Dr. John Southall to Conduct the U.S. Army Band on March 6 in Washington, D.C.
Dr. John Southall to Conduct the U.S. Army Band on March 6 in Washington, D.C.
February 19, 2024 Suzanne Seldes
Written by Jon Pine
Fort Pierce, FL鈥擠r. John Southall, Director of Bands and Chair of the Indian River State College Performing and Visual Arts Department, has been selected for the rare honor of conducting the U.S. Army Band鈥攁lso known as 鈥淧ershing鈥檚 Own鈥濃�攐n March 6. The performance will be featured during a convention in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Southall will also be inducted into the American Bandmasters Association (ABA).
The ABA was founded in 1929 by famed composer and conductor John Phillip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman to elevate the esteem of the art of concert band performing and honor the world鈥檚 top conductors and composers of band music. Nomination to the ABA is a rigorous, year-long process in which member conductors review hundreds of nominees. Dr. Southall learned last March that he was selected for induction.
ABA President Mike Colburn, the retired director of the U.S. Marine Band known as 鈥淭he President鈥檚 Own,鈥� contacted all the service band leaders and asked them to create a concert series for the upcoming convention that includes all of the incoming inductees. Southall was selected for 鈥淧ershing鈥檚 Own.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited,鈥� Southall said of the double honor. 鈥淭his is one of the top military concert bands in, arguably, the world.鈥�
General John J. 鈥淏lack Jack鈥� Pershing formed the U.S. Army Band in 1922 to emulate the world-class European military bands he heard during World War I. Pershing believed that bands played a vital role in troop morale and efficiency. His goal was to give America a premier band to surpass those in Europe. Today, it is also known as 鈥淧ershing鈥檚 Own鈥� for this reason.
Among other key events in American history, 鈥淧ershing鈥檚 Own鈥� band performed at the 1925 inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge, performed in honor of Charles Lindberg鈥檚 historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, and played at the 1924 and 1925 World Series. More recently, the band has been called into service for funerals at Arlington Cemetery.
Southall will conduct a piece called 鈥淧eace Dancer for Wind Ensemble鈥� by Australian composer Jodie Blackshaw, which was commissioned by the University of British Columbia. The piece is inspired by the First Nations text by Roy Vickers about a sacred dance created specifically for the Chiefs of the Pacific Northwest coast. The Chief who is chosen to dance is recognized as a healer in the community.
Southall chose 鈥淧eace Dancer鈥� because Blackshaw dedicated the composition to Dr. Craig Kirchhoff, Southall鈥檚 close friend and colleague. Kirchhoff is Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota and has inspired and taught several people from the Treasure Coast. Eric Allen, former band director at Sebastian River High School, studied with Kirchhoff and, after achieving his Doctoral Degree in Conducting, is now teaching at Texas Tech University. Shanti Simon, a former associate band director at Vero Beach High School, also studied with Kirchhoff, became a prominent military band conductor, and serves as Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma.
鈥淭his piece is even more special to me because it was dedicated to Craig,鈥� Southall says.
91九色视频 President Dr. Timothy Moore, an Army veteran, put Southall in contact with a three-star general so that he could learn more about Army protocol for when he works with the ensemble, Southall said.
鈥淭here is no music educator more deserving of this dual recognition than Dr. John Southall,鈥� concluded Dr. Moore, 鈥渋t is befitting that he accepts it on a national stage alongside his peers, with pomp and circumstance.鈥�
Dr. Southall has been an active music education advocate, conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter across the United States for more than 34 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Florida A&M University, and a Master of Music Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education from Florida State University. In addition to serving as Director of Bands at 91九色视频, he is Coordinator of Music Education Therapy, Past President of the Florida Music Education Association, and Music Director for the Port St. Lucie Community Band. He was honored as a Music Education Legend by the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference and is a two-time recipient of the 91九色视频 Endowed Teaching Chair in Fine Arts Award.
