ron battani

JEI HALL OF FAME

Ron Battani

1995

Mr. Ron Battani is in his 28th year as a high school band director, 18 years in Iowa and 10 years in Texas.

In 1976-77 he was adjunct director of the Iowa State University Jazz Ensemble, Ames, Iowa. His Des Moines Hoover Jazz Band was chosen four times as Honor Band to perform at the annual Iowa Bandmasters Convention. From 1976-85 the Hoover Jazz Band placed 1st four times, 2nd four times, 3rd once and 4th once in the Iowa Jazz Championships. Mr. Battani is co-founder of the IJC. The 1976 Hoover Jazz Band (the La Festa Band) won the "National Maynard Ferguson Sound-Alike" Contest.

Mr. Battan’s Anderson High School Jazz Band in Austin, Texas has won several 1st place awards as well as best in class in several contests in Louisiana. Also, Mr. Battani’s in his fifth year as director of the All-Austin Area Jazz Ensemble. The AYJE is made-up of the finest high school jazz musicians in the Austin area. On May 3, 1994 he was presented the National Band Association Outstanding Jazz Educator Award, one of only two given in the state of Texas that year. Mr. Battani, a Woodward, Iowa High School graduate, received his B.M.E. in1967 and his M.M.E. in 1973 from Drake University. In the spring of 2011, Mr. Battani served his final year as band director at Mannion Middle School in Henderson, Nevada. He continues his membership in the percussion section of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra.

Ron Battani - 1995

Dan Peterson - 1995

Jack Oatts - 1996

James Coffin - 1997

Dick Bauman - 1998

Larry Green - 1999

Reggie Schive - 2000

Bob Schaeffer - 2001

Gary Slechta - 2002

Bob Washut - 2003

Martin Crandell - 2005

Larry Kisor - 2007