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The idea that Nebraska band directors should be organized first came from Arthur Harrell with a letter to the Band Directors of the state of Nebraska stating: “For some time it has been the feeling of several of the bandmen thmmmmroughout the state that we should have some type of organization for the band and orchestra men. It is also our feeling that this organization, whatever the final form may be, is not to replace any existing organization or even set up any opposition to any existing program but simply to provide a means of bringing into closer unity and harmony those of us engaged in a common undertaking and to provide a means of instruction, clinic discussion, and fellowship.”
Mr. Harrell had conducted a personal survey of several states that had active organizations and presented a set of ideas he felt could and should be adapted in Nebraska. He suggested an initial dues structure of $3.00, the type of clinic to be held, a clinic band and orchestra made up of high school students to rehearse and play a concert, guest conductors and how to proceed to develop a structure for an association. He suggested that a meeting be held on May 2, 1936 during the State Contest in Kearney. (They actually met on May 1) The Nebraska Band Masters Association was selected as the name for the organization and officers were elected. The initial officers were: Arthur Harrell of Kearney, President; Leo Moody of Scottsbluff, Vice-President and James Johnson of Stanton as Secretary-Treasurer. An initial program format was suggested and carried to a meeting in Kearney on September 30, 1936. R. Cedric Anderson had been selected as clinic chair to organize the first clinic/convention program. The Executive Committee and Clinic Committee met in Kearney on Sunday, October 11, 1936 at which time plans were finalized for the clinic.
The preliminary program was discussed and ideas were offered for band reading sessions, workshops by the conductors and clinic sessions. There was to be an annual banquet (cost 65 cents) and the first annual Band Directors “smoker”. Specific session ideas included interpretation, conducting, teaching brass, teaching fundamentals, organization, grade school instruction, marching band, drum major technique, baton technique, band maneuvers, flute and French horn.
Guest clinicians for the inaugural clinic were Carleton Steward, H.A. Vandercook, H.E. Nutt, EJ. Fitchhorn, Charles Ledwith and the Hastings College and Hastings High Drum Majors. Guest conductors Stewart, Vandercook and Nutt all rehearsed the 104 piece clinic band, each conducting three selections. The first Nebraska State Bandmasters Clinic was held in Hastings November 26, 27 and 28, 1936. Income from the initial clinic was $509.15 and expenses $459.00 The three headline clinicians received $55.00 each and they traveled from Chicago.
| 1936 CHARTER MEMBERSHIP | ||||
|
Arthur G. Harrell |
Kearney | Aubrey Bouch | Oakland | |
| A. D. Olin | Omaha | J. H. Rennick | Wahoo | |
| Carl P. Seidel | Seward | L. A. Moore | Fullerton | |
| John B. Otte | Omaha | Gene Ellsworth | MindenLeo W. Moody | |
| Leo W. Moody | Scottsbluff | Ira George | Osmond | |
| A. J. Atkins | Atkinson | Ralph Peer | Schuyler | |
| Ralph W. Hillyer | Detroit | Edmund Sedivy | Emerson | |
| E. T. Sly | Alliance | W. J. Loebel | Wakefield | |
| M. H. Shoemaker | Hastings | Leo Kelley | McCook | |
| R. Y. Chatelain | Fairbury | John Shimonek | Oakdale | |
| George Houser | Grand Island | Julius W. Cochrane | Sidney | |
| Earl Freeland | Axtell | R. C. Anderson | North Platte | |
| Don McGaffey | Scotia/Hemingford | Vincent Abrahamson | Kearney | |
| L. K. Lotspeich | Superior | Paul Sell | Fairfield | |
| F. V. Hill | Curtis | John R. Keith | Wayne | |
| James Johnson | Stanton | H. A. Schrepel | Pawnee City | |
| Henry Deines | Albion | Wilbert Maynard | Omaha | |
| T. H. Lynch | Gothenburg | Paul J. Kelley | Petersburg | |
| Herman Eickhoff | Wisner | Coin J. Beuck | Randolph | |
| J. H. George | Plainview | Bernard Nevin | Lincoln | |
| G. W. Baughman | Ravenna | Ivan C. Caldwell | Broken Bow | |
| Wm. T. Quick | Lincoln | L. H. Heaney | Aurora | |
| Everett Ewing | Lexington | H.C. Reed | Wayne | |
| Lyle Welch | Lincoln | Merton V. Welch | Alma | |
| Stanley M. Johnson | Stanton | E. J. Fetchhorn | Delaware, Ohio | |
| Frank E. Varella | Norfolk | Martin A. Hertch | Benkelman | |
| Murrell P.Simpson | Humphrey | F. A. Hanson | Madison | |
| Dean S. Duncan | Ord | T. W. Kelly | Hyannis | |
| Kenneth Johnson | Newman Grove | Melvin H. Struve | Burwell | |
| J. H. Nickerson | Gordon | Joy O. Payne | Stromsburg | |
| Henry G. Cox | Omaha | Sam Dahl | Axtell | |
| H. L Hetherington | Omaha | C. O. Nygren | Edgar | |
| Stanley Davis | Pender | Joe Jerovic | Clarkson | |
| M. L. Crandall | Central City | Fred E. Hess | Harvard | |
| Roy G. Holbert | Mitchell | Gordon Bell | Blue Hill | |
| M. H. Bostrom | Gering | L. M. Gobel | Fairbury | |
| Harry Wilson | Knight Campbell Music | L. L. Tompkins | Elwood | |
| Lloyd Erxleben | Carroll | P. W. Wickersham | Arnold | |
| Leslie R. Marks | Silver Creek | Victor H. Jindra | Peru | |
| Patton Music | Omaha | Harvey M. Snider | Wilber | |
| Jas. L. Hanson | Omaha | H. J. Kirkpatrick | Lincoln | |
| Lambert Jerovic | Norfolk | Raymond Reed | Lincoln | |
| Arvid Davis | Yutan | Max Beinthal | Red Cloud | |
| Ralph Gray | Ewing | Cecil Carter | Crete | |
| J. B Hall | Verdigree | Austin Cramer | Pierce | |
| Ross B. Hanks | Tilden | Lloyd Perry | Ponca | |
| Otto Hasik | Page | Lytton S. Davis | Omaha | |
| S. W. Altstadt | Holdrege | Warren Watters | Omaha | |
| Harvey Hall | Arapahoe | Walter Olsen | Fremont | |
| Marvin Thayer | Stapleton | Coudell D. Forrest | Bertrand | |
| Schmoller and Mueller | Omaha | Wesley O. Sandberg | Sutton | |
| James M. King | Hastings | J. Donald Fisher | Big Springs | |
| Paul C. Peterson | Hooper | Geo. A. Bittrich | Valentine | |
| Mr. Beers | Bridgeport | Charles A. Sheppard | Central City | |
| Alvin Duis | Kimball | Fred Semin | Brainard | |
| Lyon and Healy | Omaha | W. C. Hunter | Rushville | |
| Gaston Music | Hastings | L. R. McCormack | Hay Springs | |
| L. M. Durham | O'Neill | A. F. Schaefer | Abilene, Texas | |
| Lester A. Somers | Arlington | Paul C. Dawson | Council Bluffs, IA | |
| Bernarr Ptacek | Grant | |||
Nebraska State Bandmasters Association
NSBA Archives
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