareness of oneself and others in whatever one does. As this process continues, the student becomes truly involved with learning and is able to reach their inner self to realize specific values.”
