Stetson Music Professor Bobby Adams named to national Hall of Fame

Bobby Adams and wife, Ann, pose with the oil portrait unveiled at the National Band Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony Feb. 2.

By SPECIAL TO THE BEACON

posted Feb 7, 2013 - 2:08:28pm

DeLand, Fla., Feb. 6, 2013 - Dr. Bobby Adams, Stetson University director of bands and professor of music education, has earned one of the highest honors given to an American bandmaster – election and induction into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors. The NBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held on Saturday, Feb. 2, on the campus of Troy University in Troy, Ala. An oil portrait of Adams was unveiled at the induction ceremony and will forever be on display in the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Fame building on the campus of Troy University.

More information regarding the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors can be found at this website: http://www.nationalbandassociationhalloffame.org/.

Adams has served as a member of the Stetson University School of Music since 1987. Prior to his appointment at Stetson, Adams taught in the public schools of Indiana and Florida for 27 years. In Florida, he was the director of bands at North Ft. Myers High School (1968-74), Bayshore High School, in Bradenton (1974-79) and Leon High School, in Tallahassee (1979-87).

He is principal conductor and music director of the Southern Winds Wind Symphony, an adult ensemble made up of Stetson faculty, former students, band directors, and other professional musicians. Southern Winds, founded in 2001, performed at the past two FBA summer conventions and the FBA Hall of Fame's Roll of Distinction concerts.

A native of Kentucky, Dr. Adams received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehead State University (1962), the Master of Music Education degree from Murray State University (1969), and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education from Florida State University (1994).

He regularly serves as a clinician at state, regional, and national conferences. In recent years, he has presented sessions at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles National Conference (Jonkoping, Sweden), the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles National Conference (Manchester, England), the Mid-West Clinic (Chicago), conferences of MENC; the national Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, and the American School Band Directors Association.

Dr. Adams frequently writes and/or lectures on topics such as the emotional response to music, the psychology of performance, the evaluation of music, aspects of rehearsal, magic in music, the business of professional organizations and various other aspects of music education. His articles have appeared in the Journal of Band Research, the Journal of the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association Journal, the National Band Association Newsletter, and the Florida Music Director.

Bands under Adams’ direction have performed at 31 state, regional, and national conventions including: the American Bandmasters Association National Convention, the Music Educators National Conference Convention (twice), the MENC Southern-Division Conference (twice), the College Band Directors National Association/National Band Association Southern-Division Conference (three times), the Florida Bandmasters Association Conference (three times), the Kentucky Music Educators Conference, the Florida Music Educators Conference (three times), the New York State Band Directors Annual Symposium, the Mid-East Band and Orchestra Clinic (Pittsburgh), and the Southeastern United States Band Clinic (Alabama).

Through his active membership and leadership in many professional organizations, Dr. Adams serves as an ardent advocate for bands and music education. He is a past president of the National Band Association, the Music Educators National Conference - Southern Division, the College Band Directors National Association - Southern Division, the Florida Music Educators Association, and the Florida Bandmasters Association. In addition he is chairman of the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame's Board of Directors.

In 1996, Dr. Adams was presented with the Leadership Award for Music Education by the Florida Music Educators Association. In 1998, he received the Hand Award for Excellence in Research at Stetson University. In 2004, he was inducted into the Florida Music Educators Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame (high school directors) and the Florida Bandmasters Association Roll of Distinction (college/university directors). In February 2013 Dr. Adams will be inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors, and in December of 2014 Dr. Adams will be the recipient of the AWAPA Award (The Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts) from the National Band Association.

Dr. Adams conducts all-state/honor bands and orchestras throughout the United States and is an elected member of Phi Beta Mu and the American Bandmasters Association.

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