See the nation's best band directors

The National High School Band Directors Hall of Fame was co-founded in 1985 by Dr. Watie Riley Pickens and Mr. Bobby Lee Cude to recognize and honor outstanding high school band directors for their exceptional contributions to music education.

As a privately funded, nonprofit honorary organization, the Hall of Fame celebrates professional excellence and achievement in concert, marching, jazz, band literature, research, and solo and ensemble performance. Honorees receive recognition at no cost, honoring their careers and accomplishments in the field of music education.

The Hall of Fame is committed to advancing music education through research, performance, teaching, the commissioning of new band literature, and the professional development of band directors and students. We advocate for the continued importance of band programs in our schools and recognize their vital role in the educational development of every child.

Music education enhances the educational development of every child.

Dr. Watie Riley Pickens, co-founder of the HSBDNA Hall of Fame, says:

"The world of music, made up of writers, arrangers, performers, conductors, teachers, and equally important the patrons, must seek its immortality in the young, for as greatness emerges, so does the final curtain--for us all. The National High School Band Directors Hall Of Fame exists for the primary purposes of honoring those that teach, guide, and lead young musicians in the formation of their musical interests--some to be appreciators, others to enter the world of music as a career--and make the world a prettier place for all of us to live."

Portrait of an elderly man in a suit and tie.

Mr. Bobby Lee Cude, co-founder of the HSBDNA Hall of Fame, says:

"High school bands make-up the largest body of public performers in our nation, performing in every community all across America from coast-to-coast entertaining thousands and thousands of people every week, even millions of people around the world when their performances are televised by the major networks in such events as the Rose Bowl Parade . Beautifully costumed, well choreographed these high school marching bands are in show business in a big way! What would a parade be without them, they are an American tradition!"

Mr. Paschal Ward

Mr. David Daigneault

Georgia

1996

P.Ward

Mr. David Daigneault

Mississippi

1997

Daigneault

Mr. Vincent Rosse

Mr. David Daigneault

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Georgia

2001

Rosse

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

New York

2001

Wettlaufer

Mr. A. Harold Blankenship

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Mr. A. Harold Blankenship

Alabama

2001

Blankenship

Mr. Robert Barr

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Mr. A. Harold Blankenship

Georgia

2004

Barr

See the nation's best band directors

Hall of Fame Induction Highlight

Dr. Watie Riley Pickens, co-founder of the HSBDNA Hall of Fame, says:

Mr. Bobby Lee Cude, co-founder of the HSBDNA Hall of Fame, says:

HSBDNA Hall of Fame

Dr. Ronald Demkee

Mr. Ken Kay

Mr. Richard Hinkle

Mr. Richard Hinkle

Mr. Harlan Daubert

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. Richard Hinkle

Dr. William Foster

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. Larry Guilliouma

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. Warren Sperry

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. Harry Simon

Mr. William Ingram

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. Frank Hughes

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. Frank Hughes

Dr. Oliver Boone

Mr. James Kusserow

Mr. Frank Hughes

Mr. Matt Brown

Dr. Charles Bullard

Dr. Charles Bullard

Dr. Charles Bullard

Dr. Charles Bullard

Dr. Charles Bullard

Mr. Dale Davidson

Dr. Charles Bullard

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Mr. Robert Nygaard

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Mr. Robert Nygaard

Dr. Jeffrey Tower

Dr. Wayne Kawakami

Mr. Robert Nygaard

Mr. Michael Davis

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Mr. Randal Harwell

Mr. Gilbert Lettow

Ms. Mary Richardson

Mr. William Hickman

Mr. Michael Ward

Mr. Paschal Ward

Mr. David Daigneault

Mr. David Daigneault

Mr. David Daigneault

Mr. David Daigneault

Mr. David Daigneault

Mr. Vincent Rosse

Mr. David Daigneault

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Mr. A. Harold Blankenship

Dr. J. Maynard Wettlaufer

Mr. A. Harold Blankenship