Arts Advocacy

Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages is known worldwide as a composer and conductor who equally spans the worlds of orchestral, band, and chamber music. His music has been performed by groups ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary schools in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, Toronto Centre for the Arts, and many more. He is a recipient of the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Award with his work Love and Light, which was premiered by “Pershing’s Own” United States Army Band. Additional premieres include the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the United States Coast Guard Band, Boston Brass and many others. He has served as composer-in-residence for the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Band Directors Association, Music for All, and was commissioned by the National String Project Consortium to write a multi-level work involving students from 41 sites in 22 states. He was awarded the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Visual and Performing Arts, and in the same year was commissioned by his other alma mater, the University of Miami, to compose music for the inauguration of the institution’s 6th president, Dr. Julio Frenk. His music was also performed as part of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, which was attended by both President Obama and Vice President Biden.

As a conductor, Mr. Balmages enjoys regular engagements with all-state bands and orchestras as well as university and professional groups throughout the world. Notable guest conducting appearances have included “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, United States Air Force Band, Air Force Band of the West, and performances at the Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, Maryborough Music Conference (Australia), College Band Directors Eastern Conference, American School Band Directors Association National Conference, numerous state ASTA conferences, Teatro dell’Aquila (Italy), and many others. He has performed in nearly all 50 states, is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, and is the 2024 recipient of the Phi Beta Mu International Outstanding Contributor Award. He previously served as Assistant Director of Bands and Orchestras at Towson University where he also taught instrumental conducting. Currently, he is Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred Music and MakeMusic.