Professor James Ripley becomes WASBE President

James Ripley, professor of music and director of instrumental music activities, assumed the position of President of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) on July 19, at the organization’s international conference held in Buñol, Spain. His two-year term will culminate in Prague in 2021, as WASBE celebrates its fortieth anniversary and honors the contributions of Czech-American composer Karel Husa on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

WASBE is is the only international organization of wind band conductors, composers, performers, publishers, teachers, instrument makers, and friends of wind music. It is a unique organization completely dedicated to enhancing the quality of the wind band throughout the world and exposing its members to new worlds of repertoire, musical culture, people, and places. The organization boasts a membership of over 1,000 people from more than fifty countries.

In addition to organizing the conference, the president also oversees the various projects of the organization including a scholarly journal, a quarterly magazine, website, commissioning program, composition competition, and educational projects for conductors.