Adrian Holton Named Music Director & Principal Conductor by NCBA

National Concert Band of America Names Adrian Holton

Music Director and Principal Conductor

Washington, D.C., October 3, 2019 -- The National Concert Band of America (NCBA), founded in 1974 by veterans and legendary players from each of the Washington-area military service bands, has named Adrian Holton as its seventh music director and principal conductor. Holton will kick-off the band’s 45th anniversary season with a free concert for the public on Sunday, October 13, 3 pm, at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Alexandria, VA.

Holton, who currently serves as a trumpeter with the United States Air Force (USAF) Band Ceremonial Brass in Washington, D.C., is also an adjunct faculty member and assistant director of the Maryland Band Directors Band at Montgomery College.

“The National Concert Band of America has a rich history of performing quality, free concerts around the DC metro area while providing a home for musicians who perform as an avocation,” said Holton. “I am thrilled to lead the ensemble as we build upon our 45-year legacy of providing retired premier military band musicians with high-level musical opportunities like they experienced while on active duty. Committed to sharing exciting concert programs with our audiences, we will pay tribute to our nation and the history of the wind band by playing classics, including patriotic music, while exposing our players and audiences to contemporary music that will likely become staples of the repertoire.”

Holton’s military career began in 2012 as a trumpeter with the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs, CO, where he performed with the Concert Band, Marching Band, and Stellar Brass. He also served as the music director and conductor of both the USAF Academy Cadet Orchestra and Colorado Springs Brass, and guest conducted the USAF Academy Band on multiple occasions. Additionally, he was a conducting fellow for the Inaugural Reynolds Conducting Institute at the 2018 Midwest Clinic.

Among his numerous performances, Holton played with the American Chamber Winds (European and Brazilian tours), Colorado Symphony, Summit Brass, Opera Colorado, Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, Brass of the Potomac, Bloomington Camerata Orchestra and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. A world traveler, he toured Japan twice with the U.S. touring company of Blast! and served as music director of Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships. He has recorded CD’s with the Colorado Symphony, American Chamber Winds, Brass of the Potomac and the USAF Academy Band.

As an educator, Holton has led master classes or clinics at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute, Salvation Army Music Camp, Conservatório de Tatuí (Brazil), University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Minnesota; Montana State University-Billings, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Dickinson State University and Lebanon Valley College. He received his bachelor of music degree from the University of Florida and a master of music degree from Indiana University. His primary teachers include John Rommel, Gary Langford, Roger Steward, and Shanti Simon.

Holton and his wife, Taylor Grant, and their two sons reside in Falls Church, VA.

About the National Concert Band of America

The National Concert Band of America (NCBA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1974 by veterans and legendary players from each of the Washington-area military service bands. As such, our heritage lies in the history and traditions of the Military Bands of the U.S. Armed Forces. Currently, our membership includes veterans of our country's great military service bands, as well as civilian musicians who have demonstrated outstanding instrumental proficiency and musicianship. For more information, please visit the website at www.nationalconcertband.org.