Cavalcade of Bands
Hall of Fame

Larry Hershman has been involved in the marching music activity most of his life and was inducted into the Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame in 1987 having served as a judge and the visual caption chairman. For 16 years he was the visual designer and instructor for Carlisle High School. Additionally he was the Director of the Westshoremen Senior Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the Program Director and visual designer for The United States Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.

He was a founder of The Keystone Indoor Drill Association, and was also Chief Judge, Judging Coordinator and Vice President of Drum Corps Associates. He was the long time Program Coordinator for the Bluecoats Junior Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton Ohio. Larry’s history with the corps began in 1986 and saw the corps’ first top 12 finish in 1987. He remained for five more years before retiring but returned again in 2000 and guided the group back into the top 12.

He is retired from his ‘real job’ as the Vice President of the billion dollar operations of SKF, and he continues to reside in Carlisle and serves as an adjudicator as well as consultant to numerous bands and drum corps. In addition to the Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame, Larry is a member of the Bluecoats Hall of Fame was a 1992 inductee into The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, a 1997 inductee into the Keystone Indoor Hall of Fame and in 2009 received the Lifetime Meritorious Service Award for the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame.

Bill ate and slept Cavalcade, always with support of his wife, Kathleen. This also became a family affair with daughter, Kathleen who was a Cavalcade tabulator for many years. Bill’s incredible dedication and long range vision pointed Cavalcade into a direction of lasting success.

Bill’s playing career started with the Archer-Epler Musketeers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps where he played the soprano horn. After performing, he also taught music to various Philadelphia area Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, including the Media Fawns, Gloucester NJ Brigadiers, Yearsley Blackhawks and the Coatesville Sahler Sedan Cadets. In 1970 he began judging for Drum Corps Associates and the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association as a Chief Judge.

His long tenure with Cavalcade began in 1972 when he helped create and form the Cavalcade Judging Association and worked as a Chief Judge. From 1973 to 1978 he was the first Commissioner of Cavalcade (currently the Executive Director position) and was elected to this role by member band directors. From 1978 – 1980 is was the Administrative Coordinator for Cavalcade and was a Chief Judge into the 1990’s .

William Lawler passed away on July 21, 2010.

Jerry’s lifelong interest in bands and drum corps began as a teenager when he was the Drum Major for the Nuss O’Hara Todd Corps, Ridley Rangers and Vasella Musketeers. three different drum corps. When he aged out of drum corps, he taught drum corps and and marching bands and also started judging band and drum corps contests throughout the Northeast and in Canada starting his judging career in 1967.

He later became a member of the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association where he developed his interest in high school bands. He also judged for DCI and DCA. Jerry quickly moved from a marching judge to the Marching Band Caption Chairman, Judging Coordinator and served as Chief Judge of the Cavalcade of Bands from 1977-1981. He forged lifelong friendships through these activities, which also shaped his leadership skills, people skill and work ethic in his life’s work.

Jerry Powell passed away on June 11, 2022.

Richard Templin has been involved in high school marching band and other marching related activities for most of his lifetime. His career started as the Visual Designer for Shikellamy High School Marching Braves and later the Lampeter-Strasburg High School Marching Band, as well as several indoor and senior drum corps programs. He served on various task forces and the Cavalcade of Bands Marching Band committee. Dedication and commitment to the activity is highlighted by his involvement in the administrative capabilities.

Jim received a Doctorate from Columbia University, with Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees from West Chester and Temple Universities. After a tenure teaching public schools in the Oley Valley School District he accepted a teaching position at Kutztown University in 1964. In 1968 he returned to his alma mater as a professor of music education. During his 28-year tenure at West Chester University the Marching Band, under his direction, received national recognition as one of the finest bands in the United States. He also continued to teach music education courses during his time at the University.

Jim founded the Marching Band Conference in 1968 as a summer skill camp for marching band directors and students. With the establishment of Music In The Parks in 1981 and Festivals of Music in 1982, the Educational Programs Network now offers a complete spectrum of educational opportunities for music students. Since his retirement from West Chester University in 1992, he has devoted his effort’s full time to Festivals of Music and Music in the Parks as President of the Educational Programs Network.

As a chief judge, Bill is known for his professional attitude towards the competitive show and the band members.

HISTORY:

* Began his career playing soprano horn with the Reilly Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps
* 1953 1958 taught drums and M7M for drum and bugle corps in Norristown, Pa
* 1957 – 1971 member of Mid-Atlantic Judges Association
* 1971 – 2000 – Cavalcade Judging Association

A 1953 graduate of Summit Hill High School, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Michael S. Solick started his formal music education by attending the U.S. Naval School of Music, Ancostia, Washington, DC and 3 year commitment with the Naval Unit Band stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After discharge from the U.S. Navy, Solick attended West Chester State College as a music major, graduating with the Class of 1960. That year he started his teaching career at Collingdale School District, Delaware County with a mid-year move to the Phoenixville Area School District. The next six years Solick taught at the Junior High level while he pursued his master’s degree at West Chester State. The summer of 1966 brought Solick’s teaching career to a short halt as he toured the U.S.A., Puerto Rico and Canada with The Teachers, a vocal/instrumental quartet formed while at West Chester.

Mr. Solick returned to the Phoenixville Area January of 1968 as the High School Band Director. He held that post until the end of 1984 school year, when he voluntarily filled the elementary instrumental position in the school district and accepted Music Coordinator duties until his retirement in 1993. Upon retirement Mr. Solick accepted the Assistant Band Director duties of the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band of West Chester University. Solick also conducted the Audubon Community Orchestra. While at Phoenixville, both the Junior and Senior High Bands amassed awards in field, concert and jazz competition including Independence Conference championships in 1974, 1976 and 1982.

Michael Solick passed away on June 25, 2016.

Mr. Ferraro was Supervisor of Music in the Wilson School District for twenty-nine years, a graduate of Reading High School, a B.S. degree in music education from West Chester University and a M.A. degree in music education from Columbia University in New York City. He was also director of drill at Reading High School and drum major of the West Chester University Marching Band.

Frank was a member of the West Reading Police Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps in 1951. Arranger and music director of the West Reading Corps for the next eight years. During this period of time, the West Reading Corps won four V.F.W. and seven American Legion State Championships.

For the next thirteen years he was the arranger, director of music, and drum major with the Reading Buccaneer’s Drum and Bugle Corps. During this time the Buccaneers won eight V.F.W. and eight American Legion State Championships, three V.F.W. national championships and two world championships. He arranged music and taught many junior and senior drum and bugle corps, including Milton Senior, Westshore Bonnie Scotts, Schuylkill Haven Junior, Muchocaos Junior, Riley Senior, and York White Roses.

In 1961 thru 1964, the Boyertown Area Junior High School Band under Ferraro’s direction won the AAA National Band Championships in Washington D.C. As Director of bands in the Wilson School District (for twenty-six years), the Wilson Marching Band accomplished the following achievements:

* The National AAA Championship in 1967.
* Honor Band Award in the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Festival.
* Honor Band Award in the 1970 International Festival, in Toledo, Ohio.
* Honor Band Award in the 1970 and 1972 Miss America Pageant Parades.
* First place awards in the 1970-71-72-73 Cavalcade of Bands Championship.
* Festival of States National Championships in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1971 and 1983.
* Honor Band Award in marching band and concert band contests in the Sun Festival, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1972 and 1974.
* First place award for band and band front in the North American Championship Field Contest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972 and 1973.

Frank has been an adjudicator for state and national band and drum corps contests, since 1952, including: the Festival of States, National Cherry Festival, Miss America Parades, DCA Championships, and Cavalcade of Bands.

In 1991 was elected to and inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame. In 1995 he was inducted into the Reading Buccaneer Hall of Fame.

Frank Ferraro passed away on December 20, 2020.

Chuck’s involvement in music started in junior and senior high school in Johnstown, Pa. He played in the band and was also the assistant to the band director. While in school, Chuck also played in a street corps called The Johnstown Blue Devils.

In 1960 Chuck moved to Harrisburg and immediately became involved with the Westshormen Drum and Bugle Corps as a playing member followed by the corps business manager. At the same time he organized and helped to establish the Red Carpet Association as he retired from the Westshoremen Drum and Bugle Corps after the 1982 season where he served as Business Manager and Executive Director.

