The Sudler Shield

2023 Sudler Shield Recipients 

“USA Large School Division” Bands:

1. Bentonville High School Band – Bentonville, Arkansas

Timothy Hendrix, Director of Bands

2. Bridgeland High School Band – Cypress, Texas

Shawn McAnear, Director of Bands

3. O’Fallon Township High School Band - O’Fallon, Illinois

Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, Director of Bands

4. Waxahachie High School Band – Waxahachie, Texas

Rich Armstrong, Director of Bands

2023 Sudler Shield Recipients 

“USA Small School Division” Bands:

1. Estill County High School Band - Irvine, Kentucky

Jason Bowles, Director of Bands

1. To establish and support international standards of excellence in musical performance, marching execution, choreography, and show design for high school, youth, or international marching bands.
2. To identify, recognize, and honor outstanding high school, youth, and international marching bands who are at a world class level of excellence. 

1. US Large High School Division

2. US Small High School Division

3. International Division

1. The award is open to any high school, youth, or international marching band in any country regardless of geographical location, religious or political belief, race, color, or ethnic background.

2. Nominations will be received from any source, and at any time, by the Sousa Foundation. The deadline for submitted materials to be received (not postmarked) is the first Friday in December.

3. The Sudler Shield Jury (after viewing videos and supporting materials submitted by the nominees) will make the selection(s).

4. Materials to be submitted:

a) A properly executed nomination form

b) One (high camera preferred, but not required) high quality video from the current (nomination) school year
) One or two page resume or fact sheet of the marching band (no notebooks please).

5. There is no entry fee.

6. The current marching band director must have been incumbent in his/her present position as marching band director for the past five years preceding the year of nomination. The marching band may be nominated during the sixth year of the director’s tenure.

7. The video performance should be of a field show performed on a regulation American or Canadian football field, on a European soccer field, or in an appropriate indoor venue. The area of performance should be one that is accepted as a standard marching band facility in the home venue of the nominated band.

8. A previous Sudler Shield recipient may not re-apply unless there is a new director. The new director must have been in his/her position for a minimum of five years (see number 6 above).

9. The recorded performance must have taken place during the calendar year in which the video is submitted. It must be a continuous recording, of a single performance, without editing. The minimum duration of the performance is six minutes. The maximum length of the performance is twelve minutes. For timing purposes, the performance will start whenever the band begins either its music or movement on the field. A specific performance recording (video) may not be submitted more than once.

10. All members of the nominated band must be regularly enrolled students in the high school or regular members of the youth band as it is organized.

11. The jury will evaluate nominations at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (Chicago, Illinois, USA) each December. Award winners will be advised as soon as possible after the selection by telephone or email.

12. There is no specific number of marching bands to be honored each year. However, the highest standards of excellence will be in effect during the selection process and only qualified bands will be selected.

13. Nomination forms may be obtained by writing Professor W. Dale Warren at the address list below or via his email:
wdwarren@uark.edu

14. All nomination forms, videos, and other materials should be received (not postmarked) by the first Friday in December. Please send to:

Professor W. Dale Warren, Sudler Shield Chairman, Senior Wind Band Conductor
, University of Arkansas, 205 Lewis E. Epley Band Building, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

15. Videos and other materials submitted may not be returned at the option of the Sousa Foundation. The applicant grants the Sousa Foundation the privilege of making a copy of its video for the Foundation. The applicant agrees that the Sousa Foundation will not be held responsible or liable for loss or damage to the materials or to the video.

1.The Sudler shield award will consist of (1) a silver shield mounted on a handsome 8X11 inch (or larger) wooden plaque for the organization, (2) a miniature plaque for the director, (3) a diploma of honor for the director, and (4) an honor certificate for each member of the band.

2. The presentation of the award to the band will be scheduled at an important musical event and at a time and place convenient to the recipient and others concerned. Other than providing the awards, the Sousa Foundation will not be responsible for any presentation costs.

The Sudler Shield award will be administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and implemented by the executive committee through the project chair, Professor W. Dale Warren of the University of Arkansas, United States.

1. The jury will be nominated by the project chair with the advice and approval of the executive committee.

2. The jury will be composed of not less than ten and not more than twenty-five band directors of national and international reputation in the marching band field.

3. No member of the jury, the Sousa Foundation, nor other persons will receive any renumeration.

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Dr. John M. Long was the Director of Bands at Troy State University, Alabama (retired). Dr. Long is remembered and honored by his fellow jury members for his many years of tireless dedication and service to the Sudler Shield Committee and to the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

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George N. Parks was the Director of the Marching Band and Athletic Bands at the University of Massachusetts. Professor Parks is remembered and honored by his fellow jury members for his many years of tireless dedication and service to the Sudler Shield Committee and to the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

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Dr. Jon R. Woods was the Director of the Marching Band and Athletic Bands at The Ohio State University. Dr. Woods is remembered and honored by his fellow jury members for his many years of tireless dedication and service to the Sudler Shield Committee and to the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

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Dr. Joseph H. Allison was the Director of Research and Outreach at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Allison is remembered and honored by his fellow jury members for his many years of timeless dedication and service to the Sudler Shield Committee and to the John Phillip Sousa Foundation.

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Dr. Robert “Coach" Fleming was Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Marching Band at Arizona State University. Dr. Fleming is remembered and honored by his fellow jury members for his many years of tireless dedication and service to the Sudler Shield Committee and to the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Previous Recipients of the Sudler Shield Award