SLS 25RS-521 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 36
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
COMMENDATIONS. To commend Gerald Guilbeaux for receiving the Academy of Wind
and Percussion Arts Award from the National Band Association.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Gerald Guilbeaux on receiving the National Band Association's Academy of
3 Wind and Percussion Arts Award.
4 WHEREAS, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, before over
5 18,000 conductors and musicians, the National Band Association presented Gerald
6 Guilbeaux with the prestigious Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts Award (AWAPA),
7 recognizing individuals who have made significant and outstanding contributions to
8 advancing excellence in bands and band music; and
9 WHEREAS, the nine-inch silver "AWAPA" statuette, regarded as the "Oscar" of the
10 band world, emphasizes the high esteem in which Gerald Guilbeaux is held by his colleagues
11 for his exceptional contributions to music and community; and
12 WHEREAS, a proud Carencro native and graduate of the University of Louisiana at
13 Lafayette's School of Music, Guilbeaux has maintained deep ties to his alma mater by
14 serving on the UL Lafayette Alumni Board and contributing as a member of the College of
15 the Arts Advisory Council, reflecting his lifelong commitment to supporting the university's
16 mission; and
17 WHEREAS, Guilbeaux's enduring connection to UL Lafayette began during his
18 student years and has grown throughout his distinguished career; in 1982, he became a
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SLS 25RS-521 ORIGINAL
1 founding member of the Lafayette Concert Band and has served as its conductor since 1993;
2 now in his 32nd year as conductor, Guilbeaux has led the 90-member ensemble to
3 extraordinary achievements, including earning the Sudler Silver Scroll in 1999, an
4 international award recognizing excellence in adult community bands; and
5 WHEREAS, Guilbeaux is also the founding conductor of the Acadian Wind
6 Symphony, a select wind ensemble that performs during the summer months, Mardi Gras,
7 and other special events under his leadership; the Acadian Wind Symphony received the
8 2021 American Prize for Community Bands, an award at the prestigious national
9 competition that honors artistic excellence and recognizes the best recorded performances
10 by individual artists and ensembles in the United States; and
11 WHEREAS, Guilbeaux's advocacy for adult community bands has made him a
12 nationally recognized figure in the band world; he is an active guest conductor, the
13 administrator and assistant conductor of the National Community Band, a project of the John
14 Philip Sousa Foundation, and serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Foundation's
15 Executive Board; he is also Trustee for Windjammers Unlimited, the circus music historical
16 society, and has organized and conducted numerous performances for the group; and
17 WHEREAS, his leadership extends to serving as Past President of the National
18 Association of Concert Bands and as Chair of the Associate Member Committee of the
19 prestigious American Bandmasters Association, further solidifying his standing as a key
20 figure in the advancement of bands and band music; and
21 WHEREAS, locally, Guilbeaux has made a significant impact as a life member of
22 the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette, a former member of the Festival International Board of
23 Directors, and a dedicated contributor to the UL Lafayette College of the Arts Advisory
24 Council, highlighting his commitment to fostering artistic and educational excellence within
25 his community; and
26 WHEREAS, Gerald Guilbeaux's remarkable career and unwavering commitment to
27 music, education, and community service exemplify the highest values of artistic excellence
28 and public service; his recognition with the AWAPA Award is a fitting tribute to his decades
29 of impact on the world of bands and band music.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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SLS 25RS-521 ORIGINAL
1 does hereby commend and congratulate Gerald Guilbeaux for his receipt of the Academy
2 of Wind and Percussion Arts Award recognizing his extraordinary career and contributions
3 to music and community.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
5 Gerald Guilbeaux.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof
or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
DIGEST
SR 36 Original 2025 Regular Session Boudreaux
Commends Gerald Guilbeaux for his receipt of the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts
Award recognizing his extraordinary career and contributions to music and community.
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