Chuck was a tabulator for the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association, Cavalcade of Bands, Tournament of Bands, Keystone Indoor Drill Association and Drum Corps Associates. He was also a Chief Judge for these same organizations. In 1985 Chuck became the Cavalcade Administrative Coordinator, later called the Executive Director, a position he held for 17 years.

Chuck Saia passed away on August 2, 2012.

Ed Stimson first came to Cavalcade in the early 1970’s when he was a staff member and guard instructor with Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Several years later he became a member of the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association judging marching bands, indoor guards and rainbow drill teams throughout Pennsylvania. At that time he won several indoor guard championships while at Plymouth Whitemarsh. He was a member of the PW High School marching band staff when they won Yankee Championships in 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979.

Ed helped establish Cavalcade’s first indoor drill association (CIDA) and became their first president. In the mid 1980’s Ed became a member of Cavalcade’s Board of Directors serving as Cavalcade’s first Jazz Band chairperson. The first jazz band season featured 3 shows during that year with 8 schools participating. Since that time over 30 shows are held each year.

Tragically in 1987 Ed’s 17 year old son was killed. His son, Keith, was a drummer in the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School band. Cavalcade established a scholarship in Keith’s name which is presented during the Cavalcade Indoor Championships. In 1994 he developed Cavalcade’s first marching and indoor computerized recaps and in 1998 he developed Cavalcade’s first web page.

Ed is also the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Elementary Music Festival Coordinator, which involves approximately 135 archdiocesan elementary schools. The six all-star groups perform each year and every other year at a special concert at the Kimmel Center.

After a 32 year teaching career Ed is retired from the Colonial School District. He is happily married to Mary and a son Eddie who is a former member of the 1983 and 1994 Drum Corps Champion Garfield Cadets.

Dr. Dick Scott started his long music career as a flute, clarinet and saxophone student. In high school he was a band captain and also sat 1st chair clarinet in Virginia’s Regional Band Festival in the spring of 1952. It was about this time Dick began his love of jazz bands by performing with the Herbert Wade Jazz Band on a regular basis.

Dr. Scott entered the armed services in November of 1955 where he auditioned for and accepted by the US Army Band. He began his college training in 1957 at the University of Southern Mississippi with a performance scholarship where he played in the “Pride of Mississippi” marching band, the University Orchestra, Concert Band, and the Jazz Band. While a student at Southern, Dick was Band Director at Wiggins and Seminary, Mississippi High Schools. He also performed with Bob Hope under the auspices of Les Brown’s Band of Renown.

He entered the Master’s program at the University of Michigan in 1963. While there, he was Band Director at Macon-Britton Consolidated High School. Dick came to Pennsylvania in 1964 and began teaching in Philadelphia where he was Band Director at Thomas Edison and Overbrook High Schools. While in Philadelphia, Dick worked with the All-City Band and Orchestra and in 1970 he became the band director and music chair at William Tennent High School of the Centennial School District. He was also director of the All-District’s String Orchestra and Band. He has numerous publications for string orchestras and bands.

In 1970, Cavalcade festivals had only two marching band categories, class A and B. In its first year of competition in class B, Tennent’s band earned twenty-seven trophies. Nineteen of which were 1st Place. Under Dick’s leadership during the next four years, the marching band and indoor drill unit amassed seventy-six placement trophies with Cavalcade. During his tenure in Centennial Dick was director of the All-District Orchestra and Band. He Retired in 1993 after 23 Years with the District. Dick earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in May of 1985.

Dr. Scott began his Judging experiences with the Mid-Atlantic Judges, in 1970. This group eventually became The Cavalcade of Bands Judges Association. While with Mid-Atlantic, Dick was the lead clinician of the GE caption for Marching Bands in 1972. He has also judged the World Open and the Danny Thomas Invitational in Boston. Dick has judged with Cavalcade of Bands, DCI, DCA, UOEC, Mid-Atlantic, and TOB/National Judges.

During his thirty-four with Mid-Atlantic/Cavalcade of Bands, he has been Music Caption Chief, Technology Coordinator, Jazz Band Chief Judge, and Jazz Band Judging Coordinator. Dick was one of the facilitators of the first Red Book (judge’s handbook). When asked what the most rewarding aspect of his Cavalcade experience was, Dick said, “The kids!”

Dr. Dick Scott passed away on May 2, 2018.

Carey Crumling began his teaching experience at South Western High School in Hanover in the fall of 1970. Five years later, on October 6, 1975 he entered his band into their 1st Cavalcade contest at Red Land HS. That experience started a commitment and dedication to the Cavalcade that now totals 30 years.

During that period ,Carey served several years as the Secretary of the organization before being elected in 1984 as President (after the injury to Wilson HS director, Bruce Silfies.) Little did he realize that he would fulfill that role until 1998. He saw numerous changes in the 14 years at the helm of the Cavalcade. A ‘tic’ judging system gives way to a ‘positive build-up’ system; mandatory ‘motion time’ disappears; less judges on field;more classification formulas than ever thought possible; percussion and color guard judges at shows; no balloon releases or pyrotechnics permitted; and the list goes on. But one thing remained constant admist all the changes…..Carey’s dedication and commitment to this organization and it’s membership.

His tireless energy and genuine love for both the marching band activity and this organization will forever be his ‘legacy’. As one former band director and long-time friend remarked, Carey is truly deserving of the title…Mr. Cavalcade. Carey would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the outstanding directors, staff members,officers, coordinators, judges, and most important….the young people, who have touched his life during these past 30 years. You have all impacted my wonderful music journey in a way I will never be able to express. I am in debted to you and the Cavalcade for life. Carey is presently Director of Bands at South Western. He is married to his high school sweetheart ( and eternal SAINT), Mary, who has walked beside him and encouraged him for all his years. He is the proud father of 3 girls (all Cavalcade alumni), 2 granddaughters, 3 grandsons and 1 great granddaughter, who are his life’s inspiration.

Joe Marrella’s involvement with the Cavalcade of Bands began in the early seventies and has continued up to the present. He has served Cavalcade as a judge, clinician, consultant and coordinator.

Joe has been selected to adjudicate groups in all parts of the United States and Canada. He was an individual snare drum champion and has also instructed National Champion Percussion Ensembles. He was inducted to both the Drum Corps International and the World Drum Corps Halls of Fame.

Joe has been engaged to consult with various marching musical groups and has conducted seminars for music educators throughout the country. He has been invited to speak at PMEA and NJME conventions representing Cavalcade. Further, he has created training sessions for Cavalcade judges and has assisted in the evaluation of them.

Locally, he has conducted workshops at West Chester University for Music Educators as they earn postgraduate credits for their advanced degrees. Joe is a former member of the Advisory Council of the University of the Arts, located in Philadelphia. His has also written articles for music publications that have been distributed to thirty-five thousand high schools in the United States.

In addition to performing, judging and consulting in the marching arena, Joe has also directed plays and musicals. He wanted to apply the same methods and concepts from his clinics to live theater. Among his directorial work are shows such as, A Chorus Line, Guys & Dolls, The Wiz, Grease, Bye, Bye, Birdie, South Pacific, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Same Time, Next Year.

The New Jersey Association of Community Theaters, consisting of one hundred twenty-eight theaters, awarded two Best Director Nominations for direction to Joe in both 2005 and 2006. This background also qualified Joe to become a Barrymore Nominator for the Greater Philadelphia Theatre Alliance. He has also served as a television color commentator for various band competitions.

Richard (Dick) Karschner served on various permanent or special committees during his 28 years as a Cavalcade Band Director. In his first year at Upper Dublin High School, the band sponsored a Cavalcade outdoor show and continued sponsoring a show through his entire tenure as director. The school also sponsored several CIDA contests and played hosts to various CIDA general and business meetings.

Unlike many similar organizations, Cavalcade is run by the directors. For this reason, Dick believed it was important to attend the Cavalcade business meetings, Rules Congresses, and Directors/Judges clinics and attended a high percentage of these meetings throughout his involvement with the organization.

Bill Lawler, Cavalcade’s first Commissioner, tells us – My memories of Dick are those of a professional who was always the gentleman and educator whether in defeat or victory. But most importantly, he was always ready to listen to the judge’s opinions, implement suggestions resulting in an outstanding band.

