This year's ITG Conference banquet took place in the Rowan University Student Center. After an excellent meal accompanied by an excellent ten-piece jazz ensemble from Rowan, Jeff Piper presided over the after-dinner festivities. After dessert was served, it was time to wrap-up all of the things tradition dictates that we do at this gathering. Alan Siebert announced all of the competition winners and all of the scholarship winners for this year's conference.

At this point the ITG Award Winners were announced. The Award of Merit this year was bestowed upon Charles Gorham, Anne F. Hardin, Stephen Jones, and Leon Rapier. Mr. Rapier's wife, Mary, was on hand, to thank the Guild on behalf of her deceased husband and the Rapier family, and related what it was like to live and raise a family with a trumpet enthusiast. One humorous story she related was a trip that took place from Louisville (where they lived) to Colorado. During that long car trip there was non-stop talk about mouthpieces between her husband and another trumpet player who was on the trip with them! The first thing her husband did (to his credit) after they arrived was to apologize to her.

Anne Hardin was the next to receive her award. Anne talked about the early days of the Journal in her role as editor. It was especially interesting to hear her talk about the process by which Stephen Glover and David Hickman decided that she would indeed be the editor. David Hickman interviewed her, and the last question of the interview was for her to spell the name “Cichowicz.” She spelled it correctly and was awarded the job!

Stephen Jones is one of the great heroes of ITG. During his speech he recalled the many memories and people that have served ITG over the years and what the organization has meant to him both professionally and personally. He related that in the entire history of the organization he has never missed a conference, and thanked all the people that have supported him and the organization over the years.

Another important pioneer in the life of ITG, Charles Gorham talked about what ITG has meant to him. He began by thanking Bryan Appleby-Wineberg for hosting the conference and talked about the high level of quality he has been hearing all this week at the 2006 Conference. He then went on to list all of the important people that were instrumental in getting ITG on its feet during the early days of the organization. It was a great way to pay homage to the early pioneers and to the whole concept of organizing musicians with similar interests into groups for annual meetings.

ITG President Jeff Piper then presented an award of appreciation to Stephen Chenette for his service to ITG as past president for the Guild and to Byran Appleby-Wineberg, host of the 2006 Conference. Bryan looked considerably more relaxed than he did five days ago! Bryan thanked the many people who have given him so much help in organizing this year's event. As he went through the long list of names it became apparent to all that an ITG Conference is a monumental undertaking, one that takes the coordination of hundreds of people on stage, and behind the scenes. He ended by thanking James Herzog as being his main supporter and a tireless worker during the entire process. Once again the final act of the banquet was the “passing of the bugle.” This year the lucky recipient of this year's “pass” was Eric Berlin, 2007 Conference Host, May 29 - June 2nd, 2007 at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. See you there!