Joseph T. Spaniola was commissioned by the Missouri Association for Jazz Education’s Leon Bradley Memorial Grant to write a special arrangement for Trombone Quintet as an 80th Anniversary Tribute to Leon Bradley. Bradley toured with the Woody Herman and Stan Kenton Big Bands, and taught at Minot State University and the College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, Missouri). The tribute, titled “Here’s Leon’s Rainy Day,” was recorded by Leon’s son, trombonist Karl Bradley and is posted on the “Leon Bradley Memorial Grant” Facebook page.

Music by Joseph T. Spaniola was presented by the Oklahoma State University Horn Ensemble, Lanette Compton, Director, (Stillwater, OK) at the 2018 International Horn Symposium in early August. The symposium, presented by the International Horn Society, was held at Ball State University (Muncie, IN). The annual symposium draws leading French Horn performers, teachers, students, exhibitors and enthusiasts from all over the world.

Joseph T. Spaniola’s BLOW, EASTERN WINDS (Wind Ensemble) is on the list of Yamaha’s One Hundred Best Pieces for Band. The works on the list are Yamaha’s recommendations of high-quality literature for wind bands in Japan and other Asian countries.

Joseph T. Spaniola’s composition, DANCESCAPES (Solo Trombone and Wind Ensemble) received a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards in the Classical and Composition/Composer categories. This composition was commissioned by Paul Compton (Trombone), Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK) This is the fourth Spaniola composition to receive a Global Music medal in the last 2 years. Global Music Awards is “a top-tier music competition that honors talented musicians around the world. It is a showcase for musical gems and unique voices.”

The Birmingham Concert Band (Birmingham, Michigan) commissioned Joseph T. Spaniola to compose a piece of music to honor its 40th Anniversary Season. The resulting work, RESOUNDING JOY: Proclamation and Celebration, will be premiered on June 17, 2018 with John Madden as guest conductor. See the BCB website for more details: http://www.birminghamconcertband.com/