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Joseph Downing

Joseph Downing

1985: Symphony for Winds and Percussion

Joseph Downing is an associate professor at the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University, where he teaches composition, music theory, and musicology. He has previously served on the faculty of Northwestern University and the professional staff of DePaul University.

Downing received his DM from Northwestern University and has been commissioned by many organizations including the American Guild of Organists and the Barlow Foundation. His Symphony for Winds and Percussion won the 1985 ABA Ostwald Award.


About

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

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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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