Bandmaster in the Sousa Tradition!

Loras John Schissel is the music director and conductor of both the Virginia Grand Military Band and the Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Festival Band, two of the finest bands of their type in the world. Mr. Schissel has traveled throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, conducting orchestras, bands, and choral ensembles in a broad range of musical styles and varied programs.

As a composer and orchestrator, Mr. Schissel has created and extensive catalogue of over 400 works for orchestra, symphonic wind band, andjazz ensemble. His musical score for the PBS special, Bill Moyers: America’s First River, The Hudson, televised in 2002, received extensive coverage and acclaim. As a recording artist, Mr. Schissel has amassed a large discography in a wide variety of ensembles and musical genres. His Blossom Festival “Live” Broadcasts will soon be available, and his recordings with the Virginia Grand Military Band have won numerous awards, including the Suddler Scroll for outstanding musical excellence.

During the 2002 summer season in Cleveland, Schissel gave the first performance of the original “jazz band” orchestration of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” with the piano part played on the Yamaha Disc-clavier with Gershwin’s piano roll.

In honor of September 11 th, the Virginia Grand Military Band was invited to playa special memorial concert in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium. The first wind-band to be so-honored.

Mr. Schissel has appeared in the award-winning PBS documentary If You Knew Sousa for the American Experience series, as well as Ben Wattenberg’s Think Tank. He continues to serve as commentator on the Voice of America and for the U.S. Information Service. Schissel is an honorary member of the prestigious Circumnavigators Club and an honorary conductor of the historic Ringgold Band (the last band conducted by John Philip Sousa). Mr. Schissel has recently been recognized and honored with induction and membership in the American Bandmasters Association.