During Mr. Karschner’s time at Upper Dublin his band won 14 Marching Band Championships, 11 High General Effect Music, and 8 High Music Execution Awards at Championships. His motto was Excellence and Entertainment. After retiring as chairman of the music department at Upper Dublin, he served for many years as arranger and conductor of The Quakertown Community Band.

Rick Weidner has been an integral part of Cavalcade of Bands from the time of his involvement from the mid 70’s. He has been a staff member, visual designer, judge, band director and Cavalcade Executive Board Member. Rick stepped in and rolled up his sleeves and got to work in steering Cavalcade of Bands into what we have today. He was instrumental in setting up the criteria for the education and continuation of new and current judges which is still being used today.

As a board member and past Cavalcade of Bands Treasurer, he helped create the Administrative and Coordinative levels that have helped make us so successful.

Dr. Capolupo’s association with Cavalcade began in the mid 1970’s as a band director. Over the years Dr. Capolupo directed several high school bands in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey whose organizations participated in the Cavalcade Marching Band, Jazz Band and or Indoor Guard programs.

In 1977 Dr. Capolupo became a music judge for marching bands and when Cavalcade began the jazz program, Dr.Capolupo spent many a Friday or Saturday night judging jazz bands. He has often served as a chief judge for both the indoor and jazz programs. In the 1990’s Dr. Capolupo moved into Cavalcade administration as Music Caption Chief a position he held for two consecutive terms. Immediately following he became the Judging Coordinator and held this position for two consecutive terms. Through these 8 years as an administrator with Cavalcade Dr. Capolupo kept active as a music judge.

Dr. Capolupo has judged marching and jazz bands for Cavalcade of Bands since the mid 70’s. In addition he has served as a judge for the Miss America Pageant Parade in Atlantic City for 10 years and most recently for the String Bands portion of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade.

Arlen Saylor’s philosophy of life was “be prepared when opportunity knocks, respond to challenges and respect parents”. This most definitely were rules he always kept in mind throughout his lifetime, especially when he was the founder and creator of the original Cavalcade of Bands show in 1959 in Boyertown, PA. He did a tremendous amount to promote Cavalcade in its infancy and won championships in 1959, 1963 & 1964.

Arlen’s career in music began at age 9, when he played solo cornet with the Pottstown Band. A graduate of Pottstown High School and West Chester State Teachers College, he was hired as band director at Pottstown Junior High. In 1951, he joined the United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own), Washington, D.C., and served as cornet soloist and special feature arranger. Returning to Pottstown in 1954, he resumed teaching and in 1955 became Supervisor of Music for the Boyertown Area School District, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. Under Arlen’s direction, the internationally famous senior high marching unit earned countless honors and awards throughout the years.

He was founder of the Arlen Saylor Orchestra, which was selected as one of the nation’s 12 “Best New Bands” in the 1961 AFM Dance Band national contest. He was Director of the Philadelphia Eagles “Sound of Brass” marching band and from 1972 to 2001, and he was Entertainment Director of the Philadelphia Eagles. Arlen was a judge for the Philadelphia Mummers Day Parade, Festival Coordinator and Adjudicator for Music Festivals, Inc., Director of Pageantry for the Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee and the Freedom Bowl, in Anaheim, California and Director of Dorney Park Music Showcase Festivals, Allentown, PA.

Arlen attained the rank of Major in the Civil Air Patrol, and was Deputy Commander and Senior Pilot for the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Squadron, of Boyertown. He was a Life Member of the NRA, and was founder and first president of the Pottstown Pistol Club, winning numerous medals for excellence in marksmanship. For 10 1⁄2 years, Arlen was a commercial pilot for Basco Flying Service, Pottstown, retiring in December of 1997.

Arlen Saylor passed away on July 17, 2015.

Mr. Brodie came to Hanover, PA in 1968 and began his job as High School band director of the Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands. Although he was not as interested in the marching program as he was in concert or jazz, he still gave that arm the 100% detail that it deserved. Doing so, gave way to Hanover High School becoming so well known around the country in the late 70’s and early to mid-80’s.

Upon talking to former classmates, I’ve come to realize what I’ve always known. Our band director didn’t worry about placements or scores as much as he taught us that life is a competition. ‘You are only as good as your current performance’. Many Saturday nights we were brought into the band room upon return from a competition and shown our current caption scores while comparing them to past weeks. This always showed us where our hard work had paid off and where we still had work to do. Through the course of the next week, we were allowed to listen to judge’s tapes and hear the same comments that our staff and director had already discussed with us before the contest. He gave us the opportunity to figure out on our own what we needed to do to become more professional.

Through his tenure as band director, the Hanover High School Marching Band accumulated numerous awards and trophies, many from Cavalcade Championships, Bands of America regionals and Grand Nationals. Charlie Brodie was an innovator and created a program that was respected and appreciated. While we competed on a regional and national level, he made sure that we never lost touch with the grassroots teachings of the Cavalcade of Bands. In fact, many of the rules, regulations and by-laws that are intact today were created or supported by him.

Bill Powers is a retired band director and music educator/administrator who taught elementary, high school, and college bands at West York Area High School, Gettysburg College, and the Hempfield School District. He holds degrees from Gettysburg College, The Pennsylvania State University, and Millersville University. Additional graduate studies were completed at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, West Chester University, Catholic University of America, Temple University, Capitol University, Villanova University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Illinois State University, and the University of Hartford. He has served as a guest conductor, clinician, program evaluator, and adjudicator in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Professional affiliations to his credit include PMEA, the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the American Federation of Musicians, and Phi Beta Mu. He served as President of Cavalcade of Bands from 2000-2008, and was the association’s Marching Band Administrator from 2010-2015. He was awarded Cavalcade’s “Director of the Year” award for 2007-2008, and is a member of Cavalcade’s Hall of Fame. He is a Past President of the Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators Association and a former member of the Bill Dayton Orchestra and the Dave Stahl Big Band.

As Cavalcade’s president, Bill helped reorganize, unify, and expand the circuit. Under his leadership the association was increased from three to seven administrators; the marching, jazz, and indoor divisions were all brought under the Cavalcade “umbrella;” and the circuit grew from 28 to 65 marching bands, 70 to 100 jazz bands, and 15 to 45 indoor units. As Marching Band Administrator, Bill helped oversee a growth of local shows from 25 to 42, marching band championship participants from 70 to 100, and the addition of a secondary marching championship stadium site. After 41 years, he retired from judging marching and jazz bands in 2016.

Mitch was Cavalcade’s Executive Director from January 2001 through December 2015. His initial association with Cavalcade dates back to 1978 when he entered the competitive marching band arena as a member of the Hanover High School Band. In that era, Hanover High School was an exemplary member of Cavalcade, with several championships, a consistently high-class unit and a nationally known band program. Mitch was a tuba player in that band, and this was his introduction to the Cavalcade of Bands.

In the early 1990’s, he was a marching instructor with Penn Manor High School and then Lampeter-Strasburg High School. Also during this time period, Mitch founded the Penn Manor Indoor Drumline and was their first designer and instructor. In Mitch’s first year with Penn Manor’s indoor drum line, he distinguished himself by being the first director to add guard members to a drum line, and by winning the indoor championship. Additionally, Mitch designed and taught the Central Bucks West Indoor Drum line. These experiences marked his introduction to Cavalcade Indoor. Finally, the early 1990’s saw Mitch qualify as a Cavalcade of Bands visual judge.

By the mid 1990’s, Mitch had become a highly respected marching band show designer at Lampeter-Strasburg, then branched out to write shows for several other Cavalcade marching units, including Manheim Central, Palmyra, J.P. McCaskey, Red Lion, Conestoga Valley, and Pottsgrove. The Lampeter-Strasburg bands Mitch designed for won Cavalcade Yankee Open Championships in 1998 and 1999. Since then he has been the show designer for Northern Lebanon High School. As an instructor, judge, and designer, Mitch had given much to Cavalcade by 2000, while establishing himself as highly qualified in each area.

