This exhibit presents the history of the American Bandmasters Association's annual award for best composition for concert band, the Sousa/ABA/Ostwald Contest. Launched in 1956 by ABA with sponsorship from Ernest and Adolph Ostwald's band uniform company, the prize has helped advance the careers of dozens of composers and encouraged the composition of thousands of new works for band.

This exhibit is generously supported by the American Bandmasters Association.

Curator: Vincent Novara
Project Archivist for the Exhibit: Matt Testa

With help from John Davis, Alice Rogers, Cindy Zhao, and Laura Cleary.
Recent update by Natalie Salive

Special Collections in Performing Arts (SCPA) is located in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library on the University of Maryland's College Park campus. We collect, serve, and preserve performing arts materials that document performance practice, instruction, and scholarship.

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