Sudler Silver Scroll
The Sudler Silver Scroll is the highest honor that a North American community band can achieve. A work of the John Phillip Sousa Foundation, the goal of the award is "to identify, recognize and honor those community bands that have demonstrated particularly high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years, and which have played a significant and leading role in the cultural and musical environment in their respective communities".
A community band must apply for the award by documenting the group's contributions to the community. The application may include examples of community service, cultural contributions, and musical excellence.
Each band applying for the award must submit recordings of recent performances, to be judged by the committee for musical excellence, which is done without the judges knowing the identities of the applicants. Only after the award determinations are completed do the judges learn which community bands have applied for the award.
The Knightwind Ensemble is one of only four Wisconsin community bands to be honored with this award.