Gladys Wright Sparks Research Into Unknown Women’s Bands

This morning featured our keynote Women In Music speaker Dr. Jill Sullivan. Historically, the Women In Music speakers that I’ve heard on the district level can be somewhat alienating to a male non-music major like myself, but not this time! Dr. Sullivan received her Doctorate in Music Education from the University of Iowa, but it wasn’t until eight years ago that her current research really took off.

Eight years ago Dr. Sullivan attended the Midwest Clinic (an annual music conference held in Chicago with attendees from all over the world), and she happened to be seated next to our own Gladys Wright. During their conversation, Gladys off-handedly remarked that she wished there was more information available about the women’s bands of WWII and prior. As a recent Doctoral Graduate, Jill remarked that she wasn’t aware of any WWII women’s bands. Gladys quickly retorted that they were both seated right next to a past conductor of the Woman’s Marine Corps Band (who’s name I cannot recall).

Dr. Sullivan felt almost cheated that in all her years of study, none of this information about Woman’s Bands ever arose. Following that conference, Dr. Sullivan began eight years of research across the country. She contacted thousands of historical societies and has given 80+ interviews with women who served in these all-women ensembles. She’s since compiled thousands of photos and personal accounts of these ensembles from 1876-1976. Dr. Sullivan’s research has already begun to change the historical canon of US bands through her publications in American music journals and magazines.

During the presentation, Dr. Sullivan played a beautiful recording of the Woman’s Marine Corps Band from 1944 and showed footage of the Canadian Woman’s Auxiliary Corps marching in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at a post-WWII celebration. She shared with the delegation how the woman’s military bands raised over $100 million dollars during WWII in war bond sales to support the military forces abroad.

Following the presentation, Dawn Farmer, National Vice President of Special Projects, announced that the National Council was honoring Dr. Sullivan for her years of service to Women In Music with the OSMA (Oustanding Service to Music Award). The OSMA is awarded to women who have made significant contributions to bands through outstanding musicianship, composition, or other means of distinguished service. Previous award recipients include Gladys Wright (1971) and Maxine Lefever (2006).

It was a fantastic WIM keynote, and I’m really looking forward to the other workshops and speakers we’ll hear throughout the week.

If you’d like to check out more information about Dr. Sullivan and her research visit http://www.public.asu.edu/~jmsulli/