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History The history of the bands at Arizona State University dates back to 1915, when founding director, Lillian Williams organized a band for the purpose of training prospective teachers in instrumental music. Band activity was suspended with the onset of WWI and reinstated in 1929. Ten years later, private instrumental instruction was added to the band program; subsequently, activity was again suspended during WWII. In 1945, Miles A. Dresskell founded the first band department, which, under the leadership of his successor, Felix E. McKernan, quickly grew to include three instructors and nearly one hundred students. From 1945 through the 1980s, the ASU “Sun Devil” Bands, along with the university, continued to grow in size and quality, achieving a position of national and international prominence by the last decade of the 20th century. Under the leadership of many directors and their associates, the concert bands in the ASU Herberger Institute School of Music have appeared more than a dozen times at professional conferences of various organizations including, the American Bandmasters Association, the Arizona Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association and the Midwest International Clinic. The Sun Devil Marching Band was recognized as one of the nation’s best in 1991, when it was awarded the Sudler Trophy by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The bands’ current leadership of Gary W. Hill, director of bands, James G. Hudson, director of athletic bands, and Wayne Bailey, associate director of bands, continues to build on the superb efforts of those who preceded them. Lillian Williams, 1915-17
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