Mitch became Cavalcade’s Executive Director in 2001. He stated that his only genuine desire for this important leadership position was to give back to the kids some of the opportunities I was allowed to experience as a High School Cavalcade member. With this serving as his mantra, he has worked tirelessly in the promotion of Cavalcade’s high ideals for 14 years until his retirement in December of 2015.

Rick Anderson began his music teaching career at Spring Grove Area School District in 1970. He taught both instrumental and vocal music along with the gifted program. He served as the junior high band director until 1978 when he became the high school band director. Under his directorship, the Spring Grove band competed in Cavalcade and became known as the “blue crew.” In 1984 he assumed the position of marching band director at York Suburban High School. Here he chaired the music department, directed the string program from elementary through high school, and also directed the school musical chorus and orchestra pit. He served in this capacity for 23 years and retired in 2007.

During his tenure at YSHS, Rick fought tirelessly for his band and his students. He worked in conjunction with the band parents’ organization to field a competitive and entertaining show year after year. The Marching Knights began competition in Cavalcade in 1996 and were rewarded with Championships in the Class A Yankee Conference of Cavalcade in 1997 and 1999. Rick served as the Yankee Conference representative for 4 years on the Marching Band Committee which he also chaired for 5 years. In 2006, Rick was named Cavalcade Director of the year. In his lasts several years, he challenged his marching band with more difficult shows, but retained his commitment to entertaining the audience.

Rick was dedicated to the educational development of his students, and duly recognized their exceptional efforts. His standard were high as reflected in his insistence on punctuality, discipline and white uniform pants for competition. Rick’s dedication to his band was evident in his 23-year directorship, but no more so than in his last season in 2006. Rick’s father died shortly before the Red Lion competition that year, yet he was there to support his band kids that night.

Mr. Frederick is a graduate of West Chester University, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and Villanova University, where he earned his Master’s degree in Secondary School Administration. He taught music in the Colonial and Central Bucks School Districts before becoming director of bands at North Penn High School. His marching, concert and jazz bands performed regularly in concert and competitive settings locally and throughout the country. Under Frederick the Band’s resume’ included several performances and competitions at the Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Kentucky Derby Festival, Shenandoah (VA) Apple Blossom Festival, Miss America Pageant parades and the Indianapolis 500. They performed for all the professional Philadelphia teams and appeared on local television programs. The Marching Knights were perennial Cavalcade of Bands Yankee Conference Champions. Additionally the band appeared in the John Travolta film Blowout and Rocky V. Through the years Mr. Frederick served on several Cavalcade Committees.

In 1990 he began his tenure as a school administrator, retiring in 2003 after 35 years as a music educator and later school administrator, concluding as Principal of North Penn High School.

Mr. Frederick continued as a clinician and judge for marching, concert and jazz band events throughout the country. He is co-founder and director of the Montgomery County Concert Band. For many years he was Executive Consultant to the US Scholastic Band Association. Other responsibilities have included supervising student teachers for West Chester University, membership on the former Gibbs School Board of Governors, hosting programs on WNPV radio (1440 am, Lansdale), writing weekly newspaper columns on the marching band activity each Fall. He was active in numerous community and professional organizations.

Steve Frederick passed away on July 20, 2013.

Dr. John Villella has been involved with Cavalcade since the mid 80’s as a director, judge, and advisor. He taught in the Phoenixville School District as an instrumental music teacher from 1977 – 1983. In 1983, Dr. Villella returned to his alma mater as an instructor in the Instrumental Music & Music Education Departments, and Assistant Marching Band Director at West Chester University. In 1992 he assumed the responsibilities as director of the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band until his promotion to Assistant Dean in 2008. Under his direction, the Marching Band continued its reputation as one of the top college bands in the nation. He became the Chief of Staff and Executive Deputy to the President of West Chester University in January 2015.

Dr. Villella has served as a marching and jazz adjudicator for Cavalcade and is constantly called on as an advisor to many Cavalcade directors and also to the Cavalcade organization. He has opened the door to the School of Music on many occasions to host annual meetings for Cavalcade. His support for the ideals and philosophies of Cavalcade has been, and continues to be a comfort to the Executive Board, and all Cavalcade Directors.

Ken Husler has a long history within the Cavalcade of Bands going back to 1976. Ken was the band director at Manheim Township High School from 1976-1997 and from 2001-2002. Under his direction, Manheim Township Marching Band were awarded the Cavalcade of Bands Championship a total of nine times. They were champions in the American Conference in 1980 and in the Liberty Conference in 1982, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995 and in the Yankee Conference in 2001.

Ken has served as the Marching Band Committee Chairperson from 1986-1988, Secretary from 1988-1990, and President from 1998-2000. He was named the Cavalcade of Bands Director of the Year in 1995 and received the Cavalcade Distinguished Service/Leadership Award in 1997. Ken had also hosted countless Cavalcade meetings at Manheim Township High School during his career.

Ken continues to work with the Manheim Township Marching Band as wind arranger, musical consultant and woodwind instructor even after retiring from public school teaching in the spring of 2009. Ken was the recipient of the PMEA District 7 Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

Rebe Jones Williams has been a twirling/color guard instructor for well over 40 years. Prior to instructing, she was a competitive twirler herself receiving the Miss World’s Fair title in 1964. She launched the R. J. Twirlers Baton Corp from Perkasie, PA winning many regional and state titles over the years. Still directing the RJ’s, she also provides private lessons with many of her students going on to become feature college twirlers.

Rebe has judged for the National Baton Twirling Association, Twirling University, Cavalcade of Bands and the Keystone Indoor Drill Association. She also annually directs summer twirling camps at West Chester University, Kutztown University and Villanova University.

Since the early 1970’s she was a color guard and twirling instructor at North Penn High School. She helped from the early days of North Penn’s growth and helped direct them to many local, regional and national championships. Many of these were Cavalcade of Bands Yankee division championships. She has been coordinator of the Pennridge High School Band Front since the late 1960’s. She has also been the Pennridge Indoor Guard Director since the late 1980’s.

Rebe has been a consistent force in both marching band and indoor activities for Cavalcade of Bands. Through primarily North Penn and Pennridge school districts, she has influenced thousands of students and current instructors. She has also been a strong force within the Cavalcade color guard arena, constantly looking towards the future of the entire pageantry arts activity.

D. Scott Loose received his Bachelors of Music Education in 1980 from Wittenberg University in Springfield Ohio, and his Masters in Music from West Chester University in 1989. In 2013 he retired as director of instrumental music in the Lampeter – Strasburg School District, near Lancaster Pennsylvania.

From 1981 – 2001 he directed the L-S H.S. Band which won numerous awards including Cavalcade Yankee Open championships in 1998, 1999 and Bands of America Regional Finalist in 1996, 1998, 2000. The band has also been the honor band in many performances including the opening ceremonies of the PA State Farm Show and Governor Tom Ridge’s Inaugural Parade. Two time Cavalcade of Bands Director of the Year in 1994-1995 and 1995-1996. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers as music educators.

Scott performs locally with the Susquehanna Brass Quintet, Lancaster British Brass Band, and is principal trumpet at the Fulton Theater in Lancaster. His trumpet teachers include, Walter Geer, Bart Woomert, Richard Chenoweth, Charles Pagnard, Dick Shearer, and Kenneth Laudermilch.

In addition to his playing, Scott is a past president of the Lancaster – Lebanon Music Educators Association and has been an active judge with the Cavalcade of Bands since 1979 where he also has served as Vice-President and Music caption chief. He also arranges music for many local ensembles.

A graduate of West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education, Scott has been a high school band director for over 32 years. Starting with four years at Wilson HS, followed by 11 years at Upper Darby HS and currently in his 16th year as band director and music department chair at Unionville HS of Kennett Square, PA.

Throughout his career, his marching and jazz bands along with indoor units have continually participated and supported Cavalcade. In 2008 he became the president of Cavalcade, a position he held until May 2018. During his tenure he has restructured and added to the administrative team, supported all administrators and coordinators and moved the association forward with technology. Primarily with the use of digital recorders for all judging areas, which was a first with any circuit in our region, and Competition Suite, a tabulation and digital file transfer cloud based service for marching arts activities.

