Gladys Stone Wright Memorial Scholarship

Gladys Stone Wright is the Founding President of WBDI. Her musical career began in Wasco, Oregon where she began playing the clarinet in elementary school. From this point on, Gladys Stone Wright was destined to become one of the most influential women in the field of band directing.

Mrs. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree from the University of Oregon. During her career she received 60 superior ratings at district and state band contests, and over one thousand superior ratings in solo and ensemble contests. She has been awarded the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, the WBDI International Golden Rose Award, Tau Beta Sigma's National Service to Music Award, and was the first women elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 1984. She is also a member of the Women Band Directors International Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors in February 1999.

Due to the efforts and talents of Gladys Stone Wright, the Women Band Directions International has grown in both membership and stature since 1969. Now almost 30 years later this organization still looks to Gladys for leadership and guidance. She is editor of The Woman Conductor and continues to contribute articles to national recognized band magazines while maintaining a busy schedule which includes numerous appearances as guest conductor. With her husband, Al G. Wright, she serves as administrator and conductor of the United States Collegiate Wind Band which has toured Europe each summer for more than 25 years.

This scholarship is funded by WBDI Founding President Gladys Stone Wright.