Hugh McMillen Society

Hugh McMillen was a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi from the Alpha Iota Chapter and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma from the Gamma Chapter. He served as director of bands at the University of Colorado. He served the fraternity as Grand President from 1951-1953. Mr. McMillen believed that the fraternity and sorority should offer something constructive to college and university bands on a grand scale. He felt the best way to do this was to create new literature for college and university bands. Mr. McMillen had the initial idea for a national commissioning program that would be linked to our National Intercollegiate Band. His dream became a reality at the 1953 National Convention at Texas Tech University with the premier of Ballet for Band by Don Gillis. Since 1953 the organizations have been committed to commissioning new music with the NIB. It remains one of the  greatest examples of how we live our shared missions. In honor of Hugh McMillen’s long standing legacy to creation musical literature and the National Intercollegiate Band. The Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Trustees created the Hugh McMillen Society in 2017. It is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on the National Intercollegiate Band and/or National Commissioning Program. These individuals will model our mottos of “Striving for the Highest” and “For Greater Bands” through their contributions.

Hugh McMillen Society Members