HISTORY
The President's Cup National Concert Band Invitational was first held in 2015. From the start, the event has enjoyed the support of the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own." America's top concert bands and wind ensembles receive expert instruction in sectionals, workshops, and on stage clinics by highly qualified and professional musicians from the ranks of retired and active duty members of the US Army Band.
This unique invitational has featured many of the nation's best high school bands, each one worthy of receiving the President's Cup Trophy. Every group that has taken the stage has made an excellent representative of their school and community, but only one band each year receives the President's Cup. The past recipients are:
2015 - Jenks High School Wind Symphony, Scott Hillock, Director. Jenks, Oklahoma
2016 - Davie County High School Wind Ensemble, Andrew Jimeson, Director. Mocksville, North Carolina
2017 - Fort Mill High School Wind Symphony, John Pruitt, Director. Fort Mill, South Carolina
2018 - Diamond Bar High School Wind Ensemble, Steve Acciani & Sey Ahn, Directors. Diamond Bar, California
2019 - Blue Springs High School Wind Symphony, Tim Allshouse, Director. Blue Springs, Missouri
2022 - Mira Costa High School Wind Symphony, Joel Carlson, Director. Manhattan Beach, California
PAST CLINICIANS
Col. Thomas Palmatier
Colonel Thomas H. Palmatier was appointed Leader and Commander of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in August 2011 until his retirement in December 2014.
Colonel Thomas Palmatier culminated a distinguished military career spanning more than 37 years as the Leader and Commander of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the largest military music unit in the United States and was the senior musician in the U.S. Armed Forces. He is now able to dedicate his efforts to music education and to maximizing the success of arts organizations as a clinician, guest conductor, and consultant.
Previously he commanded the Musical Ambassadors of the Army, The U.S. Army Field Band, being the first Officer to command both of the Army’s top premier bands. Other postings included the founding Commandant (dean equivalent) of the U.S. Army School of Music, Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Army Europe Band and Chorus, Commander and Conductor of The U.S. Continental Army Band, and Associate Bandmaster of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” where he directed The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and The Army Brass Band.
Lt. Col Virginia Allen
Virginia Allen is a conductor, music educator, arranger, and consultant in Philadelphia. She is an adjunct faculty member at The Juilliard School, where she also served as the Associate Dean for Administration, the Assistant Dean for Orchestral Studies, and the founding Artistic Director of the Conducting Workshop for Music Educators. At Juilliard, she currently teaches The Art of Teaching in the Music Studio and previously taught conducting, co-founded and conducted The Juilliard Trombone Choir, and served as Executive Director of the Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies.
Prior to teaching on the college level, Virginia enjoyed a 20-year career as a conductor and administrator in the U.S. Army Bands Program and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a pioneer for women in military bands she was the first woman to command and conduct an active duty military band that included women when she was appointed Principal Conductor of The U.S. Army Forces Command Band in Atlanta. As the Associate Conductor of The U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, she was the first woman conductor of that historic organization, as well as the Cadet Glee Club and Cadet Band. She also performed on stages from the Hollywood Bowl to Europe as the first woman conductor of the Army's premier touring ensembles from Washington, D.C., The U.S. Army Field Band and The Soldiers' Chorus. Her military career included an assignment as the Department of the Army Staff Bands Officer in Washington, D.C., where she managed over 100 Army bands and band activities worldwide.
Col. Timothy Holtan
Colonel Timothy J. Holtan was appointed Leader and Commander of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in December 2014 until his retirement in February 2017. He holds the distinction of being the first officer to command all three of the Army’s premier bands.
He is a native of Bismarck, North Dakota, and a former school music educator in Montana. An active conductor, adjudicator and clinician, Col. Holtan has presented concerts and clinics in all 50 states, Canada, Japan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe.
Col. Holtan’s other military assignments include: Commandant, U.S. Army School of Music, Virginia Beach, VA, where he served as the primary Proponent for all 100 Army Bands, and oversaw the training of over 500 professional musicians annually; 22nd Leader of the United States Military Academy Band, West Point, NY; Deputy Commander of The U.S. Army Field Band; Department of the Army Staff Bands Officer; tours as Commander and Executive Officer of the U.S. Continental Army Band, Fort Monroe, Virginia; and Executive Officer of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Washington, D.C., where he served in overlapping capacities as Director of the Ceremonial Band, Brass Band, Chorale and Chorus.
ESTEEMED PAST JUDGES AND MASTERCLASS CLINICIANS
Dr. Denny Edelbrock - Trumpet: Dennis Edelbrock performed with The United States Army Band and the Army Brass Quintet since beginning in 1975.
Chuck Vollhersbt - Percussion: Mr Vollherbst served for 36 years in the US Army Music Field as a percussionist and Bandmaster. In 2001, he was appointed as the 5th Director of the Army Blues jazz ensemble and Associate Bandmaster of the US Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”.
Jack Tilbury - Tuba: Jack Tilbury was a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from 1972 to 2005. During that time he performed with the Army Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Orchestra, and the Army Brass Quintet.
Dr. Lorrie Brown - Oboe: Served as a musician in a premier ensemble of the Senior Armed Service, performing as a rotating oboist, English hornist and soloist with The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from Washington, DC. In 2011 she became the first female to continuously serve as Oboe Section Leader for “Pershing’s Own” and earned the rank of Master Sergeant.
Joe Lovinski - French Horn: Lovinsky served as principal horn of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” as well as The Army Orchestra, and The Army Brass Quintet in Washington DC, he was also a frequent soloist with those ensembles.
Woody English - Trumpet: As trumpet soloist for the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C., Sergeant Major Woody English was often spotlighted when the unit performed public concerts and for official military functions. English was the Army Band’s solo bugler for ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery. He was also a member of the U.S. Army Brass Quintet.
Tom Puwalski - Clarinet: 20-year tenure with the U.S. Army Field Band, much of it as Principal Clarinetist.
Barbara Vigil - Flute: Barbara Vigil retired from The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” as solo piccolo of the Concert Band
Max Wharton - Bassoon: SGM Max Wharton was the Bassoon Section Leader with The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" concert band and orchestra.
Scott Shelsta - Trombone: As the solo trombonist for “Pershing’s Own,” The United States Army Band, he has performed for all Presidents from President Richard Nixon to President George W. Bush as well as foreign heads of state and dignitaries.
Jim Carroll - Saxophone: Jim is the Director of Jazz Studies at George Mason University. He toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra for 3 years before a stint with the United States Army Band in Washington, DC.