66th ASBDA National Convention- June 23rd - 26th

66th ASBDA National Convention

Refine your skills, discover new ideas, connect with colleagues, and lead with purpose!

Registration link is now live!

Member Registration Link

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

James Daugherty

Retired- Central Davidson High School/Davidson Schools, NC

We asked Mr. Daugherty to share his 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?

"Before I ever knew anything about band, music had already become an important part of my life and a way to navigate challenges I experienced. After joining the band in seventh grade, my two band directors (John Blakemore and, later, Ricky Harris) inspired me to turn that interest in music into a life’s work. From the first few days as a band student, I knew I wanted to become a band director, and that desire never left me. My band directors made a lasting impact not only because they taught music well, but because they cared about us as people and showed us that anything was possible. That experience shaped everything for me.

As I began my own career, I wanted to give my students the same encouragement, joy, and sense of purpose that my band directors gave me. My journey in music education truly began when the band became a safe place, a place where I could face and overcome challenges in my family life. The band room gave me something steady, positive, and full of hope. Music became my family, and I quickly realized that band was a place where I could belong and grow."

What’s one teaching strategy or rehearsal technique that’s made a big difference in your band program?

"Defining and pursuing quality in the band program is so important. Students rise to the level of what is clearly taught, modeled, and expected. One rehearsal strategy that has made a significant difference for me is a deliberate focus on sound production, especially through long tones, especially when they are not treated as a routine warm-up, but as an active listening exercise. Long tones should help us focus on how the sound begins, how it is sustained and matched, and how it is released. If students cannot match sound in unison, it becomes much more difficult to achieve balance and blend as the music becomes more complex. Developing audiation skills is also very important. We can do this by modeling and providing examples of characteristic tone and musical intent, so students have a clear sound concept in their minds. From there, it is important to connect that internal understanding to physical execution. Even something as technical as articulation can be approached this way. For example, when students struggle with tonguing, a simple image like “sound like a water sprinkler” can help them conceptualize the clarity and consistency needed. Without that clarity, especially in early development, students may rely too heavily on just separating notes with air and avoid proper articulation, which limits their ability to perform more technical passages accurately."

Can you tell us about a moment with your students that reminded you why you love teaching band?

"After years of teaching and serving as an arts education specialist, I thought my time conducting regularly might be over, then the opportunity to lead the Winston-Salem Community Band came along. Getting that opportunity again reminded me how much I love making music with people. It is not just about preparing performances or developing technical skills. It is about helping people, both younger and more experienced, find something meaningful together. Each week in rehearsal, I can see music doing what it does best: bringing people together, helping them grow, and creating a shared experience that stays with them long after the rehearsal ends. That weekly hour and a half on Monday nights has quickly become one of the most meaningful parts of my week."

What advice would you give to a first-year band director entering the profession today?

"Get professionals into your room as much as possible. Seek out the older generation and be willing to take their advice. Go to your State Conference."

-A native of Ashe County in the northwest mountains of North Carolina, James G. Daugherty has most recently served as the Arts Education and a Digital Learning Specialist for the Davidson County (NC) Schools and is the Director of Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University. Prior to these appointments in 2015, he served for twenty-one years as band director and instructor of music theory at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, NC, assisting daily with the band instruction at Central Davidson Middle School. In 2025, he completed his thirty-fifth summer on the faculty/staff of Cannon Music Camp, previously having served as a Dean of Camp for twenty years. In addition to his leadership roles, he was most recently appointed principal conductor of the Winston-Salem Community Band in February 2025.

In his role with Davidson County Schools, he was responsible for assisting the Assistant Superintendent in developing and implementing all aspects of K-12 arts education. He also partnered with the Director of Federal Programs in the budgeting, implementation, and assessment of funds applicable to support a well-rounded arts education as prescribed by ESSA, specifically funding through Title IV-A. While teaching at Central Davidson, his bands consistently earned ratings of excellent and superior at regional, state, and national music festivals. In 1996 and 2013, he was named "Teacher of the Year" at Central Davidson High School, and in 1997, for Davidson County Schools a top three finalist for Davidson County Schools' “Teacher of the Year” again in 2013.

In January 1998, he received the distinguished "Outstanding Young Educator" from the Lexington Jaycees, and in April 2006, was nominated for a "Young Alumnus Award" from Appalachian. In July 2019, Mr. Daugherty was inducted into the prestigious Rhododendron Society in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. As the highest honor given by the college, the award honors alumni for their exemplary service to

education and to their communities. The society recognizes graduates whose service as teachers, librarians, human service professionals, or administrators has reflected credit on themselves, the field of education, and the university.

Daugherty was named “Outstanding Alumni of the Year” in July 2024 by the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. The Appalachian Alumni Association annually recognizes graduates who have made a lasting impact on society and the university through their outstanding professional, philanthropic, and volunteer accomplishments. College-level awardees are honored for their accomplishments in their respective fields, as well as for their continued service and engagement with the university community.

His educational background includes a bachelor’s (1993) and a master’s (1994) in music education from Appalachian State University, with additional certification in Education Leadership/School Administration from High Point University (2010). Mr. Daugherty holds professional memberships in the American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Eta Sigma.

Daugherty currently serves as Immediate Past President for the Southern Division of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), representing eleven state music education associations within the Division (2024-2026). In addition to his service on the NAfME National Executive Board, he is a member of the Executive Committee of the NEB. From 2015-2017, he served as President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association and is also a Past-President of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association (2012-2014). He was featured in the February 2009 edition of Teaching Music in an article entitled “Accentuate the Positive” and was also listed in December 2009 as one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” in School Band and Orchestra Magazine. Daugherty was the 2022 recipient of the “Pat Hall Music Educator Advocate Award” from the North Carolina Music Educators Association. In addition to his other responsibilities, he continues to adjudicate bands and guest conduct when invited to serve.

In November 2025, Daugherty was honored as the tenth inductee into the North Carolina Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. The NCMEA Hall of Fame honors members who have made an extraordinary contribution to the organization. Election qualifications for this honor include being a member of NCMEA and NAfME for at least 30 years, having a record of excellence in teaching and/or administration, a record of betterment to the profession, and a record of professional ideals and academic integrity.

Growing up in a small, mountain community, he is the first of his family to achieve a four-year degree. Mr. Daugherty completed his thirtieth year in service to education during the 2023-2024 academic year. Active in the Lexington community, Daugherty sings in his church’s sanctuary choir when possible, having also served for a time as the choir’s interim music director. He is the proud Dog Dad of "Tippy," a six-year-old Bichon Frise.

Legacy Series

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

#asbda #musiceducation #banddirector #legacy #membership

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.