66th ASBDA National Convention
66th ASBDA National Convention
Embedded Files
66th ASBDA National Convention- June 23rd - 26th
Refine your skills, discover new ideas, connect with colleagues, and lead with purpose!
Refine your skills, discover new ideas, connect with colleagues, and lead with purpose!
To all of the graduating seniors in our band family — congratulations from the American School Band Directors Association!
Some of you have already crossed the stage, while others are counting down the final days until graduation day. No matter where you are in the journey, this season marks an incredible achievement worth celebrating.
Thank you for the leadership, dedication, musicianship, and spirit you brought to your bands, schools, and communities. Whether your next step is college, military service, the workforce, or a new adventure still unfolding, we know the lessons learned through band will continue to guide you.
Keep leading. Keep creating. Keep making music.
Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎶🎓
Member Spotlight
Member Spotlight
#HaveYouMet Ana Bullock (NC)? Mrs. Bullock is the band director at Asheville Middle School.
We asked Mrs. Ana Bulluck to share her journey, wisdom, and inspiration as a music educator.
What inspired you to become a band director, and how did your journey in music education begin?
"My inspiration for becoming a band director comes from the incredible music education experience I was fortunate enough to have growing up. I was deeply impacted by a caring and dedicated mentor who not only taught me the fundamentals of music but also encouraged me to grow as a person, musician, and leader. Their passion, patience, and unwavering support helped shape my confidence and love for music in ways that continue to influence me today.
Seeing the positive impact they had on their students inspired me to pursue the same path so I could create meaningful experiences for others through music. Even now, they continue to guide and encourage me, serving as both a role model and a reminder of the lasting difference a great educator can make in someone’s life. Thank you, Perry Ditch! "
What’s one teaching strategy or rehearsal technique that’s made a big difference in your band program?
Being diligent with breathing exercises and long tones!
Can you tell us about a moment with your students that reminded you why you love teaching band?
"Every time the beginners play Hot Cross Buns, and I see the absolute joy in their wide open eyes when they realize they can play a song, and that their new instrumental journey door has been opened!
It’s more than just three simple notes; it’s the beginning of confidence, creativity, and a lifelong musical journey. Seeing that spark of joy and pride in their faces every single time never gets old."
What advice would you give to a first-year band director entering the profession today?
Do not be afraid to ask questions! Talk to as many people as you can, learn from as many experienced educators as possible, and observe as many rehearsals and classrooms as you can. This is not a profession you navigate alone!
-- Mrs. Bulluck is a native of Eastern NC, a graduate from East Carolina University, and a National Board Certified Teacher. She will be starting her 26th year of teaching this year and has spent her entire 26 years in the middle school band room! When she is not in the Band room, she loves to be outdoors, running, hiking, biking, camping, and gathering as much sun as possible! Her adventures are usually accompanied by her husband, Travis, son, Jonah, and her daughter, Teagan. She is currently beginning her 10th year at Asheville Middle School and loves being a part of the Cougar Community!
Legacy Series
Legacy Series
Forrest Munden
Forrest Munden
Forrest Munden (R-NC) is a North Carolina band director with over 50 years in public education. He was notably honored with the inaugural ASBDA Ron Payne Award for outstanding service to bands.
Forrest Munden committed years to teaching band in North Carolina. He served as a director in Windsor and Reidsville, NC, before ending his career at Grimsley High School in Greensboro. He retired in 1999 and returned to teaching band part-time in 2004 with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. He served on the Board of Directors of the Central District Bandmasters and became an elected member of ASBDA in 1997. His band programs were well-balanced, including marching, concert, jazz, and small ensembles. His concert bands were consistently of the highest level, earning Superior Ratings.
Mr. Munden wrote two articles that were published in music journals. The first article appeared in the 2001 issue of Band World Magazine, titled "Mentoring." The second article appeared in the 2010 issue of the North Carolina Music Educator Journal, titled "Band Is More Than A 'Me Too' Subject."
Forrest has been teaching since 1965, with only a few years off after his "official" retirement. Bill Witcher states, “There is no one more committed to excellence in the classroom and the performance stage. Having observed his classroom teaching and heard his bands perform, I have been impressed by his demand for excellence while caring for each and every child. Forrest is indeed a true gentleman and a role model for all band directors”.
Tenure: He has shaped young musicians for over half a century, beginning his teaching in the 1960s.
Grimsley High School: He led the band program in Greensboro, NC, until his retirement in 1999, earning the Central District Bandmasters Association Award of Excellence and being named Band Director of the Year.
Walkertown Schools: Following his high school retirement, he continued to teach and mentor at Walkertown Middle and High Schools, guiding students to consecutive superior ratings at Music Performance Adjudication (MPA).
"Music can stand on its own. ... It doesn't have to help with math, to help you be more disciplined. All those things are true, but music is so important that it can stand on its own."
- Forrest Munden
The NC ASBDA Legacy Project was started by Ruth Petersen(NC) in 2020. NC Chapter, American School Band Directors Association - ASBDA
We are excited to announce that Travis Smith has been selected as the recipient of the Al and Gladys Wright Award for 2025. This award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and passion in the band field after retirement. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Travis Smith for being named the recipient of the 2025 Al & Gladys Wright Service to Bands Award! From the moment Travis first picked up an instrument, his life's passion for music was ignited, and his unwavering dedication has been a guiding light for countless individuals. His work in music education, a field to which he has dedicated his life, is a testament to the thousands of lives he has changed and his esteemed reputation among hundreds of his fellow music educators.
Travis has taken every challenge in hand, overcoming obstacles throughout his distinguished career to become a truly highly successful band director and a well-known figure in music education. His appreciation from his peers is evident in all the awards he has received. His commitment extends far beyond the podium; he has consistently served on numerous regional and state committees for various national organizations, including the Texas State Chair for ASBDA. He is adamant about furthering and bettering music education for all. Many of his peers in the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) know Travis best as the charismatic, friendly voice of our National Convention's auction. Travis has never met a stranger; he instantly becomes a great friend to all he meets. Some of his most wonderful attributes are his infectious laugh, bright smile, and welcoming Southern accent, all of which make him a genuinely unique and respected figure in the world of bands.
2024 National ASBDA Honor Band
Page updated
Report abuse