Conductor, arranger and music educator Keith Brion died Sept. 30, 2026, at age 93, according to the American Bandmasters Association. Brion was known for his work on John Philip Sousa’s music and for bringing historic band performance practices to modern concert audiences.
Brion directed bands at Yale University from 1973 to 1980. Before joining Yale, he taught in public schools in New Jersey, including Newton High School and James Caldwell High School.
He founded the New Sousa Band in 1979 and developed concert programs that re-created the sound and presentation of Sousa’s ensemble. His guest-conducting career included appearances with orchestras, university bands and major military ensembles in the United States and abroad.
Brion also edited and published music by Sousa, Percy Grainger, Charles Ives and other composers, often working with scholar Loras Schissel. He was elected to the American Bandmasters Association in 1989.
The association said no memorial service was planned. His family asked friends to support local public music programs in his honor.
For more information, visit americanbandmasters.org.