J.B. Vandaworker

From Wind Repertory Project
J.B. Vandaworker

Biography

James Bradley Vandaworker (often misspelled "Vanderworker") (22 February 1865, Hibbing, Minn. – 22 December 1954) was an American conductor and composer.

Vandaworker became a musician and then a conductor, touring with Chautauqua, theatrical and operatic performing companies, until 1894, when he became the bandmaster for the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in Knightstown. This was a large orphanage for children of Civil War soldiers. During his six-year tenure the band took several major tours.

In 1900 he accepted a newly created position as band director of The Indianapolis News Boys Band, a position he held for 52 years. From an initial band of 35, ages 7-14, the band developed quickly culminating in first place in the youth band competition at the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis. By 1912 there were two bands of newsboys, one a training group for the advanced ensemble which performed many local and regional performances.

Vandaworker became the first non-student band director at Butler University in 1925. This band too grew in size, discipline, and musical quality. In 1927 the band presented its first marching performances with formations in addition to numerous indoor concerts. By the end of the 1920s, the band numbered sixty members and played engagements at the Indianapolis 500 Festival and over WFBM, a leading local radio station at the time. In 1929 Vandaworker established a chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity at the university and in 1932 he was elected as president at the annual convention in Oklahoma City.

Leaving Butler in the late 1930s, Vandaworker continued with the Newsboys Band until 1952.


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