As president he handled many director, staff and parent inquires and situations in a constantly calm and professional manner. Throughout it all, he has always had both his students and all the students of Cavalcade, at the forefront of his approach to the activity. This was most noticeable as he was the co-director, and musical leader of the 2015 Cavalcade Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Using all his teaching experiences, and mass resources and connections, he lead the way for a truly memorable experience for students, staff and parents on this once and a life time musical opportunity.

Kathleen “Kate” Sheaffer has been involved with Cavalcade of Bands marching bands, indoor guard and indoor percussion ensembles since 1975. She is a graduate of North Penn High School and received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from West Chester University in 1979. Ms. Sheaffer received her graduate degree in Music Technology from Indiana University in 2005.

Kates’s involvement with Cavalcade included teaching marching band percussion lines for North Penn HS (1975-1985), Upper Dublin HS (1979-1981), Wissahickon HS (1976, 1990-1995), Springfield MS (1983-1991) and as marching band director of Springfield HS (1985-1988). She was also the President of the Cavalcade Indoor Association in 1983 and 1984.

Kathy worked full time in the music industry with JW Pepper Sheet Music company and Mobile Music company from 1979 to 1989. She taught elementary band with Instrumental Music Programs from 1990 to 1995. In 1995 she moved to being a full-time band director in the Pennridge School District. She spent eleven years working as the High School Band Director for Pennridge HS. She taught marching band, concert band, orchestra, jazz band, indoor guard and indoor percussion during this tenure. She also taught music technology and electronic keyboard lab. Ms. Sheaffer then spent eleven years as an Elementary Band director at a number of Pennridge Elementary Schools.

Ms. Sheaffer retired from her full-time teaching duties with the Pennridge School District in 2017 but continued to serve as the Pennridge HS percussion instructor. Kate has been and continues to be a long-standing staple within the Pennridge community.

Dennis “Denny” Schander graduated from Cocalico High School in 1959 and Lebanon Valley College in 1963 with a music education degree. His first teaching position was as junior high band director in the Norwich, NY school district. In 1968 he became the director of bands at Shikellamy High School, a position he held until his retirement in 1997.

Throughout his tenure he always thought outside of the box providing his students with unique and rewarding musical experiences. In the mid 70’s he took the band on the Westward Ho tour performing in parades and concerts along the way ending with a concert at Mt. Rushmore and the Cheyenne Rodeo in Wyoming. In 1985 his band was one of the first to fill the Dauphin Cruise line sailing to the Bahamas performing on board and in Ralston Square. His bands performed at Carnegie Hall and at the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles professional football games. Shikellamy also performed at the Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl parades and field shows.

During his tenure he led the band winning the Cavalcade American Division championship in 1976 and 1977, Liberty Division championship in 1979 and the Yankee Division championships in 1985 and 1991. Very rarely was Shikellamy out of the top three placements wherever they competed with Denny as director. He was also a Mid-Atlantic and Cavalcade judge, as well as a judge for the Wellsboro Laurel Festival parade. He also regularly plays taps for many local veteran’s funerals.

Of special interest are some of the Cavalcade rules, and penalties, he was responsible for, especially in General Effect, after using these at championship events.

No fireworks. Especially when shot off from behind the stadium!
No flash pods/smoke effects. He lined the entire border of the field and ignited them all at once!
No shotguns. He used these at the end of a show to create booms and bangs like fireworks, since you could not have those anymore!
No live animals. When the band played William Tell Overture, the drum major arrived riding a horse onto the field!
No balloons. He used 2,000 balloons in the finale of Ice Castles!

Thank you, Denny, for your many years of service and education to your students, dedication to always thinking outside the box and for giving us some cray rules which hold true today.

A graduate of Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, Mr. Twiford served as the director of the Methacton High School Band, Fairview Village, Pennsylvania, from 1973 to 1984 following one year as assistant director of the Upper Moreland HS Marching Unit in 1972-73. In the late 70’s he served as Cavalcade Secretary for several years as well as PMEA District 11 President.

The Methacton HS bands won many awards in local, national and international festivals, including first place in the 1979 International Music Festival in Toronto. The Jazz Band was also honored by being selected to perform at the 1979 conference of the National Association of Jazz Educators (now IAJE). He also served as Army Bandmaster, director and trombone soloist of the 276th Army Band, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, from 1971 to 1984 and was recognized as an “Outstanding Jazz Educator” in 1979 by NAJE.

Mr. Twiford received his jazz education at Penn State University, Beaver College, the United States Navy School of Music, and with Hank Levy and Dick Shearer at the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic. From 1984 to 2007 Mr. Twiford was a school administrator in the Souderton Area, North Penn, and Boyertown Area School Districts and then served as the Preschool Director at Storehouse Church in Plymouth Meeting for many years.

He judged high school jazz festivals from 1980-2018 and served as the Cavalcade Jazz Judging Coordinator from 2007-2015. He performs regularly with the Jazz Duo “Joyful Noise” throughout the Philadelphia area and has served as a Worship Leader and musician in his church since 1975.

Bill “Woody” Woodward, has been responsible for instilling the love of the Marching Arts into many people’s lives. From Percussion Director, Marching Band Staff Member, Band Director and judge with Cavalcade of Bands, he has selflessly helped many young people realize their potential and go on to become amazing human beings in and out of the marching arts. Without Woody in this activity, it’s hard to believe if there would ever be any “Innovation”.


Woody’s experience began in the early 80’s including his long-time involvement, 1980 – 2000 with the Hatboro Horsham High School instrumental programs. He has also worked with Upper Moreland and Plymouth Whitemarsh High Schools.

He has been a performer, caption head, composer and arranger for the Black Watch Drum and Bugle Corps, Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, Bushwhackers All Age Drum and Bugle Corps, United Indoor Percussion and Riptide Indoor Percussion. Through the indoor percussion arena, Woody is the first and only director to bring a Winter Guard International (WGI) Percussion World Championship home to Hatboro Horsham High School in 1995.

Bill has been a Cavalcade music judge for many years and has been a steadfast judge for our association. He has brought his creative and energetic approach to thousands of Cavalcade students especially in the General Effect Music area. Giving back in this capacity is just one of the many ways he has touched many lives, with so many students, directors, staff, judges and parents being better because they have been

Gary Ulrich was a 1970 graduate of Susquehanna University. He was the band director at Cedar Cliff High School from 1974 through 1980. During these years, the Cedar Cliff instrumental music program grew to include 210 members in the marching band, 140 members in two concert ensembles and 54 members in three jazz ensembles. His bands were a highly competitive fixture in both Cavalcade Marching Band and Cavalcade Jazz Band competitions and festivals. While there were and continue to be many successful band directors, few have devoted the substantial amount of time and energy to Cavalcade at a very critical juncture of our history.

Gary served for six years on the Board of Directors and as a Cavalcade Officer with four years as Secretary and two years as President. It was during this time that Cavalcade severed ties with the Mid-Atlantic Judges Association and formed its own Cavalcade of Bands Judges Association. It was Gary who made the motion to form Cavalcade of Bands Judges; then worked tirelessly to make it happen. In addition to working with a new judging administration, Gary actively recruited judges for the new association while working with other judges who transferred over to judging for Cavalcade. He spent a great amount of time meeting with fellow band directors and band staffs who had reservations about the new venture. Then with all this, he served on the committee that saw Cavalcade become incorporated.

After exploring other arenas, Gary has returned to his Cavalcade roots as a music and visual judge, where he remains active today.

Ralph Pace was a performing member of several drum and bugle corps in Hammonton, NJ, Philadelphia and Upper Darby, PA. In 1960, he began a masterful teaching career in both drum and bugle corps and indoor guards. This developed into marching and visual design for all marching areas.

Throughout his career he had the distinction of designing and teaching the following drum and bugle corps: 27th Lancers, Velvet Knights, Phantom Regiment, Crossmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Cavaliers, Boston Crusaders, Pacific Crest, Troopers, Madison Scouts and the Reading Buccaneers.

Within Cavalcade, Ralph worked with the Plymouth Whitemarsh Marching Colonials from 1975 through 1982. During this time, the band won several championships and much of his teaching techniques were then used to set the national standard for high school band design in California. In addition to PW, he also taught at Sun Valley High School. At the college level, he was the show designer for the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Ram marching band and also provided a number of visual design seminars for Cavalcade Hall of Fame member Dr. James Wells.

