ACB Convention Band

One of the highlights of the ACB Convention is the band made up of members from the various bands attending the Convention. - The ACB Convention Band.

Conducted by Allan McMurray, this band has some real treats in store for you at their concert.

Allan McMurray is the Robert and Judy Charles Endowed Professor of Music, Chair of the Conducting Faculty, and Director of Bands at the University of Colorado-Boulder, a position he has held since 1978. Prior to this position, he was on the faculty of the University of Michigan. Considered one of the world’s leading teachers of conducting, Professor McMurray has guest conducted and taught conductors in 45 states and 15 foreign countries. He has been a featured visiting professor at over 200 universities and conservatories nationally.

Since Professor McMurray’s arrival in 1978, the University of Colorado Bands have distinguished themselves with performances at major conferences and conventions, including The First International Conference for Symphonic Bands in Manchester, England, the All-Japan Band Conference in Nemo Nu Sato, Japan, the College Band Directors National Association Convention (twice), and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Hamamatsu, Japan.

With a strong commitment to new music, Allan McMurray has been a leader in commissioning numerous compositions by American composers. He has won praise for his interpretive and expressive conducting by many composers including Pulitzer Prize winners John Harbison, Joseph Schwanter, Karel Husa, Michael Colgrass and George Crumb. Professor McMurray has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Debut Orchestra and has guest conducted the Colorado Symphony in performance at the 50th Anniversary of the Colorado Music Educators Convention in Colorado Springs. He recently completed his fourth season with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra as principal guest conductor of Dracula.

Allan McMurray is a Past-President of the College Band Directors National Association and a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Bandmasters Association. In addition, he is a recipient of the Bohumil Makovsky Award for Outstanding College Band Directors from the National band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, and has been recognized by California State University Long Beach as “Distinguished Artist in Classical Music.”

Professor McMurray’s DVD series on the Art of Conducting include three DVDs: Conducting from the Inside Out: Gesture and Movement, Conducting from the Inside Out: Conductor and Composer with Frank Ticheli and the third, Kindred Spirits. He is currently working on a companion text book to the DVD series.

In December 2004, the Board of Regents designated Allan McMurray as “Distinguished Professor”. He is one of only twenty-five faculty in the history of the University of Colorado to receive this honor, the first in the College of Music and is the only one from the Arts to hold the title.