Col. Arnald Gabriel, Marie Czapinski and Alfred Watkins—three icons in the world of music education—were inducted into the Bands of America (BOA) Hall of Fame during the Music For All National Festival in Indianapolis on March 1.
Gabriel, conductor emeritus of the United States Air Force Band, retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1985 following a distinguished 36-year military career. He has been part of the Music for All National Festival every year since it debuted in 1992 and twice conducted the National Honor Band of America.
Czapinski is a leader in the marching, color guard and visual design worlds of pageantry. She is a judge and clinician for BOA and DCI and a co-founder of WGI. She has appeared on the DCI World Championships broadcast on ESPN 2.
Watkins is a BOA clinician and judge and director of bands at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga. His ensembles have performed at Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival and National Percussion Festival. The Lassiter High School Marching Band won the BOA Grand National Championships in 1998 and 2002.
The Hall of Fame induction presentations were made during the Honor Band of America concert.
