The Sudler Silver Scroll


North America’s Most Prestigious Award for Community Concert Bands


Chairperson: Gail Brechting gbrechting@outlook.com


Purpose


To identify, recognize and honor those community bands that have demonstrated particularly high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years, and which have played a significant and leading role in the cultural and musical environment in their respective communities.


  • Nominations can be received from any source and at any time.  The nominations must be sent to the  Chairman of the Sudler Silver Scroll Committee.   An Official Application will then be forwarded to the director of the band nominated with directions to apply via a Dropbox Link.  
  •  Deadline for entry: September 1st.
  • The Selection Committee is composed of successful community band directors, many recipients of the award. The committee will review the nominee’s blind musical portion sending in their decision.  Then the required programs and other supporting material are reviewed and the final decision will be made by majority vote of the committee members.
  • All bands that have applied will be advised on Nov. 1st, of the decision made by the Selection Committee. The name of recipients is announced at the "Sousa Foundation Celebration Gathering" at The Midwest Music Clinic in Chicago.  Conductors or a representatives of the band are encouraged to attend to be introduced.  A presentation ceremony for those groups selected will be arranged at the convenience of the recipient, at a public concert in their hometown, if possible. The Silver Scroll plaque, conductor plaque and silver lapel pin, member certificates and other related items will be awarded at this concert.

Bands nominated for the Sudler Silver Scroll award are asked to submit certain materials for evaluation by the committee:


1. Concert programs representing the three previous years. (copies are fine)


2. Selections of no more than 30 minutes in length representing the band’s repertoire is required via a Dropbox link that is provided. This recording should be of music performed within the last year and MUST include at least one composition by John Philip Sousa.  A listing of the music should be included with the recordings. The timing of each work should be listed. Live performances are most desirable, but not necessary.


DO NOT PUT THE NAME OF THE BAND ON THE CDs.


3. Press clippings or copies of press clippings about the band’s achievements from the three previous (or more) years.


4.  A photograph of the band in a concert setting taken with the past year or two.


5. A photograph and resume of the director.


6. Written recommendations from three or more band directors (not necessarily of community bands) of regional or national reputation who have heard or conducted the band recently.


7. Written comments from three or more local citizens documenting the band’s contribution to a high standard of cultural effectiveness in the community.


8.  The Application Form completed by the director and/or members of band for review by the Selection Committee.  (Form available upon request) 


To request informational packet please contact:


Mrs. Gail A. Brechting


15310 Oak Point Drive


Spring Lake, MI 49456



Deadline for entry:  September lst. 


The Award     


The Sudler Silver Scroll Award will consist of a handsome walnut plaque on which is mounted a silver scroll engraved with the name of the band and the director.  Certificates for each member of the band will be included along with the Diploma of the Sudler Order of Merit and a distinctive lapel pin for the director.


Criteria     


  1. The band must have achieved and maintained particularly high standards of excellence in concert performances and have selected a high level of musical literature over a period of years
  2. The conductor must be incumbent in his or her position for a minimum of five years including the current year.
  3. The band must have demonstrated a record of contributing significantly to the high standards of cultural environment in its community both by its performances and by involving a high percentage of community residents as performers.

Administration


The Sudler Silver Scroll Award is administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and implemented by the Foundation’s Executive Committee.  The membership of the committee is as follows:


  1. Jay Gephart, Chairman of the Board
  2. Lowell E. Graham, President and CEO
  3. Douglas Harter Vice-President for Finance and Investment
  4. Gerald Guilbeaux, Vice-President/Treasurer
  5. Roy Holder, Vice-President of Operations
  6. Michael Colburn, Vice President/ Project Development
  7. Tim Rhea, Secretary

The John Philip Sousa Foundation


The John Philip Sousa Foundation is a publicly supported, educational foundation established for the purpose of organizing, sponsoring and administering projects contributing to the excellence of bands and band music throughout the world by recognizing excellence in it’s many forms wherever it may be found. The Foundation is governed by the executive committee which receives suggestions, advice and input from the board of directors and the advisory committee. No officer of the Foundation nor any committee member (excepting the Foundation’s attorney and tax accountant) receives any salary or financial compensation for services rendered.


