JURY 2024

Mike Townsend – CANADA
WAMSB International Vice President, Executive Council
Supervisor of Music (retired), Grande Prairie School District, Alberta Canada, taught concert band, jazz band, orchestra, for 38 years and community marching band for 45 years. Presently a member of Alberta Band Association, the Vice President of WAMSB International (World Association of Marching Show Bands), Newsletter Editor for PhiBetaMu International, Past President of the Alberta Chapter of PhiBetaMu-MuAlpha, and Regional Coordinator for MusicFest Canada.

Mike’s bands have represented Canada in the United States, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Brazil, China, United Kingdom and Austria. Mr. Townsend is active as an adjudicator and clinician in Canada, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Caribbean, Indonesia, Brasil, Colombia, Poland, Mexico, and Taiwan and has assisted in procuring instruments and establishing band programs in Dominica, West Indies.

Mike has served on the board of Canadian Band Directors Association, Alberta Band Association, Music Alberta and PhiBetaMu International. Mike is a recipient of the Tommy Banks Jazz Educators Award, the Alberta Band Association’s David Peterkin Award of Excellence, the Vondis Miller Legacy Award, the PhiBetaMu International Award of Merit and most recently the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal of Honour.

Jimmy Wong – MALAYSIA

Mr. Jimmy Wong has been actively involved in the development of marching bands in Asia for over 35 years and has brought many local and international accolades to the bands under his direction, more so with the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps (VICC) Band from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has led the VICC Band to Gold Medal achievements in their World Championship competitions in 2000, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2016, and also winning the World Championship title for the Parade competition at Monza, Italy in 2003.

He has actively participated, adjudicated and consulted in various international marching band competitions and festivals over the years in countries like Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, The Philippines, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Sri Lanka and the USA. Besides that, he has been actively teaching, consulting and designing drill for bands in Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan since 2003.

Mr. Wong was the main coordinator, instructor, and choreographer for the Mass Band displays during the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the 2001 SEA Games, and the 50th Malaysia’s National Day Grand Celebrations in 2007.

Mr. Wong also pioneered the hosting of international marching band competitions in Asia, beginning with the highly successful Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band Competitions from 2007 till 2010. He was also the Festival Director for the WAMSB World Championship of Marching Show Bands in 2011 and 2016, when hosted by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Subsequently, he also initiated the hosting of international marching band competitions in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia. He was the advisor for the first Thailand International Marching Band Competition (TIMBC) in 2009, Festival Director for the Hong Kong International Youth Marching Band Competition from 2011 – 2013, the Kuala Lumpur International Youth Marching Band Championship from 2014 – 2015, the WAMSB South East Asia Marching Band Competition in Indonesia in 2015, the Taiwan International Marching Band Competition for 2016 and 2017, and most recently the Asia Junior Marching Band Championship in Malaysia from 2017 – 2019.

During the pandemic from years 2020 till 2022, Mr Wong again became a pioneer by initiating the hosting of international virtual band competitions with the extremely successful Malaysia International Virtual Band Championships (MIVBC) series which attracted thousands of participants from all over the world.

At present, Mr. Wong is the founder and President of the Malaysia Association of Marching Arts, a.k.a. WAMSB Malaysia, and sits on the World Association of Marching Show Band (WAMSB) Executive Council and Board of Directors.

Hans-Dieter Buschau – GERMANY

Hans-Dieter Buschau’s musical career started in a flute band that was converted into a marching band, where he played the flute and the trumpet. After having become conductor of the band it became very successful and became German Champions. He still is an active musician in a wind band today. He successfully took part in various organizations, e.g. the Lower Saxony Band Association NMV and Drumcorps Germany and Europe. He became a member of WAMSB Judges Bureau in 2007.  He has been a judge in numerous competitions and is an active clinician all over Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, Colombia and the USA including jury assignments in  eight WAMSB world championships.

Besides his job as a public school teacher in the city of Hildesheim Dieter Buschau is Director of Music in the Lower Saxony Music Association, vice Director of Music in BDMV (German Band Federation) and member of the WAMSB Board of Directors.

Keith Bearden – USA

Professor Bearden began his career directing band in Texas public schools. Later he became a member of the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado where he played in the concert and jazz bands.  After his four years in the Air Force, he had a distinguished career at Texas Tech University where he was Associate Director of Bands and director of the 400 member Goin’ Band from Raiderland”. During his distinguished tenure at Texas Tech University, Professor Bearden was honored as Outstanding Faculty Member by Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board.  The “Goin’ Band from Raiderland” received the nation’s highest award in 1999 for collegiate marching bands-the Sudler Trophy.  Other honors include the TTU School of Music Distinguished Alumni Award, the TTU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Kappa and Kappa Psi’s Distinguished Service to Music Medal.  Bearden was named Professor Emeritus in 2004.  During the same year, he was recognized with the Texas Bandmasters Lifetime Meritorious Achievement Award and in 2013 was inducted into the Bandmasters Hall of Fame.  He was the recipient of the Al G. Wright award presented by Women Band Directors International at the 2019 Midwest Clinic.  In 2021, he was named “Bandmaster of the Year” in Texas.

Bearden is past president of Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter, International Phi Beta Mu, and the Texas Music Adjudicator’s Association.  He is an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States.  He is a board member of the World Association of Marching Show Bands and has judged in Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, and the Philippines. Professor Bearden currently serves as the executive secretary for Region 16 and Area A.  With the help of friends and Phi Beta Mu members across Texas, he has facilitated getting uniforms, method books, instruments, reeds, mouthpieces, and percussion equipment to bands in Brazil, Uruguay, and Ireland.

He is married to June Bearden, who recently retired as band director with Frenship ISD.  They have two sons and four grandchildren. The Beardens enjoy travel, classic cars concerts, and enjoy spending time outdoors.