About

The National Concert Band of America (NCBA) was founded in 1974 by veterans and legendary players from each of the Washington-area military service bands. As such, our heritage lies in the history and traditions of the Military Bands of the U.S. Armed Forces. Currently, our membership includes veterans of our country's great military service bands, as well as civilian musicians who have demonstrated outstanding instrumental proficiency and musicianship.

Mission

To promote the traditions of the American Concert Band through masterful performances.

• To be a premier volunteer concert band.

• To provide a continuing musical experience to highly qualified musicians in the greater Washington, D.C, area in the spirit of music as a lifetime avocation.

• To perform a wide variety of music in the tradition of the great concert bands for the enjoyment of audiences and musicians.

• To perform in honor of military service members, veterans, and America’s patriots.

• To foster the development and growth of music education by being role models for the lifelong pursuit of musical excellence.

Vision

Conductor

Adrian Holton

Adrian Holton is seventh Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Concert Band of America, and currently serves as a trumpeter with the The United States Air Force (USAF) Band Ceremonial Brass in Washington, D.C.  He is also an adjunct faculty member and Assistant Director of the Maryland Band Director’s Band at Montgomery College. 

Mr. Holton’s military career began in 2012 as a trumpeter with the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs, CO, where he performed with the Concert Band, Marching Band, and Stellar Brass.  He also served as the Music Director and Conductor of both the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Orchestra and Colorado Springs Brass, and guest conducted the United States Air Force Academy Band and its members on multiple occasions. Additionally, he was a conducting fellow for the Inaugural Reynolds Conducting Institute at the 2018 Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Holton has performed with the American Chamber Winds (European and Brazilian tours), Colorado Symphony, Summit Brass, Opera Colorado, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Chamber Orchestra, Brass of the Potomac, Bloomington Camerata Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. He was a student musician at Walt Disney World, a member of the 2005 Collegiate All-Star Band, toured Japan twice with Broadway shows, Blast! and Blast II: MIX, and spent two years performing aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships. Adrian has recorded CD’s with the Colorado Symphony, American Chamber Winds, Brass of the Potomac, and the USAF Academy Band.

As an educator, Mr. Holton led masterclasses or clinics at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute, Salvation Army Music Camp, Conservatório de Tatuí (Brazil), University of Colorado Boulder, University of Minnesota, Montana State University Billings, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Dickinson State University, and Lebanon Valley College.  He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University. His primary teachers include John Rommel, Gary Langford, Roger Steward, and Shanti Simon.

William R. Terry, Master Chief Musician, USN (Ret.) is a native of Glens Falls, NY and began playing the clarinet in the fifth grade. For 55 years, he has been a professional clarinetist, music educator and conductor.

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Mr. Terry began his 30-year career as a Navy Musician in 1966 with the position of staff instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, VA. As part of his duties, Mr. Terry wrote a conducting curriculum and taught the Refresher, Intermediate, and Advanced Band Leader Conducting Courses for Army, Navy, and Marine Corps personnel. He also founded the School of Music Student Wind Ensemble, which performed quarterly concerts.

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In 1977, Mr. Terry was transferred to the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC as a clarinet instrumentalist in the Concert and Ceremonial bands. For 18 years he was the Senior Enlisted Conductor for both of those units. He served five Officer-in-Charge/Leaders and produced several recordings of the Navy Band. After retirement from the Navy in 1996 he established the Director of Admissions and Job Placement Departments at the Omega Studios School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences in Rockville, Maryland and served in those positions until retirement in 2009. In retirement, Mr. Terry remains an adjunct professor with Omega Studios School teaching Music Theory and Career Skills, and a recording studio musician at Omega Studios.

Associate Conductor

William R. Terry

Players

* Principal       + Section Leader    

Flute

Kelly Avery

Avril Claytor

Joan Cobbs

Katherine Riddle *+

Pee Jay Santos

Paula Underwood 

Piccolo

Suzy Carroll

Oboe

Matthew Brady

Natalie Jones *+

Clarinet

Susan Dexter +

Sarah Gale

Keith Highfill

Martin Horn

David Pritzker 

Eb Clarinet

Bill Terry

Bass Clarinet

Steve Apergis

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Bassoon

Billy Faggart *

Sarah Hewitt

Alto Saxophone

Don Hertig

Michael Mobbs *+

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Tenor Saxophone

Tom Ierubino

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Baritone Saxophone

Gary Rathke

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Trumpet/Cornet

Frankie Franqui

Rod Hill

Dan Krause

Gary Moore

Jennifer Riddle

Dave Russell

Kristin Kohler Smith

Tim Smith *+

Rick Whittenberger

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Horn

Andy Fordham *

Jennifer Schafer

Suzy Sterner

Susan Wiltsie

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Trombone

Melissa Bayliss

David Karseboom

Scott Loudin

Brian McDonald *+

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Euphonium

Tony Ciarlante *+

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Tuba

Tom Jozefowicz

Rob Ross *+

Andrew Skinner

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Percussion

Matt Robotham *+

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Board of Directors

President 

Timothy Smith

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Vice President

Gary Moore

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Secretary

Katherine Riddle

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Treasurer

Susan Dexter

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Member-at-Large

Tony Ciarlente

Sarah Hewitt

David Pritzker

Matt Robotham

Jennifer Schafer

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Musical Director
(ex-officio)

Adrian Holton

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Associate Conductor (ex-officio)

William R. Terry

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Past President
(ex-officio)

Rob Ross

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Librarian
(ex-officio)

Suzy Carroll

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