Mr. Jon Eckman,
Director/Conductor
BARTOW ADULT CONCERT BAND
"It's a great day for a concert in Bartow, Florida"
ABOUT THE GROUP
Bartow Adult Concert Band (BACB) operates as a non-profit Community Service Organization. It is managed by a Steering Committee of volunteer band members. From time to time and at the discretion of the Steering Committee, funds held in reserve that are in excess of BACB expenses may be distributed to other worthy non-profit causes. Recipients have included Bartow Middle School, Bartow Middle School Band, Bartow Middle School Fine Arts, Bartow High School Band, Bartow Union Academy Magnet School, Bay High School, City of Bartow Civic Center, and Florida Bandmasters Association to help promote Music and Fine Arts Education in our Public Schools.
OUR CONDUCTOR
Jon Eckman is currently the director of instrumental music at Bartow Senior High/lB/Summerlin Academy. He is originally from Port Charlotte, Florida, and graduated from Florida Southern College. He is a charter member of the Magic Drum and Bugle corps during the years 1990-1994. Mr. Eckman began his teaching career at Fort Meade Middle/Senior High School and after 6 years of teaching succeeded Jan Coolman at Bartow High School. Under his direction, the bands at Bartow Senior have consistently earned superior ratings at Concert, Marching, and State MPA's. On multiple occasions, his bands have received the highest honor bestowed on a band program in the state of Florida, known as the Otto J. Kraushaar Award. In 2015, the Bartow Senior band was nominated by the Governor's office to represent Florida in the National Memorial Parade. In 2017, the Bartow Wind Symphony performed at the Chicago International Music Festival, on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Stage. Under his direction, the Bartow High School Band has performed in Nashville, Washington DC, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Mr. Eckman is a graduate of the Florida Schools Music Association Summer Institute and is certified in International Baccalaureate Instruction for World Music. He adjudicates throughout the state of Florida for Solo and Ensemble, Concert Bands, Marching Bands and is a guest conductor/clinician. He is a member of the American School Band Directors Association, is currently the Florida Band Master Association district chairman for Polk County, and on the FBA Legacy Committee. He was named Bartow High School Teacher of the Year in 2011. He received the Medal of Merit from the Bartow Rotary Club in 2018 for community service within his profession. He is a graduate of the Bartow Chamber's Leadership program. Most recently, he was the recipient of the Oliver Hobbs Award which recognizes FBA members who have consistently done an exceptional job year after year in the position of band director.
Jon Eckman was recently named as one of this year's eight inductees into the Bandworld Legion of Honor. This is a national award bestowed by the John Philip Sousa Foundation to honor and recognize the "Finest Band Directors in Our Business" by Bandworld Magazine. To read and learn more about this distinct honor go to: https://bandworld.org/magazine/index.php/jon-eckrnan/