Awards and Trophies

Grand National Champions for 2009

We want to take a moment to recognize our Grand National Champions for 2009!  These schools have won the Grand champion over all schools in their category out of our entire festival season and about 5,000 participants!  We used a panel of adjudicators from all over the country.  To read their bios please look below!  Congratulations!  We hope to see you in future years!

Distinguished Panel of Adjudicators

Gary Smith received his BA from Butler University and MA from Ball State University.  He was the Associate Director of Band at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Indian State University, Director of bands and Orchestras at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer and Director of bands at Northside High School.  In 1988 was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmaster Association.  Presently Gary serves as a consultant for the Ministry of Education in Singapore and the Sunshine Parade International in Cannes, France.  In addition, Gary was a clinician and guest conductor for the Taiwan Band Director’s International Summer Marching Band Camp and the Sydney Australia summer youth band.

Robert D. Jorgensen is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The University of Akron.  He also serves as Assistant Director of the School of Music.  Under his direction, The University of Akron Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at nine conferences of the Ohio Music Education Association, the 1992 conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) in East Lansing, Michigan, the 1998 CBDNA conference in Kansas City, Missouri, the 2003 American Bandmasters Association Convention at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, and the 2004 CBDNA conference at the Cincinnati Conservatory/College of Music.  The Symphonic Band also performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland in April 2003.

Professor Jorgensen has been widely honored as a music educator and band conductor.  He received the Outstanding Bandmasters Award from the International Assembly of Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters Fraternity, at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in 1999.  He received the Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association in 1981 and the A. Frank Martin Award from Kappa Kappa Psi in 1992.  In 1991, Mr. Jorgensen was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and recently was elected Vice President of this organization. He is also Past President of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association.

Mr. Jorgensen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree from Michigan State University, where he was a student of Leonard Falcone and Kenneth Bloomquist.  From 1969-1972, he was euphonium soloist with the United States Army Field Band in Washington, D.C.  Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Akron in 1987, Professor Jorgensen was on the faculty at Morehead State University, Kentucky, and was Director of Bands at Midwestern State University, Texas.  His concert band in Texas performed for the Texas Music Educators Association convention and the Texas Bandmasters Association convention.

Michael Davis received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Vander Cook College of Music, Chicago, Illinois.  He then attended the University of Wisconsin, Platteville and received a Masters of Science Degree in Teaching Music.  His Postgraduate study was at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the Doctoral Program of Curriculum Instruction in Music.  Michael Davis recently retired as the Band and Orchestra director for the Walt Disney World® Resort.  During his tenure with Walt Disney World, he conducted the Walt Disney World Band and Orchestra and appeared on national TV specials as “Major Mike”.   Michael also served as manager of Atmosphere Talent and Education Programs at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  Within the Educational programs, he was responsible for the development of educational workshops offered by Disney Magic Music Days and was also responsible for the show concept, audition process and the operational procedures for Disney’s Collegiate All-Star Band and Orchestra ensembles.  Although he has retired from Walt Disney World, he remains active, serving as a contract conductor, music director, and consultant. Other honors and accomplishments that have been awarded to Mike are: From 1980 to 1984, he directed the All-American College Marching Band in the Magic Kingdom.  In 1983, 1984, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, he conducted the World’s Largest Concert for MENC at EPCOT, a nationally televised PBS special.  He has guest conducted the United States Air Force Band at Constitution as a part of the Guest Artist Series and conducted Honor Bands at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.  Mike conducts honor bands throughout the United States and is a nationally recognized adjudicator and guest lecturer at major colleges and universities on music as a profession and band related subjects. Among many other significant accomplishments, he has authored articles in support of arts education and developed teaching techniques for elementary and advanced bands.