The John Philip Sousa Award
From the 1983 Publication of The Instrumentalist
"Since its inauguration in 1954, thousands of U.S. high schools have presented the John Philip Sousa Band Award to their most outstanding band student. The award recognizes those young musicians displaying superior musicianship, leadership, dependability, loyalty, cooperation, and other qualities of conduct which school instrumental music programs strive to impart. The Sousa award is the top nationwide prize in the school band field, both in prestige and appearance. It promotes the entire band by encouraging musicians to greater achievement and enthusiasm while providing an inspiring stimulus for potential instrumentalists. The handsome award reflects credit on both the band and the band director.
It is fitting that this award should be inspired by the name of John Philip Sousa, the premiere American bandsman who was elected in 1973 to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. No other composer is so well known to band students, and Sousa was one of the most renowned supporters of school music programs. He appeared as a great conductor of school bands throughout the U.S. and served as an adjudicator of numerous youth band festivals."
~Copyrighted 1983 The Instrumentalist
It is fitting that this award should be inspired by the name of John Philip Sousa, the premiere American bandsman who was elected in 1973 to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. No other composer is so well known to band students, and Sousa was one of the most renowned supporters of school music programs. He appeared as a great conductor of school bands throughout the U.S. and served as an adjudicator of numerous youth band festivals."
~Copyrighted 1983 The Instrumentalist
The original endorsement of the Sousa family:
"We both feel that great credit is due to the editors of The Instrumentalist for the very fine idea of offering a Sousa Award to stimulate interest in school band music and to reward outstanding students for their contributions to this movement. The award is the continuance of a tradition-interest in young people and in school band music-that was very close to the heart of our father. We feel that the award is a wonderful goal, the acquisition of which will be a project in which the student may expend his energies in a most praiseworthy manner."
~Signed Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa
~Signed Helen Sousa Albert and Priscilla Sousa
Paint Valley John Philip Sousa Award Recipients
2021- Emma Thompson (trombone)
2020 - Samuel "Ray" Johnson (flute/trumpet) --> music education @OSU
2019 - PJ McAllister (percussion) --> school psychology @Miami University
2018 - Noah Davis (trombone) --> trombone performance @Capital University
2017 - Casey McAllister (trumpet) --> filmography @BGSU
2015 - Rachael King (flute)
2014 - Aaron Purvis (percussion)
2013 - Aaron Purvis (percussion)
2012 - Kelli Guysinger (saxophone)
2011 - Audrey Kinnamon
1998 - Bobbi Mettler
1997 - Nathan Uhrig
1996 - Sam Johnson
1995 - Rapp
1994 - Boatman and Angela Rice
1993 - Rudnarczyk
2020 - Samuel "Ray" Johnson (flute/trumpet) --> music education @OSU
2019 - PJ McAllister (percussion) --> school psychology @Miami University
2018 - Noah Davis (trombone) --> trombone performance @Capital University
2017 - Casey McAllister (trumpet) --> filmography @BGSU
2015 - Rachael King (flute)
2014 - Aaron Purvis (percussion)
2013 - Aaron Purvis (percussion)
2012 - Kelli Guysinger (saxophone)
2011 - Audrey Kinnamon
1998 - Bobbi Mettler
1997 - Nathan Uhrig
1996 - Sam Johnson
1995 - Rapp
1994 - Boatman and Angela Rice
1993 - Rudnarczyk