Iowa History Daily: On March 30, 1928, the Iowa Bandmasters Association was officially formed in Fairfield. Started to ‘foster and promote the establishment of bands’ in Iowa, the organization continues to help Iowans make music after nearly 100 years.
The directors listed in the initial meetings of the organization represent a wide variety of bands: a United States Cavalry band, an infantry band, a Legion band, Municipal bands, and the Drake University Band. However, none of the directors listed served specifically as directors of high school bands.
Aside from bringing together directors, the organization also sought to help support and further legislation related to the Iowa Band Law of 1921. The first law passed of its kind in the United States, the law allowed communities under 40,000 residents to levy a small tax to support a local municipal band. More than 40 states went on to pass laws similar to the one innovated in Iowa.
Boasting a membership of over 1000, most of whom are directors of school bands, the Iowa Bandmasters Association continues to stand as one of the largest and most active of all state bandmaster organizations in the country. The organization has historically proven a driving force to keep good bands and good band music in communities of all sizes throughout the state of Iowa. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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