- Charter granted: 1946
- First meeting: 1953.
Since being founded in 1953, Gamma Chapter has initiated over 250 members. The Chapter was organized by Harold Walters who had become an early honorary member of Phi Beta Mu.
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Charter members included:
Richard Bowles; Merle Bucklew; Frank Cofield; Carroll Copeland; Charles Henzie; Nilo Hovey; Larry Johnston; Roy Johnson; William Kleyla; Col. Herbert B. Laswell; Aden K. Long; Dr. Newell H. Long; Don Marketto; Clarence Marocco; William Marocco; Donald Minix; Ben Niles; Bazil O’Reilley; Joseph Owens; Maurice Shadley; Claude B. Smith; Elbert (Al) Stodden; George Vaught; Dalton Wicker - First officers: Maurice Shadley, President; Bazil O’Reilley, Vice President; Frank Cofield, Secretary/Treasurer
Current Membership:
- 138 members: 71 active; 63 retired active; 4 honorary; 12 inactive
Annual Meeting:
- First Saturday of December in the Indianapolis area for business meeting and luncheon
- Attendance at meetings averages 85.
Awards Given:
- Hall of Fame and Outstanding Bandmaster Awards presented at Indiana Bandmasters Association All-State Band Concert in March
Chapter Traditions:
- A golf outing is held each summer.
- Part of our flower/memorial fund is supported by ‘fining’ members who forget to wear their pins.
Current Projects:
- Mentoring for 1st year and young directors
- Sponsoring 1 or more young directors to the Conn-Selmer Clinic
- Podium exchange between members
- Recognizing pioneers of the early band movement in Indiana
Current News
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A recent update of our public website includes a photo and brief information about current members. For more information, visit Gamma Chapter’s website.
Website: indianabandmasters.org
