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DevelopmentoftheMaster’sDegreeLaunchedasaworkshopforbanddirectorsinthesummerof1989only26attendedBy1992thenPresidentofSouthernOregonUniversityJosephCoxhadcreatedanempty-shelldegreeconceptthrough theOregonState Boardof HigherEdandABCinstantlyqualifiedWithin6months wehadthedegreeformulatedandhadsixwould-becandidatesfrom1991plussevennewstudentsformthebasisofthenewdegree programIn1994thefirstgraduatingclassofsixcompletedthedegreebytakingexitwrittenandoralexamsFromthatclassElvaKLancelaterbecameDirectorofBandsatMississippiStateUniversityandPaulKassulkejoinedABC/Bandworld/WIBCfull-timein2007asDirectorofOperationsIntheearlyyearstheABCBandwasacombinationofattendingdirectorswithafewworkingonthedegreeandcommunitymusicianswhohelpedfillouttheinstrumentationforpublicconcertsBy2002 wefounditnecessary tosplit to twobandswithover175attendeesincluding140master’scandidatesIn2010theAmericanBandCollegeprogramrealignedwithSamHoustonStateUniversityofHuntsvilleTexaswithover200full-timecandidatesin the programByAugust of 2015 our graduate total will reach860 with65in the graduatingclassGuestComposers andConductorsOneofABC’sgreatestassetsisitsimmersionprogramconceptthatallowscandidatestostudywith24oftheworld’sfinestteacherseachsummerThisfacultyincludesexpertsoneachofthebandinstrumentsaswellastopconductorswholectureonconductingandserveasassessmentfacultyaseachofourcandidatesconductsmusic withoneof the two bandsCandidateworkpriortothestartofABCmakesitpossibleforthemtoconductandpreparemusicforthevisitingguestconductors andsoloists who will appear on thepublicconcerts(June25and July4)OvertheyearsguestshaveincludedsomeofthebestknowncomposersinourbusinessAlfredReedWarrenBarkerJohandeMeijJan VanderRoostFrancisMcBethJamesBarnesJamesCurnowDavidHolsingerRobert WSmithFrankTicheliRalphHultgrenFrankEricksonBrianBalmagesJohnO’ReillyTo nameonly afewAndfinestconductorsArnaldGabrielAnthonyMaielloRayCramerPeterBoonshaftPaulaCriderJamesKeeneFrank WickesRobertPontoLowellGrahamBruceDinkinsMikeBankheadFrederickFennellAnddozensmoreSoloists haveincludedDocSeverinsenAllen VizzuttiBobbyShewYolandaPelzerBostonBrassDallasBrassBrianBowmanEugeneRousseauMarianneGedigianJim WalkerRobertSpringScottPluggeDaleUnderwoodCanadianBrassPatSheridanSamPilafianAndmanymanymoreCommissions&PremieresAsearlyas1990ABCfrequentlydidfirstperformancesofnewpieceswrittenbyHollywoodcomposer WarrenBarkerIn2006 JohandeMeijpremieredhissettingofPatrickDoyle’smusicfrom“HenryV”In2007“DublinDances”wascommissionedandcomposerJanVanderRoostfromBelgiumconductedthepremiereAyearlatertheABCclassof2008commissionedRobertWSmithtowritetheofficialmarch(TotheMax)In2010an ABCConsortiumCommission resultedinthepremiereperformanceofJohandeMeij’s“AtKittyO’Shea’s”The25thanniversaryyearof2013includedfourworldpremierperformancesincludingtheJohandeMeij/BillWhelanbandsettingof“Riverdance”plus“Fiveby Five” for the 3 trumpetsoloists“American Anthem” for ArnaldGabriel&“CaravanFantasy“forDocSeverinsenAndsoit goesABC—AShortHistoryABC/SHSUGradClassof2014deMeij2010Finale AtKittyO’Shea’sCanadianBrass with ABCin2014