On Saturday, February 1, 2020, the National Band Association will induct the two newest members of the NBA Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors – Dr. David Gregory and Mr. Michael Nakasone.

Dr. David Gregory is the founder of and the Conductor Emeritus of the Georgia Wind Symphony. He is former Director of Bands/Coordinator of Music Education at Reinhardt University (Ret.) and Director Emeritus of Tara Winds. He has conducted elementary, junior high, high school, community college, university, and professional bands during his career. 

A former director of bands at Hardaway High School in Columbus (GA), Forest Park High School in Forest Park (GA), and the University of Florida in Gainesville, (FL), and former Clayton County (GA) Coordinator of Instrumental Music, Dr. Gregory served as Assistant to the Superintendent in that school system for twelve years until his retirement from public school work. Dr. Gregory is a Past President of the National Band Association and served eight years as Advisor to the Executive Committee of that organization.  At Reinhardt University Dr. Gregory taught undergraduate Music Education classes, music technology, conducting, and orchestration and arranging courses; conducted the Wind Ensemble; supervised student teacher interns; and was coordinator of the Music Education program.  Additionally, he taught graduate classes in conducting, scoring and arranging, literature, and directed international studies. He was the Georgia NAfME Collegiate advisor and coordinator of all state NAfME Collegiate activities for GMEA from 2007 until his retirement in 2014. Read more about Dr. Gregory.

Michael Nakasone retired in 2004 after a distinguished 36-year career in the public schools of Hawai’i. During this time, Mr. Nakasone served as band director at Wahiawa Intermediate School, Mililani High School, and Pearl City High School. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Nakasone was serving as Director of the Pearl City High School Performing Arts Learning Center. Bands under his direction have performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the Ginza Parade in Tokyo. In 1992, the Pearl City High School Band was a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Flag of Honor. Additionally, Mr. Nakasone has been recognized as Hawai’i State Teacher (1996) of the Year and a recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor (1995). He is also an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. In 2005, Mr. Nakasone was appointed bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band. That same year, Mr. Nakasone received the Hawai’i Music Award for Lifetime Achievement. Read more about Mr. Nakasone.