Premiered at the 50th Anniversary of MENC (now NAfME) in San Antonio by the United States Air Force Band who commissioned it, the composition met with immediate and overwhelming acceptance. "Festival Variations, with its brilliant technical passages coupled with its glorious romanticism, will certainly rank as one of the monumental compositions of the 20th century" - Arnald Gabriel, Col (Ret.) Commander/Conductor, The United States Air Force Band. Although difficult, many of the finer bands throughout the world have added this great work to their repertoire and perform it regularly.