Sudler Silver Scroll Selection Committee


1. Gail A. Brechting        


15310 Oak Point Dr.


Spring Lake, MI 49456


2.  Michael Burch-Pesses


5598 SE Sierra Street


Hillsboro, OR 97123 


3. Ronald Demkee 


4701 Akermans Ln.


Coopersburg, PA 18036 


4. Don Snowden


1020 E. Jordan St., Unit B


Pensacola, FL 325033


5. David Gregory


10313 Big Canoe   


Big Canoe, GA 30143     


6. Christian Wilhjelm


P.O. Box 151


Ridgewood, NJ 07450


7. Gerald Guilbeaux


213 S Demanade Blvd 


Lafayette, LA 70503


8. Michael Willson


5916 S. Rita Lane


Tempe, AZ 85283


Recipients of The Sudler Silver Scroll


YEAR
Recipient
Location
Conductor
1987
Northshore Community Band
Evanston, IL
John Paynter
1988
Lawrence City Band
Lawrence, KS
William L. Kelley
1989
Tacoma Concert Band
Tacoma, WA
Robert Musser
1990
Kiel Municipal Band
Kiel, WI
Lewis Schmidt
1990
Allentown Band
Allentown, PA
Ronald H. Demkee
1991
Naperville Municipal Band
Naperville, IL
Ronald Keller
1993
Austin Symphonic Band
Austin, TX
Richard Floyd
1993
Sarasota Mobile Home Band
Sarasota, FL
Leo Laier
1994
Lansing Concert Band
Lansing, MI
Kenneth Bloomquist
1994
Racine Municipal Band
Racine, WI
Delbert Eisch
1995
Texas Wind Symphony
Arlington, Tx
Ray Lichtenwalter
1995
Medalist Concert Band
Bloomington, MN
Earl Benson
1996
Kent Stark Concert Band
Canton, OH
Patrica Grutzmacher
1996
Scottsdale Concert Band
Scottsdale, AZ
Charles "Bud" Sessions
1996
Ridgewood Concert Band
Ridgewood, NJ
C. Christian Wilhjelm
1996
Tara Winds Concert Band
Hampton, GA
David Gregory
1997
Coastal Communities Concert Band
San Diego, CA
Don Caneva
1997
Lakeland Civic Band
Kirtland, OH
Charles Frank
1997
Twin City Concert Band
West Monroe, LA
Jack White
1998 
San Jose Wind Symphony
San Jose, CA
Darrell Johnston
1998
Corpus Christi Wind Symphony
Corpus Christi, TX
Bryce Taylor
1999
Community Band of Brevard
Brevard, FL
Marion Scott
1999
Lafayette Concert Band
Lafayette, LA
Gerald Guilbeaux
2000
Virginia Grand Military Band
Arlington, VA
Loras John Schissell
2001
Lafayette Citizens Band
Lafayette, IN
William Kissinger
2002
Pensacola Civic Band
Pensacola, FL
Don Snowden
2002
Tempe Wind Ensemble
Tempe, AZ
Michael Wilson
2003
Atlanta Wind Symphony
Atlanta, GA
Peter Witte
2003
Houston Symphonic Band
Houston, TX
Robert McElroy
2004
Penn Central Wind Band
Lewisburg, PA
William Kenny
2004
City of Fairfax Band
Fairfax, VA
Robert Pouliot
2005
West Michigan Concert Winds
Muskegon, MI
Gail A. Brechting
2005
Knightwind Ensemble
Hales Corner, WI
John Steinke
2006
South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble
Linwood, NJ
Keith Hodgson
2007
East Tennessee Concert Band
Lenoir City, TN
Ric Best
2007
Oregon Symphonic Band
Portland, OR
Michael Burch-Pesses
2008
East Winds Symphonic Band
Pittsburgh, PA
Susan Sands
2009
Cobb Wind Symphony
Marietta, GA
Alfred Watkins
2009
Minnesota Symphonic Wind
Edina, MN
Timothy Mahr
2010
Savannah River Winds
North Augusta, SC
Richard Brasco
2011
Virginia Wind Symphony
Norfolk, VA
Dennis Zeisler
2012
Lone Star Symphonic Band
Houston, TX
Robert Bryant
2013
The Concord Band
Concord, MA
James O'Dell
2013
Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band
Lake Oswego, OR
Dale Cleland
2014
East Texas Symphonic Band
Longview, TX
James Snowden
2015
Metropolitan Wind Symphony
Boston, MA
Lewis J. Buckley
2015
Sierra Nevada Wind Orchestra 
Gold River, CA
Robert Halseth
2017
Montgomery County Concert Band 
Hatfield, PA   
Chuck Neidhardt
2017
Waukesha Area Symphonic Band  
Oconomowoc, WI 
Rick Kirby
2017
Carrollton Wind Symphony
Frisco, TX 
 Jim McDaniel
2018
Buffalo/Niagara Concert Band 
Buffalo, NY 
Amy Steiner
2019
Fairfax Wind Symphony
Fairfax, VA
Stanley Schoonover
2021
The Woodlands Concert Band
The Woodlands, TX
Paul Worosello
2022
The Heart of Texas Concert Band
San Antonio, TX
Mark Rogers
2023
The First Coast Wind Symphony 
Jacksonville, FL
Artie Clifton

  


Recipients of the Sudler Silver Scroll Historic Certificate


Year
Recipient
Location
Conductor
1999
Naperville Municipal Band
 Naperville, IL
Ron Keller
2000
Allentown Band
Allentown, PA
Ronald H. Demkee
2001
Lafayette Citizens Band 
 Lafayette, IN
William Kissinger
2003
Repasz Band
Williamsport, PA
Albert J. Nacinovich
2004
City of Fairfax
Fairfax, VA  
Robert Pouliot
2005
Brazil Band
Brazil, IN 
Matthew Huber
2010
Lebanon Band
Lebanon, WI
Edward L. Pierce
2013
Ringgold Band
Reading, PA
James S. Seidel
2015
Charlevoix City Band
Charlevoix, MI
Gary Stutzman
2015
Medina Community Band
Medina, OH    
Marcus Neiman