Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award
Colonel Finley R. Hamilton

The Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award acknowledges exceptional Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard enlisted musicians, and honors the memory of Colonel Finley R. Hamilton, U.S Army (Ret), who succumbed to cancer while serving as President of the National Band Association (NBA). The recipients of this distinguished award exhibit exceptional musical and leadership excellence.

This award captures Colonel Hamilton's dedication to the musicians of the armed forces and his tireless championing of outstanding musician leaders in service bands from all branches.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Be in the U.S. Armed Forces serving in a military band.
  • Be in the grade of E-4 to E-6 at the time of nomination.
  • Be an outstanding musician demonstrating excellence in both solo and ensemble performance, or in a music-support role with exceptional technical skill and mission value.
  • Display exceptional leadership qualities.
  • Display great potential for future outstanding service.
Nomination Procedure
  • Each U.S. Armed Forces band may nominate one enlisted musician per calendar year.
  • Completed nomination form must be received between November 15 and December 15.
  • The National Band Association oversees the program with the Military/Professional Band Chair as coordinator.
  • The George S. Howard panel of the John Philip Sousa Foundation validates the awards.
  • Previous recipients are ineligible for re-nomination; this award may only be received once in a career.
  • Awardees are announced each January for the previous year.

Send nominations to CPT Viglucci at richard.viglucci.mil@army.mil

Award Recipients
USAF
TSGT Caleb Brinkley

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe International Band

USN
PO2 Wesley Carroll

NAVY BAND NORTHWEST

USAF
TSGT Andrew Clemenson

United States Air Force Band of Flight

USAF
SSG Michael Dee

USAF Band of Mid-America

USA
SGT William Esterling

287th Army Band

USA
SGT Daniel Finch

25th Infantry Division Band

USN
PO1 Mark Huskey Jr.

United States Naval Academy Band

USCG
PO1 Taylor Isberg

US Coast Guard Band

USAF
TSGT Christopher Jackson

United States Air Force Academy Band

USAF
SRA Jeffery Johnson

USAF Heartland of America Band

USN
PO3 Sophie Kass

Navy Band Southeast

USA
SGT Richard King

106th Army Band

USMC
SGT Noelle Kubis

1st Marine Division Band

USA
SSG Bethany Linville

312th Army Band

USAF
SSG Justis MacKenzie

United States Air Force Band of the West

USA
SSG Rachel Minto

The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own"

USAF
TSGT Andrew Mowatt

The United States Air Force Band

USA
SGT Emily Nichols

13th Army Band

USMC
SSgt Aram Piligian

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band

USAF
SSG Joseph Rulli

US Air Forces in Europe - Air Force Africa Band

USMC
SGT Josiah Rushing

Marine Detachment, Naval School of Music

USA
SSG Scott Sabo

257th Army Band DCNG

USA
SSG Paul Saunders

8th Army Band

USAF
TSGT Candy Tasker

USAF Band of the Golden West

USA
SPC Samps Taylor

77th Army Band

USN
PO2 Curtis Thornton

Navy Band Northeast

USAF
SRA Nolgee Vazquez Perez

USAF Band of the Pacific-Hawaii

USA
SSG Jenna Veverka

The US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

USAF
SSG Ryu Yamakawa

USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia

USN
PO2 Michael Zech

US 7th Fleet Band

USAF
SSG Hilary Zirkle

USAF Heritage of America Band