Ralph is a member of the following Hall of Fames: Drum Corps International, Drum Corps Associates, New Jersey and Massachusetts drum corps, 27th Lancers and the Crossmen. Outside of the pageantry arts, Ralph is a broker in estate and antique jewelry along with antiques, works of art and liquidations of estates and personal items.

The Most important thing to him in life is knowing the individuals or students you had the chance in supporting, their growth by thinking outside the “BOX” and knowing they were better for believing in themselves always pushing through those walls of “no I can’t”, to “yes, I can,” is the best accomplishment I could ever ask for in my life’s work supporting young adults to be their best and beyond.

Bob received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Music Performance from West Chester University. He because the long-time historic band director of Upper Moreland High School. Throughout his 35 years of teaching, he instilled a love for music and a passion for life in thousands of students and adults alike.

His groups at Upper Moreland, participated in marching band, jazz band and indoor competitions and festivals. All of his ensembles produced quality and educations program, with various championships with all three ensembles.

Bob was always a student-centered educator with everything he did. So many of his students emulated him as their role model and followed him into the music education teaching profession. He often acted a mentor to new directors and was always a support of the mission and values of Cavalcade of Bands.

His amazing smile and friendly personality would light up a room whenever he entered. This was always followed by his wonderful story telling and humor with everything he participated in, following his retirement in 2012, he renewed his passion of playing trumpet and pursued his greatest of all, other than his family, bass fishing.

Bob Barron passed away on September 9, 2019.

Duane has been involved with the marching activity since the age of 12. He started as a color guard member in the Westshoremen color guard followed by the Hanover Lancers, State Street Review the Madison Scouts and the Madison Scouts Alumni Reunion Project.

He has been a staff member, show designer and judge of many marching band and indoor ensembles. Cavalcade units are: Shikellamy, Greencastle-Antrim, Big Spring, Cumberland Valley, South Western, Northern York, Conrad Weiser, Palisades, Cheltenham, Spring Ford and Loyalsock Township. Drum Corps involvement has been with the Reading Buccaneers, Madison Scouts, Atlanta Corps Vets, Kingston Grenadiers, alliance and Hawthorne Caballeros. He is also an active adjudicator with both Cavalcade of Bands and other associations.

As a designer and drill coordinator his leadership contributions have garnered 19 Cavalcade of Bands championships for: Shikellamy, South Western, Spring Ford, Cheltenham, Palisades and Loyalsock Township. Indoor winter guard championships have been with Shikellamy and South Western.

Duane has always been a dedicated contributor to the marching band arena and his passion and drive are phenomenal. From many observations, he has instilled the following key points in the students he has taught:

A desire to be the best you can be
Respect for one’s self and respect for others
Motivational skills that make students want to excel
Inspired pride in all students
A great discipline gaining the utmost respect from the students
Created an atmosphere of hard work and fun at the same time
A “one for all and all for one” was he way of unifying the students

With all of these lifelong impacts on students, Cavalcade of Bands is proud and honored to welcome Duane DeWire into our Hall of Fame class of 2021.

David Dietz received his bachelors in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later received his master’s degree from Temple University. He retired as the High School Band and Orchestra Director in the Spring Grove School District after 38 years of teaching. He was the Cavalcade of Bands Treasurer from 1988 to 1998.

Dave was a beloved band director who brought championship bands to Spring Grove. As a leader of notable marching, concert and jazz programs, he achieved acclaim in all areas. His relations with students were rigorous and professional, yet his balance of hard work, achievement and fun was remarkable. His attitude with parents was equally positive, which created a broader level of community support and excitement. At a rather small school during his tenure (800-900 students 9-12), a band of 80-90 musicians was common, along with 20-25 color guard members. All of this brought tremendous magnetic education and personal effect on these students, many of whom continued on into music performance and education.

Dave was a true gentleman who brought the most positive and encouraging attitude to Cavalcade of Bands, his school and his students. He loved to travel and took high school music groups to destinations around the world including Hawaii, Europe, and China. Without luster or fanfare, he produced exceptional marching bands and handled all Cavalcade of Bands financial matters with efficiency and professionalism. As our treasure, he modeled positive values and after resigning ad Spring Groves band director, he stayed on as the assistant director and continued to teach the band.

Dave was a member of Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and in retirement played euphonium in local music ensembles. To his band members and alumni, the band’s nickname “Blu Crew” held strong meaning and generated school pride over several decades. As an educator, Dave Dietz maintained an artful balance between teaching high school students and achieving success in the competitive arena.

Dave Dietz passed away on April 17, 2018.

Steve Leonard has been involved in all facets of music education for well over thirty years. As Cavalcade of Bands band director, assistant band director, drill designer, staff member, administrator and adjudicator, he has brought consistency, passion and positive excitement to all areas of his participation.

Some of the high school marching bands Stave was associated with were: Upper Moreland, William Tennent, Hatboro Horsham, Upper Merion, Plymouth Whitemarsh and West Chester University. Drum Corps involvement has been with the Reading Buccaneers. As an adjudicator he judged for the Mid Atlantic Judges Association, Cavalcade Judges Association and the Cavalcade Indoor Judges Association.

He was strongly involved, and a Co-Creator of the Cavalcade Indoor Drill Association severing at President of the new division of Cavalcade of Bands which began in 1974. He was and indoor twirling director for several high school groups, and constantly attending meetings to continue moving the indoor association forward.

His devotion to the students he taught with was unending. The way he worked with them was always in an educational manner, bringing great respect for him. He always had a very calm, but determined manner for his approach towards the students. Steve was also a contributing author of a Marching Band Techniques Textbook in 1976 and has been a long-time parent and participate with the Philadelphia Boys Choir since 1983.

With all of these lifelong impacts on students, Cavalcade of Bands is proud and honored to welcome Steve Leonard into our Hall of Fame class of 2021.

John Flowers started his impressive drumming career in 1948 performing with local drum and bugle corps. As he grew with commitment and excellence, he was accepted into the United States Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps as a snare drummer, from 1957 through 1962. While in the Air Force, he was also performing with other drums corps and began writing and instructing numerous groups, in particular the Reading Buccaneers.

During this time John was quite innovative designing a “cymbal tree” and several bass drum configurations enabling the performers to play more than one instrument at a time. He also designed a double bass drum and configured a harness so the bass drummer could carry timbales on his back for another drummer to play. He also designed a three-bass drum arrangement like the quad instruments used today.

The list of drum corps John was associated with is massive, and too extensive to list every one. However, of special interest was the Rochester Crusaders, where he met his future wife, Barbara. In 1978, after winning the American Legion Championship, he was elected Drum Corps Associates Percussion Caption Chairman and held that position for several years. In 2003 he started the American Patriots Rudimental Drummers Club. The role of this organization is to preserve the heritage of rudimental drumming with members ranging throughout the country.

John has written and taught numerous schools who participated with Cavalcade of Bands over the years such as: Archbishop Wood, Cedar Cliff, Conrad Weiser, Northern Lebanon, Owen J. Roberts, Reading, Twin Valley, Wilson, and West Chester State College. Everywhere he has taught, students have learned to perform at levels well beyond their previous achievement. Additionally, his linage of former students who became arrangers and instructors is extensive. He is currently a member of twelve Halls of Fame and has judged over fifty years with such organizations as: Cavalcade of Bands, Cavalcade Indoor, Mid-Atlantic, KIDA, TOB, DCI, DCA, VFW and the American Legion. In 1972 he judged the very first Drum Corps International Championship in Whitewater, WI.

Over the decades, he was an instructor, administrator, adjudicator, and chief judge with Cavalcade. He was the Cavalcade judging coordinator in the mid 1970’s and again in the mid 1990’s for several years in each appointment. In the early years, he worked tirelessly with HOF members Arlen Saylor and Frank Ferraro on developing the groundwork for judging standards still used today. He added qualified judges to our roster and provided mentorship to many young and aspiring staffs, judges, and students. He also worked with our administration on elevating the judging community.

John holds degrees from Temple University School of Pharmacy, Pennsylvania University in Advanced Safety Management and Dale Carnegie Effective Speaking Course. He has been a distributor of safety products for a large majority of his life such as an eyewear optician with American Optical, going into business for himself with Vision Safety Associates. In 1995 this business was sold and then in 2013 he started Phoenix Safety Optical.

