DoubleTree Orlando at Seaworld
10100 International Drive
Orlando, Florida
Book Your Hotel Room (deadline: 6/15/2026)
Monday, July 6: Board meeting, Community Band rehearsal
Tuesday, July 7: Adjudication Training, Community Band rehearsals, Past Presidents Reception
Wednesday, July 8: Community Band concert, 7-Star/9-Star Rehearsals, FBA Summer Conference Day 1, FBA Family BBQ, Southern Winds Concert
Thursday, July 9: 7-Star/9-Star Rehearsals/Concert, FBA Summer Conference Day 2, FBA Jazz Institute Day 1
Friday, July 10: FBA Jazz Institute Day 2
$65 Pre-Registration
$80 After July 1
Free for Retired Members, Life Members, College Students, and First-Year Teachers
Summer Conference Registration
Please see our Exhibitor Information Page if you are interested in exhibiting during the conference
Students throughout Florida will have the opportunity to perform as members of the 2026 FBA Summer Conference 7-Star or 9-Star Honor Bands.
Seven-Star Honor Band Information - for students currently enrolled in 7th grade.
Conductor: Hannah Jennings, Lake Nona Middle School
Nine-Star Honor Band Information - for students currently enrolled in 9th grade.
Conductor: FBA Retired Life Member Jose Lopez
All-Star Community Band - for Adult musicians throughout Florida
Conductor: Jon Eckman, Bartow Adult Concert Band
Musical ambassador and interpreter of “America’s” music, Wycliffe Gordon is one of the world’s most renowned and award-winning jazz trombonists touring today. His signature sound and mastery of the plunger mute have helped solidify his impressive musical career. Wycliffe tours as a soloist and regularly with his quintet headlining at legendary jazz venues and performing arts centers worldwide. In addition, Wycliffe has recorded or been featured on over 300 recordings, has composed and arranged hundreds of compositions, including the theme song for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and is a very passionate, most sought-after educator.
Jazz Journalists Association named him “Trombonist of the Year” for an unprecedented 15th time in 2022, and Downbeat Critics Poll named Wycliffe “Best Trombone” for six years, (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). In recent years, Wycliffe was the recipient of the “Louie Award”, the International Trombone Award (which recognizes the highest level of creative and artistic achievement), the Satchmo Award, and the Louis Armstrong Memorial Prize presented by the Swing Jazz Culture Foundation. He is also a past recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Vanguard Award, among others.
In recent months he has performed with Butler University, UNC Greely, Davidson College, Stanford Jazz, at Aaron Davis Concert Hall, Birdland, the Rochester Jazz Festival, Vail Jazz and the Journey of Jazz cruise, to name a few. He has a new Holiday CD coming out next month titled “Holiday Fun” on Arbors Records, and he closes out the year with upcoming performances that include True Blue Jazz, Suncoast Jazz Festival, VA Music Educator’s Assn, Boca Raton Gala, and the Staten Island Jazz Festival.
Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at the Kennedy Center" Series. Gordon serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University in Augusta, GA.
Wycliffe Gordon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has his own line of Wycliffe Gordon Pro Signature Mouthpieces by Pickett Brass, the “Wybrid” Crossover Mouthpiece also by Pickett Brass, and a new plunger mute—the “Cone Tone” by Hirschman Mutes. Visit www.wycliffegordon.com.
July 9-11, 2027
July 7-10, 2028
Wycliffe Gordon, Keynote Speaker
Director of Jazz Studies, Augusta University