JoDee Davis holding a trombone
Special Awards

ITA Awards & Nominations

The International Trombone Association bestows seven awards on individuals, organizations, and orchestras. The individual awards are the ITA Award, the Neill Humfeld Excellence in Teaching Award, the Legacy Circle Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Kenneth Hanlon Award, and the President’s Award which is awarded at the discretion of the ITA President.

The Orchestra Recognition Award is given to an orchestra which has made a significant contribution to the artistic advancement of trombone performance and literature.

View the Awards 2025 Award Winners

A Call for Nominations

The International Trombone Association presents awards to individuals and organizations—including those involved in performance, teaching, composition, arranging, conducting, and research—that have made profound, outstanding, and lasting impacts in furthering the Association’s mission. Two awards are presented annually—the ITA Award and the Neill Humfeld Excellence in Teaching Award. Three other awards—the Legacy Circle Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Orchestra Recognition Award—are presented from time-to-time. Nominations for 2024 awards are requested from the ITA’s membership. A one-page letter of nomination that details why a member believes a nominee should be honored with one of the Association’s awards may be sent to the Chair of the ITA’s Standing Committee on Awards at awards@trombone.net.

All nominations are due by December 1 at which time the Standing Committee on Awards will prepare ballots to be voted on by the ITA Officers, Council of Past Presidents, and Board of Advisors. Winners shall be announced by January 15.

Awards and Honors

  • ITA Award
    Purpose

    The ITA Award recognizes an elite level of creative and artistic output in areas such as trombone performance, composition, arranging, teaching, conducting, research, and/or service. One award is given each year.

    Selection Criteria

    Candidates for the ITA Award shall:

    • Have made important and outstanding contributions to the trombone community
    • Have demonstrated an exceptional level of creative and artistic output
    • Have demonstrated outstanding dedication to his/her profession
    • Have demonstrated a high level of commitment or service to the ITA
    Selection Process

    Nominations for the ITA Award are submitted by the ITA’s members. The ITA Award is awarded by a vote of the ITA Officers, Council of Past Presidents, and Board of Advisors.

    A one-page letter of nomination that details why a member believes a nominee should be honored with one of the Association’s awards, and a bio of the nominee, may be sent to the Chair of the ITA’s Standing Committee on Awards at: awards@trombone.net

    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • Kenneth Hanlon Award
    Purpose

    The Kenneth Hanlon Award recognizes an individual that contributes greatly to the ITA and the trombone world with a spirit of generosity and modesty that inspires. The award is given in remembrance of Kenneth Hanlon (1941-2018), long-time trombone professor and administrator at University of Nevada Las Vegas, and past president of the ITA (2006-2008). One Award is given each year.

    Selection Criteria

    One Award is given each year.

    Selection Process

    The Kenneth Hanlon Award is awarded by a vote of the ITA Executive Board

    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • Legacy Circle Award
    Purpose

    The Legacy Circle Award recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact on the evolution of trombone playing or teaching. Membership to this elite group is reserved for those whose accomplishments have been exceptional in the trombone community. The Legacy Circle Award may recognize the accomplishments of those whose careers predate the founding of the ITA in 1972.

    Selection Criteria

    Candidates for the ITA Legacy Circle Award shall have demonstrated:

    • A lifelong commitment to the trombone and/or trombone related activities
    • A career that has reflected a commitment to an elite level of excellence and achievement
    • A level of excellence deemed to be exceptional in the trombone community
    Selection Process

    Nominations for the Legacy Circle Award are submitted by the ITA’s members. The Legacy Circle Award is awarded by a vote of the ITA Executive Board.

    A one-page letter of nomination that details why a member believes a nominee should be honored with one of the Association’s awards, and a bio of the nominee, may be sent to the Chair of the ITA’s Standing Committee on Awards at: awards@trombone.net

    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • Lifetime Achievement Award
    Purpose

    The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes people—living or deceased—who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the trombone profession over a long career. 5 Categories of lifetime achievement may include but are not limited to teaching, performance, research, composition, and service, and may recognize the accomplishments of those whose careers predate the founding of the ITA in 1972.

    Selection Criteria

    Candidates for the ITA Lifetime Achievement Award shall demonstrate or shall have demonstrated:

    • A lifelong commitment to the trombone and/or trombone-related activities.
    • A career that has reflected a commitment to excellence and achievement
    Selection Process

    Nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award are submitted by the ITA’s members. The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by a vote of the ITA Executive Board.

    A one-page letter of nomination that details why a member believes a nominee should be honored with one of the Association’s awards, and a bio of the nominee, may be sent to the Chair of the ITA’s Standing Committee on Awards at: awards@trombone.net

    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • Neill Humfeld Award for Excellence in Trombone Teaching
    Purpose

    The Neill Humfeld Award for Excellence in Trombone Teaching recognizes the trombone teaching contributions of Neill Humfeld (1928-1991), long-time trombone professor at East Texas State University, and past president of the ITA (1980-1982). The Award honors a living teacher who have demonstrated an exceptional level of excellence in their work. One Award is given each year.

    Selection Criteria

    Candidates for the Neill Humfeld Award for Excellence in Trombone Teaching shall:

    • Demonstrate a long-standing dedication to trombone teaching
    • Demonstrate effectiveness, innovation, and uniqueness in teaching
    • Demonstrate the ability to inspire and motivate
    • Have successful students
    • Share his/her teaching expertise with other trombone teachers
    Selection Process

    Nominations for the Neill Humfeld Award for Excellence in Teaching are submitted by the ITA’s members. The Neill Humfeld Award for Excellence in Trombone Teaching is awarded by a vote of the ITA Officers, Council of Past Presidents, and Board of Advisors.

    A one-page letter of nomination that details why a member believes a nominee should be honored with one of the Association’s awards, and a bio of the nominee, may be sent to the Chair of the ITA’s Standing Committee on Awards at: awards@trombone.net

    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • Orchestra Recognition Award
    Purpose
    Selection Criteria
    Selection Process
    Nominate Previous Recipients

  • President’s Award
    Purpose
    Selection Criteria
    Selection Process
    Nominate Previous Recipients