The lives John touched, educated, and motivated are countless for which we are grateful. Even in his mid-80’s he is still working full time, traveling as much as possible and doing all his “drum” gigs as he looks forward to continuing arranging, instructing, judging, and performing for as long as he can. He currently is a playing member of the Hanover Lancers Alumni drum & bugle corps where he performs on quads and is also a playing member of the Maryland Rudimental Drumming Association where he performs on bass drum.

Matthew Gallagher earned an undergraduate degree in Music Education from West Chester University and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from University of the Arts. He is enjoying a teaching career at UArts and is one of the most sought-after lead trumpet players in Philadelphia and on the East Coast.

He has performed with numerous Broadway show productions, the Baltimore Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and is currently the principal trumpet of the Philly Pops Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with a who’s who of artists including Randy Brecker, Michael Bublé, Jamie Cullum, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Hugh Jackman, Diana Krall, Barry Manilow, Leslie Odom Jr, The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Bernadette Peters, Lou Rawls, the Stylistics, and the Temptations. He is the music director of the Philly Pops Big Band, lead trumpet player at NFL Films and has recorded for Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, R. Kelly, LL Cool J and Jennifer Lopez.

While he is the prototypical lead trumpet player, with extensive credits with professional bands and orchestras up and down the east coast, he is equally committed to teaching. He has been involved with Cavalcade of Bands since the late 1990’s as a band director, staff member and adjudicator. He is the director of the “Z” Big Band, along with trumpet educator and department and music education professor at UArts.

He has worked with numerous Cavalcade High School marching bands over the years with some being Bensalem, Boyertown, Coatesville, Downingtown West, Phoenixville, Owen J Roberts, and Unionville. In addition, he has also taught with both Millersville and West Chester Universities. Many of these schools have won Cavalcade championships over the years.

Matt has provided countless Cavalcade jazz events, clinics, and performances with leadership as the director of the University of the Arts Z band. He has been a long-standing Cavalcade jazz adjudicator, sharing his vast knowledge and insights with jazz students for many years. He is extremely well respected by the many directors and students who he has taught as an overall educational mentor.

Brent Lewis is a graduate of West Chester University and was the band director of the Downingtown High School from 1981 to 2016. He has been involved with Cavalcade of Bands as a marching band, jazz and indoor director, administrator, adjudicator, and clinician for over 35 years. While at Downingtown, he annually hosted Cavalcade marching band, jazz band and indoor contests.

Throughout this time, he was very involved in Cavalcade as a Board Member at Large for two years, fourteen years as Secretary, and President of the Cavalcade Indoor Drill Association for two years. He has been the Cavalcade of Bands Director of the Year and was an active independent adjudicator/clinician. He also spent many years working for, and the running of, the Atlantic Judges Association.

Other than Downingtown (then Downingtown East after the school split) he has collaborated with several other schools in a variety of capacities including Central Bucks East, Henderson, North Penn, Pottstown, Spring Ford, and Upper Dublin high schools. He also worked as a marching band clinician for the West Chester University summer music camps and had extensive time as an instructor, then served as the Show Coordinator for the Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps.

Outside teaching, he has toured Europe in connection with American Music Abroad a total of 32 times. As an advocate for student success and strengthening band programs in our region, these efforts positively impacted countless students by enriching their musical lives. As a mentor to countless beginning band directors, he used his programs as an example of excellence in our region. But more importantly, he was always focused on developing student musicianship and citizenship.

Peter Neu is a graduate of Philadelphia University of the Arts with graduate studies at Villanova, West Chester, and Temple Universities. He has worked as an instrumental music teacher in the North Penn School District directing concert, jazz, and marching bands, as well as other small ensembles at the middle and high school levels. He is listed in “Who’s Who among America’s Teachers” and has been awarded the “Citation of Excellence” by PMEA, the “Superintendent’s Honor Roll Award” by NPHS and the “Jazz Director of the Year” by Cavalcade of Bands. He was also named by the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper as one of the “Exemplary Teachers of the Year.”

His first experience with Cavalcade was in 1977 as a member of the Hatboro Horsham High School Marching Unit. He has been involved with Cavalcade for thirty-five years as a band director and marching band staff member of the North Penn Lab and Columbia Jazz bands and the Marching Knights. He also worked with Upper Moreland HS and has written arrangements for Abington, Central Bucks West, North Penn and Upper Moreland. He always had a passion for helping students perform at an extremely high level and his rehearsal techniques and repertoire programming were always geared towards pushing his students above their ability level. This motivated students to work hard and to accomplish tasks which they did not think were possible.

His Pennbrook Middle School jazz bands received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his years as director. The band traveled all over the country performing at PMEA (six times), MENC (four times), IAJE (four times) and the NAfME conference. They were also recognized four times in the middle school big band category of Down Beat Magazine’s annual student music awards. These students went on to the high school marching and jazz programs which competed in Cavalcade, and he helped create the climate for appreciating music throughout the district. In January 2020, he became the jazz band director at Villanova University.

A member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the International Trumpet Guild, International Association of Jazz Educators, and the American Federation of Musicians he brought all these connections and experiences to his students. He always had the student’s interests in mind and provided them with lifelong memories on and off the stage and field through his dedication to music education. His legacy for excellence in teaching in the North Penn district and in the surrounding music education world will last forever.

John Riley grew up in our activity marching with the PAL Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. From here he went on to have additional performance opportunities with Black Watch, Bridgemen and Crossmen drum and bugle corps all in the percussion section. Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s he taught many high school percussion sections including Archbishop Wood, Bensalem, Cherokee and Gloucester Township. In addition, he also instructed the following drum corps: Archer Epler, Crossmen, East Coast Jazz, Jersey Surf, Reilly Raiders Alumni, Riptide Indoor, Skyliners, Sunrisers, and the Westshoremen junior and senior corps.

He began his adjudication career in 1992 in both percussion and music effect and continues to this day. From 2006 through 2014 he was the Cavalcade of Bands Director of Education. During this time, he was always looking to attract more qualified judges, and bands as he constantly solidified his administration position to the role it is today. He was also instrumental in receiving multiple sponsorships from percussion companies who donated equipment and awards for our marching and indoor championships.

Working through some more challenging times, especially with indoor, he always strived to keep the students in mind for all areas of our association. His heart and passion for the students were always part of his work. With this, he many times would speak directly with them and share his musical knowledge to help young performers constantly grow.

John was extremely helpful with other administrations and young judges in making their experiences as positive as possible, as he constantly improved his judging chops. He has worked with Cavalcade through thick and thin to always try and make us better.

Paul Smith is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Music degree, and North Penn High School, where he was under the leadership of Hall of Fame member Steve Frederick. He participated in all music ensembles at both schools, in particular marching band, and jazz band. He marched in the percussion sections of the Bux-Mont Raiders (Souderton, PA) and the Crossmen (Southeastern PA) junior drum and bugle corps.

Teaching and arranging for percussion began in 1977 with both high school and drum and bugle corps. Some of the Cavalcade high schools include Hatboro Horsham, Henderson, Methacton, North Penn, Perkiomen Valley, Pottsgrove, Souderton, Upper Merion and Wissahickon. He was part of the team winning Cavalcade championships with Wissahickon (American Open) in 1986 and Pottsgrove (Independence A) in 2006. Teaching drum corps included Archer Epler, Crossmen and the Skyliners.

He began his passion for judging in 1983 and has been a Cavalcade of Bands adjudicator for over 22 years. He was the Cavalcade marching band Percussion Caption Head from 1992 through 1994. In 2010 he became the Judging Coordinator where he streamlined communication, staffing and the new use of digital technology, in particular Competition Suite. He collaborated with a team to totally rewrite our judging sheets and implemented a new activity practice with the Equal Advantage Scoring System, constantly refining our numeric scoring needs. Outside Cavalcade he has judged with KIDA, MAPS, DCA, WGI, TOB the Philadelphia Mummers Parade String Band Division, and has trialed for DCI.

Paul was elected Executive Director in 2016 and continues in this position through today. Throughout this time his leadership has worked with our Board of Directors and Administration to continue growing and evolving the association. His communication style and team approach have elevated the entire organization for band directors, staff, judges and most importantly, students. Over the years he has managed multiple large-scale issues such as music and video copyright, branding, championship videos, new championship locations, financial profitability for all events, changing rules, A and Open direction and Covid-19.

In 2015 he was the Assistant Director for the Tournament of Roses Honor Band and in 2019 he was the Co-Director of the 2019 Tournament of Roses Honor Band. His complete and monumental dedication to these efforts allowed students from all size bands to come together and march in this historic parade, for a once in a lifetime experience. During Cavalcade’s 60th Anniversary year in 2019, he produced a historic film on our journey since 1959. This celebrated this anniversary and also serves as a historic document for future years, highlighting the many details and individuals who helped us become who we are as an association.

For over 48 years, Paul has been involved with Cavalcade of Bands as a performer, teacher, arranger, director, adjudicator, administrator, and growing historical buff. His influence on the entire organization has been felt over this period in all stages of his participation. His dedication and leadership with all these roles has been completely fulfilled, as he always worked to involve others in a team-like environment.

Eric Kitchenman has been involved with the pageantry arts his entire life. He began at age five when his father directed a drum and bugle corps in 1964 (The Pennsylvanians). In 1977 he joined the Crossmen Junior Drum and Bugle Corps as a baritone player and performed with the corps through the summer of 1979.

In 1980 his career began in the movement arts as a marching technician and indoor guard instructor for North Penn HS. In 1981 he began his designing career by stepping up and writing the indoor color guard program and later the percussion program. Eric started his association with Cavalcade and member schools in 1978 and continued through the 1996 season. For 18 years he taught, designed, and molded Cavalcade students in several high schools and beyond. This then continued for another 18 years through other pageantry arts organizations. Overall, a 36-year teaching career, primarily at North Penn HS.

His first efforts into drum corps were as a visual technician for the Westshoremen Senior drum and bugle corps. This was followed by writing the drill for The Conquest Alliance from Brighouse, United Kingdom where he played a part in leading the corps to their first championship in 1986. In addition to working with North Penn’s marching band, indoor guard, and indoor percussion, he also taught Upper Dublin HS. Other Drum Corps include: Crossmen, Velvet Knights, Skyliners, Spirit of Atlanta, Bluecoats, Reading Buccaneers, Cadets, and Boston Crusaders.

Through his time at North Penn and beyond, he has been extremely instrumental in teaching and molding thousands of students. Many of which went on to continue in this activity becoming band and choir directors, marching band and drum corps designers, instructors, and adjudicators in all areas of our activity, He was a major influence for North Penn winning 13 Cavalcade of Bands Yankee division championships in the 1983 – 1996 period. To date, this is tied with one other school for the second largest number of championships ever won by the same school in Cavalcade history. Countless other Cavalcade championships were also won with indoor guards and percussion groups over the years.

Devoting his life to the pageantry arts is a passion of Eric’s to this day, providing positive and educational input and direction to students in all areas of the activity. No matter at what level, his energy and excitement to help students, adjudicators, directors, and staff, is contagious and very heartfelt. He is also a tremendous motivator helping everyone see what they can do, how they can do it and to achieve the very best in each situation.

John Miliauskas Sr. began playing the trumpet professionally at the age of sixteen during the big band era. His performing career was extensive. As a member of the Lee Vincent Big Band, he played with such greats as Frank Sinatra Jr., Perry Como, and Jerry Vale. He appeared many times on the famed Steel Pier in Atlantic City, and he also performed on NBC’s Today Show with the Garland Orchestra.

Mr. Miliauskas received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Mansfield University. He served with the United States Army and was a member of the United States Army Band. John joined the faculty at Lake-Lehman High School in 1956. His marching bands, concert bands, and jazz bands received many prestigious awards in competition on international, national, and state levels. Lake Lehman was the Cavalcade of Bands American Conference Champions in both 1984 and 1987.

In addition to these accomplishments, hundreds of Mr. Miliauskas’ students have received individual honors for their musicianship having been chosen to participate in PMEA District, Regional, and All-State Band Festivals. He retired after thirty-three years as a public-school teacher. He founded the band at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, PA and was its director for nine years.

Mr. Miliauskas won numerous honors in recognition of his dedication in furthering the development of musical accomplishments in young musicians as well as his own personal outstanding achievements. He has been honored by the Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions Clubs, American Legion, and the American Federation of Musicians. He was designated “Outstanding Director” on several occasions and received the “Citation of Excellence” from both the National Band Association and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. In 2012 Mr. Miliauskas was inducted into the PMEA Hall of Fame.

John Miliauskas was a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, American Federation of Musicians, and various Judges Association. On numerous occasions he was a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator at numerous major music festivals. His career was based on incredible musicianship, discipline, professionalism, work ethic, and to win or lose with class! Two of his mottos were “excellence is only gained by dedicated hard work,” and “do what is right because it’s the right thing to do.”

Jill Moyer is a graduate of Souderton Area High School and West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education. She is a retired music educator and taught for 33 years in the Souderton and Wissahickon School Districts. She has taught students from grades K – 12 in areas of General Music, Choral and Instrumental Music, Marching Band, Choir Accompanist and Pit Orchestra. She has been an accompanist and pit orchestra director for various choirs, choruses, and high school musicals in and around Bucks and Montgomery County, PA, and has enjoyed teaching private piano lessons for over 20 years.

Her marching experience began in high school and continued through college band along with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps. She has held Drum Major positions at Souderton HS, West Chester University and the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, She was also an active teacher with teaching and instructing young & upcoming drum majors at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.

Jill was the band director at Wissahickon High School from 1993 to 1997 winning the Cavalcade of Bands Liberty championship in 1997. Through her career she was also on staff at the following high schools: North Penn, Perkiomen Valley, Souderton, Upper Merion, and Upper Moreland. She was the Tour Director for the World Champion Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps and has been working and traveling with Drum Corps International since 2000 as an Event Manager, Show Coordinator, and a member of their Event Staff.

Jill has been judging in the pageantry arts since 1988 and continues through today. Her affiliations have been with Cavalcade of Bands, US Bands, Indiana State School Music Association, and the Kentucky State School Music Association. Since 2011 she has been a Chief Judge with Cavalcade of Bands. She was on the administrative team and staff member of the Cavalcade of Bands Honor Band in both 2015 and 2019, which marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA.

Since her retirement from public school music teaching, she has traveled with friends to Spain & Italy, continues her accompanying choirs & musicals and enjoys horseback riding. She is looking forward to more marching arts and traveling adventures ahead!

Wilbur Wittemann is the retired Director of Bands and Jazz Studies at Georgian Court University. He was also an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey and is one of the country’s most requested jazz clinicians, festival judges, guest conductors and teacher professional development presenters. He regularly performs with his own Wilbur Wittemann Orchestra, where he has been arranging and coordinating successful concert series and music festivals for over 30 years.

He has received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators. During his 32 years as a Middle School Band director, he was selected “Teacher of the Year” two times and was a finalist for the prestigious Princeton University Scholar Award. He has been a long-standing jazz band and marching band adjudicator for Cavalcade of Bands providing positive commentary and direction to students and directors.

Wilbur has conducted and performed with many world-famous musicians like: Jose Feliciano, Little Anthony, The Platters, Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Louis Bellson, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Dave Weckl, Butch Miles, Wayne Bergeron and the Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras. He also performs on cornet, trumpet, and flugelhorn with his Bourbon Street Dixieland Band, Musicology, Wilbur Wittemann Revue, and The Lakewood Jazz Ensemble and is also conductor of orchestras with the string sections from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Trenton Symphony, and the Philly Pops.

He has been arranging and coordinating successful concert series and music festivals for over 30 years. In addition, he has traveled around the country as a clinician, festival judge, guest conductor and educational consultant influencing thousands of students. His influence on Cavalcade Jazz stems from his astute evaluations of all of Cavalcade’s participating jazz ensembles and he is known far and wide as one of the most in demand tri-state teacher professional development presenters and educational consultants.

Wilbur has produced multiple government sponsored educational symposiums helping thousands of Fine Arts teaching staffs and motivativating school boards to successfully incorporate and expand Music Academy programs into district curriculums. In 2019 was selected as the National Jazz Festival adjudication coordinator and continues to share his love for jazz with everyone.